98.
cheap and good coal, lie at the root of Japan's industrial success, and deserve special mention, The exports in 1914 were divided as follows:-
Qres, metals, minerals and manufactures thereof—
Antimony and manufactures
Bronze manufactures
Coal
Copper
Iron tubes
་་
and steel manufactures
Manganese
Zinc ore
Other ores, metals and minerals
Total
£
178,900
29,200
2,441,300
2,906,100
4,900
119,300
18,000
389,700
6,117,400
The mining of coal and copper surpass in importance all other branches of the industry.
Coal-Coal is principally mined in the northern island of Hokkaido and in the southern island of Kyushu. The output has increased steadily of recent years by reason not only of the sinking of new shafts, but of the application of mechanical motive powers to the industry. The industry is in the hands of large companies, the The celebrated Miike mine in Mitsui Bussan Kaisha being largely interested.
"Miike nuts" and "Miike slack," Fukuoka is the best known, and gives the name to which are celebrated throughout the Far East, particularly in shipping circles. The output of this mine in 1914 exceeded 2,000,000 metric tons.
The industrial consumption of coal in Japan during 1914 was as follows:- The figures are in metric tons.
For Japanese ships
Foreign
Railways
Factories
*
Salt manufacture
Total production
Exports Imports
Total
-
3,942,464
1,191,857
1,915,310
8,359,027
810,879
16,219,537
22,293,419
3,586,806 957,709
99
for this purpose. Practically the only competition is that of the Kailan Mining Administration, an Anglo-Chinese concern with rich mines near Tientsin in North China. It is understood, however, that a price agreement has been arranged between the Kailan and the Fushun mines, so that Japanese coal may be said to entirely dominate the market. The danger of this state of affairs to British shipping interests in the event of hostilities with Japan is apparent. The remedy would appear to lie in the encouragement of the development of coal mining in China under British auspices. Coal is produced in Labuan, and Australian coal until recently competed throughout the Dutch East Indies and the Philippines. During the past few years, however, Japan has displaced Australia from the Philippines trade, largely on account of the low rates of freight charged on Japanese steamers.
The industrial demand for coal in Japan has grown so enormously of late that it is thought in well-informed circles that prices are likely to remain high until years such time as power is available at cheap rates from the various hydro-electric companies.
The
Copper.-Copper is the most important nietal mined in Japan. There are two kinds of deposits in the country, one of which is found in crystalline schists or Palæozoic sedimentary rocks, the other in tuffs and other volcanic rocks. percentage of mineral is generally low in the former, never exceeding 8 or 9 per cent., while the latter sometimes contains as much as 30 per cent. The mines of Besshi, Hibira, Makimine, Itsuki, Kune, and Ina are of the first kind, and that of Ashio and nearly all the wines in Sanindo and the northern section of Honshu are of the second.
The statistics for 1917 are as follows:-
Total production
Approximate home consumption Exports
Tons.
67,909
22,478
-
45,562
The exports of the metal in ingots and slabe during 1914 were shipped to the following countries :-
United Kingdom
Hong Kong
British India
United States
France
Germany
China
Other countries
£
403,600
166,200
168,300
306,500
227,000
125,100
942,000
567,100
2,006,100
The total number of mining employees in that year was 182,637. The average price of coal per 10,000 horse-power in the cotton industry in December 1915 was 21. 9s.
In addition to the mines in Japan Proper, attention should be called to the important Fushun mines in South Manchuria, which are owned and worked by the South Manchurian Railway Co., and the export from which is an important factor in the coal market of China and other Far Eastern countries.
The exports of coal in 1914 were shipped to the following countries:-
China
Kwantung Province
Hong Kong
Straits Settlements
£
761,400
1,800
091,700
372,500
52,200
221,700
64,600
11,900
263,500
2,441,300
British India
Philippines
United States
United Kingdom
Other countries -
Total
The Japanese have secured a virtual monopoly of the bunker coal of the Far East, the shipments to China, Hong Kong, Straits, and the Philippines being largely
Total
Copper would appear destined to become one of the principal industrial assets of Japan in the future, and there are already signs of the beginning of a valuable nictal manufacturing industry. It is noteworthy that the General Electric Company of Schenectady have recently opened a works in Japan for the manufacture of lamps and other electrical fittings in the manufacture of which copper is largely used.
The Japanese have been quick to realise the advantages of electric power. Nature has been kind in supplying excellent water facilities in the mountains, and the current is carried for miles across the plains on transmission wires to the industrial centres. One of the most notable impressions obtained in Japan is the mountain valley with its waterfall and power house.
The electrical enterprises in 1914 were as follows:-
Number of companies
Authorised capital
437 55,000,0007.
Paid-up capital
44,000,0002.
No. of electric lights supplied
7,706,962
Electric lights
No. of electric lights calculated with
10 candle power as unit
7,140,182
Electric power supplied K.W.
177,940
No. of supplies
35,309
Electric motors
Electric power supplied K.W.
116,617
Horee power
148,702
N 3
646
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