The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-07-23

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington. D. CO.
Japan's sunny southern islands will
their mild climate furnish the common
conception Of the empire of the Ris
ing Sun One hears little ordinarily O.
the Japanese northland. This neglect
ed portion of the empire, however
has been dramatically uncovered fol
the world by the American round-the
world flyers, the first internationa
travellers Of note to approach Japar
through her northern back door,"
Jaran's northland includes Hokaido
or lezo, the northernmost Of the main
island group, a unit almost as big as
Cuba: Saghalien, near the Siberian
coast. hone Of contention between ia,
pan and Russia; and the Kuriles, the
chain of little volcanic islands reach
ing fur to the north, over which the
American flyers skinned after they
left tie American Aleutians.
Before western influence reached ia
pan the japanese kept pretty closely
to their balmy southern lands, and had
only d tenuous hold on Yezo. They
barely knew of the existence of the
moro northern islands. The rulers of
Japan hardly seemed to consider even
Yezo real part of their domains until
Russians began to trespass toward the
clo-e OF the Eighteenth century.
When this situation arose officials were
sent ty the shotgun to govern the is
lands. For long time Yezo was left
almost entirely to the Anus, the eau
casian-like natives, as far as perma-
ncnt Publications were concerned.
During this period the Japanese
treated this island as a sort Of ma
tional. commonly owned fishing pre-
serve. Fleets of fishing boats swarmed
fishermen making temporary camps,
but tie winter found all Of them back
south In "Old Japan" This matter
of climate furnishes one chief key to
the japanese neglect Of the northern
islands. The race developed under the
mild climatic conditions of the South.
All their customs and habits were
built in such a climate. They became
accustomed to light clothing, mere
shells of houses built Of bamboo and
paper. and to the cultivation Of that !
warm land staple, rice. They lacked |
the pioneering spirit, and the rigors of |
a harsh climate were repugnant to |
them
Developed by Americans
While congestion became more and
more marked In the southern islands,
huge Yezo remained practically I'M
lsed until half a century ago when
he japanese government began a pa
ernallstic development. Though this
vas abandoned In favor Of private
few years later. the marks
eft by the American engineers and ag-
icultura; experts engaged at the time.
tand out plainly in the island. Rail-
Dads were built. buildings got under
7ay. and model farms established.
he most striking mark Of the Amer
cans was on the architecture.
Southern japanese traditions Of
imy construction were abandoned, !
nd houses built Of heavy frame con-
truction-a sort Of New England style
18th Japanese adaptations. The coun-
Y was heavily wooded, and az In all
Ioneer communities log houses also
ere constructed Yezo became New
apan and the climate IL said to have ,
.acted on the immigrants to produce
few Japanese" more energetic and
than their southern broth :
., true frontiersmen.
Three Large cities. '
After the settlement Of Yexo was t
Imulated, logging and lumber pro- e
lction became one of the leading In n
lstries. Agriculture Jagged. largely
cause 1t was believed that nowhere +
the island could rice be grown. 1t
as found later that certain varieties ]
rice would yield grain in parts Of o
10, though less abundantly than In n
E South. The demonstration Of this a
ct made settlers somewhat less re- CT
ctant, but even now the population is
only about 100000, very low COM o.
red with old Japan. al
In Hakodate and Otaru, principal st