Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 11.djvu/146

* JAPAN. 128 JAPAN. out dependence on foreign yards. Shipbuilding is therefore a large industry, i.sijceially at Naga- saki, the open purl of Kiushiii. where vessels of from 1000 to SOOO tons' burden are turned out. There are also large yards at KawasaUi, (Jsaka, Isbikawajinia, and Uraga. They are all eipiipped with the best ap])lianees for the building of steel and iron ships, and have fully demonstrated their of its many enterprises. About one-third of the imports come fron: otiier parts of Asia and two- thirds from Oceidental lands. Asiatic countries buy from .lapan about one-tliird of the exports, (he remainiltr l)eing sent to Western countries. The following table, sliowing the total foreign trade for a series of years, will give an idea of the rapid development cf foreign commerce: Imports. Exports. 1896 393,220,000 02,422,000 1897 $130,177,200 81,472,800 1898 $161,700,600 82,767,600 1899 $114,042,000 108,763,200 1900 5156,023,400 104,380,800 ability to turn out ocean-going craft and river steamers of the higliest standard. A number of steamers on the Yangtse River were built in Japan. In many directions Jai)an is striving to increase her manufactures of iron and steel goods. This necessitates considerable imports of metal, as the local iron-mining industry is not yet adequately developed. For some years the Japanese have been carry- ing on tlie manufacture of many Euro|)ean and American articles that were not even known in their country when it was opened to foreigners. They manufacture enormous quantities of matches, which they sell in China, Hong Kong. India, 8iii<;aj)ore, Siam, Australia, and other markets. About 30.000 clocks are made in Kioto, Osaka, and Xagoya every montli, and sold at very low prices. The manufacture of felt hats like those worn in Vestern countries was begun in 1889, and I he output in 1902 was nearly 50,000 dozen. Saddlery, glassware, umljrellas, brushes, boots and shoes, rugs, mathematical and surgical instruments, patent medicines, watches, canned fruits, vegetables, and condensed milk are among the articles they .are producing with the aid of Western ideas and processes, jlany of these imi- tations are as yet of veiy inferior quality. Japan cannot seriously compete with the Western na- tions for the control even of the Oriental markets so long as its manufactures do not favorably compare in quality and price with those of Amer- ica and Europe. The wages of t lie labor employed The value of the foreign trade has increased five-fold in twenty years. In 1901 the total value of .lapan's imports and exports was .$272,400,000. Tlie value of the imports from the leading coun- tries in 1899 and 1900 was as follows: Oreat Britain British India.. United States. ('liina Grrinany Hong Kong.... Belgium France Russian Asia.. 1900 $22,310,400 $35,656,800 21,812,400 11,703,000 19,023.000 31,224,600 14,292,000 14,890,200 8,764,800 14.491.800 3,6;)5,40O 6.278,800 2.689,200 3,934,200 2,888,400 4,033,800 2,241,000 2,ai8,600 The value of the exports to the leading coun- tries in 1899 and 1900 was as follows: 1899 1900 United States $31.8*22.200 20.l)iy,600 17,0J<1.4iiU 14,r,41.G(H) 5,027,400 3,486.000 3.0:{7,R00 1.992.000 1,792.800 $26 145 000 19,521 600 9.51 1.800 5 577 600 Great Britain British India 4 332 600 1,743,000 Italy 3,535,800 The value of the chief articles of Japan's spe- cial import and export trade in 1S09 and 1900 was as follows: IMPORTS Cotton and seed Sugar Iron, steel and manufactures. Cotton nianulaotnres Woolen manufactures Arms, machinery, etc Pulse, etc Petroleum Spirituous liquors Tobacco 1899 $30,975,600 8,764.800 7,719,000 7.171,200 6,972.000 4,631,400 4,382.400 3,934,200 3,585,600 2,988,000 1900 $29,681,200 13,296,600 1.5,786,600 12,798,600 11,703,000 6.822,600 2,390,400 7.021,800 4.033,800 298,800 EXPOBTS Raw silk Cotton .yarn Floss silk and manufactures. ('oal Copper Rice Tea Textiles Matches Drugs and colors 1899 $33,216,600 14.193,000 10.756,800 7,519,800 6,727,000 6,129.400 4,233,000 2.838,600 2,888,400 1.942,200 1900 $24,302,400 10,209,000 11,703,000 9,960,000 6,374,400 1,792,800 4,482.000 3,286,800 2,838.600 2,639,400 in these numerous industries are advancing, and, judged by the quantity and quality of the pro- duct, are about as high as those paid in the West- em world. CoMMEHCE. The domestic trade has been greatly stimulated by the rapid growth of rail- ways, which render it easy and cheap to dis- tribute the products of the factories throughout the country and particularly in the main island. This fact is causing some decline in the home industries, which, however, still supply a very large part of the common needs of the people. In the foreign trade the imports have regularly exceeded the exports since 189,5. owing to the large railway equipment and other material which Japan has purchased abroad in the development The principal imports into .Japan from the United States are raw ginned cotton and kerosene oil (more than half the value of the whole) ; also engines, locomotives, electrical ap[);iratus, and other kinds of machinery. Nearly all the kero- sene oil and most of the lubricating oil and paraf- fin wax come from the United States. The larger part of the raw cotton is obtained from British India, the price of whose short staple is usually about 11 per cent, lower than that of American cotton. Raw cotton, however, is largely imported from the United States, and the shipments of 1892 were nearly double those of 1891. The United States supplies nearly all the flour, but Australia compet.es in supplying wheat. The United States leads in shipments of alcohol.