11"
KOBE-HYOGO
The Temple of Nofukuji, which possesses a large bronze Buddha, and which is situated in the old town of Hyogo, is worth a visit; and there is a monument to the Japanese hero Kiyomori, erected in 1286, in a grove of trees.in the vicinity of the tem- ple, which claims some attention from its historic associations. On the Kobe side of the old river known as the Minato-gawa also stands a temple dedicated to Kusunoki Masashige, so famous in Japanese history for loyalty and valour, who died on the spot in 1336, during the unsuccessful wars for the restoration of the Mikado's power. The Kawasaki Shipbuilding Yard situated at Hyogo is one of the largest in Japan. In 1908 in addition to executing repairs to 697 vessels, the yard turned out 13 new vessels having an aggregate tonnage of 19,646. The new graving dock will accommodate vessels of some 5,000 tons. The Mitsui Bishi Co. also have a dockyard at the Western extremity of the port. This dockyard has an area of 200,000 square yards, and a seafront of 1,850 square yards. Engines, boilers, electric machinery, &c., are manufac tured here, and the yard is capable of building ships of 10,000 tons. In November, 1908, a floating dock capable of floating four hours.a vessel of 12,000 tons, length 580 feet, breadth 68 feet and draught 26 feet. The Government in 1906 sanctioned a scheme for the improvement of the harbour involving an expenditure of 32,000,000 yen. Large reclamations are being undertaken at Onohama, and commodious wharves and other facilities for the working of cargo are to be provided The work is to be com- pleted in about ten years.
Kobe's excellent railway communications, both north and south, have naturally tenderl to centralise trade at this port,
In 1908 the values of the different classes of imports of foreign produce and manufactures were
Cotton, Raw and Ginned...Yen Metals and Manufacture of Machinery
Drugs, Medicines &c.... Grains and Seeds...
M
-1
5,863,235
E
FEE
+++
67,607,851 Dyes and Paints... 22,791,637 Wool and Woollen Manufacture 5,340,292 15,121,248 Beverages and Comestibles 10,949,853 Paper and Paper Manufacture.. 10,828,740 Skins, Hairs, Bones &c.
+++
3,734,931
2,451,759
+++
2,262,771
10,032,401 Sundries
18,563,373
7,891,832 7,640,943
Total Imports
...Yen 191,080,866
Cotton Yarn and Piece Goods... Oil Cake
Oil and Wax
The values of the principal articles of Export in the same year were as follows:— Cotton Yarn & Cotton Goods Yen 13,364,056
Straw and Chip Braid
Oils and Waxes
6,934,929
Dyes and Paints
Metals and Metal Manufacture 12,591,922 Matches...
Mats and Mattings
Beverages and Comestibles,
Grains and Seeds...
T
Clothing and Accessories
Machinery
T
+++
++
+++
3,584,991
3,025,282
2,977,747
5,741,060 Earthen ware and Glass Man'e. 2,896,559 4,804,152 Tea 4,117,123 Sundries 4,109,951
10
3,906,271
+
2,487,222 13,573,508
Total Exports ...Yen 84,114,778
The quantity of tea exported from Kobe-Hyogo during the year 1907 was 9,396,703 kin, while in 1908 it amounted to 7,021,163 kin. Practically the whole of this went to the United States of America and Canada.
The following table of values in Yen shows the total trade of the port from 1898 to 1908:-
Imports 1899 120,289,524 1900 137,484,281
1901 125,079,022
1902 144,516,111 1903 154,534,013
Total
Imports
Exports Total
87,976,178 262,831,379 84,458,679 313,072,684
Exports 75,320,884 195,610,408 | 1904 174,855,201 69,706,549 207,190,830 | 1905 228,614,005 77,206,226 203,185,248 1906 192,190,166 110,605,293 202,795,459 74,748,143 219,264,254 1907 223,437,566 106,668,265 330,105,831 90,518,216 245,052,229 | 1908 191,080,866
84,114,773 275,195,639
I
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