1901.] 



COMMEECIAL JAPAN. 



2247 



Coal and iron are the most important minerals. The more widespread the material prosperity the greater the need of these two 

 minerals in all the processes of production and transportation — coal as a motive power, iron as a fundamental metal for all industrial 

 purposes. Statistics show the steady increase of the iron output year by year. The coal mines are very pro.sperous and produce all the 

 country requires for consumption. But most of the raw irons wliich are needed in the manufacturing industries of the country are not 

 produced in the country. Gold and silver are also important for the substantial wealth of the countrj-, but their production is not very 

 great, although it is yearly increasing. Copper is found in great abundance. 



The increase of the production of petroleum is something wonderful. There are (April, 1900) over thirty companies in the oil 

 districts; some of them possess a capital of over 1,000,000 yen, and the aggregate capital amounts to 12,000,000 yeri. 



The total production of coal in the world in 1900 was estimated in round numbers at 700,000,000 gross tons, of which the United 

 States had 255,000,000 tons, or 32 per cent, and England comes next, after a large home consumption, she exported 45,000,000 tons in 

 1900. A few years ago Japan entered the list of coal-producing nations, the production of which has been wonderfully increased, and 

 she not only drove away the imports from Great Britain, but even exported to the western shore of the United States and oriental ports, 

 where vigorous competition with Indian and Australasian coal began. Being superior in its quality, with the advantage of facility of 

 transportation and cheapness of cost of production, it defied competition. " Its production amounted to (3,000,000 tons in 1900, of which 

 45 per cent was exported to India, China, Korea, Hawaii, Hongkong, the Philippines, Siberia, United States, and Australasia. The ships 

 on the Indian Ocean began to use Japanese coal instead of Welsh and Northumberland coal. Coal is abundant in Formosa and wiU be 

 a great addition to the supply in the country. 



The construction of railroads, the building of ships, and the manufacturing industries need great quantities of iron and steel. A 

 considerable quantity of iron is known to exist in various places, but not in conjunction with coal, and therefore its local production and 

 manufacture is seriously impaired. 



The copper market continues to present a very brisk aspect, owing to an active demand for export for electrical uses in other 

 countries. 



D. THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. 



Innumerable variety and species, and enormous quantities of these form the principal resources of the country; such as all kinds of 

 wares of gold, silver, copper, bronze, and other metals, porcelain, earthen, glass, bamboo, wood, cloisone, lacquerware, and leather; 

 mattings of all kinds, thread, and fabrics of silk, cotton, hemp, and other fibers; many kic'ls of paper works; writing, and painting 

 brushes of all kinds; implements of carpenters, smiths, and other mechanics; manufactures of straw, hides, bones, tortoise shells, conch 

 shells, and tusks; many kinds of dyeing materials; all kinds of oil, camphor, sulphuric acid, sugar, white wax, soap, rouge, face powder, 

 and other toilet materials; matches, cloths, knitting, toys, tobacco, shoyu, and many kinds of liquoi-s. 



The new era, since the restoration and peace after the war with China, resulted in immense gains to our manufacturers in the 

 demand for goods of various descriptions which our people are preeminently fitted to provide. The various manufacturing and mechanical 

 industries are being encouraged by the Government and by capitalists, and recently a strong disposition has been shown to seek for 

 investments in manufacturing undertakings. Heretofore native capitalists have, with some rare exceptions, invested their money almost 

 exclusively in lands. Many forms of industry that were in their infancy twenty years ago are now nourishing and not only increase in 

 quantity but also improve in quality. Articles that used to be exclusively imported are now manufactured at home. The total exports 

 of indu.strial products have increa-;ed from 66 per cent in 1888, to 78 per cent in 1897, and total imports have decreased from 92 to 60 per 

 cent during the same period. The capital used bv the manufacturing companies in 1897 is twice that in 1894; the amount of paid up 

 capital §18,000,000 in 1894 became S?;57,000,000 in 1897. 



The development of manufacturing industries depend greatly upon the invention of machines, which is due to tlie progress of 

 science, and also to the encouragement and protection of patents. The patent system began in 1871, when the Government issued 

 a patent law, but it was inapplicable and was abolished the next year. In 1885 a law was issued again; but being too crude it was 



s. d. 



England 5 10 



German V 6 2 



Belgium" 7 7 



Aui>tria 5 2 



France 8 8 



Spain 6 1 



»CosT OF Coal Peoduction. 



s. d. 



Hungary 8 



United States 4 



India S 



Victoria 10 



New South Wales 5 



Queensland 8 



Now Zealand 10 



Canada 8 



Chile 10 



Japan 5 



