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“...CONTEMPORARY
- MA} CHURIA
“TRE Leary OF
Congas:
- VOL.IV,NO2 mn APRIL, 1940
> ; : ae | ae . oF
cima INDUSTRY IN MANCHURIA
| AND 5. M. R CENTRAL LABORATORY cos
. DEBTS OF FARMERS I IN /MANCHURIA |
: | - KOKEANS IN MANCHURIA
| | : FOLK SONGS IN MANCHURIA
| = | DAIREN AND RYOJUN
PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY
‘ THE SOUTH MANCHURIA RAILWAY COMPANY...”
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“...CONTEMPORARY
MANCHURIA
A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE
VOL.IV, No. 2 APRIL, 1940
CONTENTS :
Page
The Chemical Industry in Manchuria and the S.M.R.
Central Laboratory ............:ecceeeeereeeecceeeeensseeeaes 1
Debts of Farmers in Manchuria ........0.csseceeeseseeenes 26
Koreans in Manchuria ........:cccccceccceccccecrenerecsceees 49
Folk Songs in Manchuria ...........cceesceceseeeseeverencues 71
Dairen and Ryojun........ eae eeeccrecacdcccnccncascneteeseseee 88
ae ¢ ——n
PUBLISHED BY
THE INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY OFFICE,
SOUTH MANCHURIA RAILWAY COMPANY,
DAIREN, MANCHURIA...”
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“...THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN MANCHURIA
AND THE S.M.R. CENTRAL
LABORATORY
I. HISTORY AND ORGANISATION OF
THE CENTRAL LABORATORY
A Short History
The S.M.R. Central Laboratory had its inception in an
organisation established under a decree of the Government-
General of the Kwantung Leased Territory in October, 1907, at
the instance of Baron (later Count) Shimpei Gotd, who was
supreme adviser to the Government-General. The organisation
started operation in a government building at Fushimidai, Dairen
to undertake laboratory work in connection with the promotion
of industries and sanitary facilities, which were deemed absolutely
necessary for the development of Japanese people in Manchuria.
As it grew steadily larger, the Central Laboratory was later trans-
ferred to the management of the South Manchuria Railway Com-
pany to enable further expansion. The S.M.R. Company thus
took charge of the Central Laboratory, including its organisation,
equipment and staff. The Central Laboratory under S.M...”
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“...non-regular staff members.
51 junior regular employees.
188 general employees (Japanese).
40 (Manchurian).
Budget: The budget of the Central Laboratory is about
300,000 yen, including overhead charges and working
expenses.
The Central Laboratory occupies a site, covering an area of
33,861 square metres, with its buildings covering an area of
16,511 square metres.
Il. CHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN MANCHURIA AND
THE S.M.R. CENTRAL LABORATORY
True to the purpose of its founders, the S.M.R. Central
Laboratory has made substantial contributions to the industrial
development of Manchuria, by conducting physical and chemical...”
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“...THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN MANCHURIA 3
research work on the natural resources of Manchuria and
methods for their utilisation. Historically surveyed, the work
of the Central Laboratory may be divided into the following
three periods:
The First Period (from the Meiji to early in the Taisho Era)
—A period of research work on natural resources in
Manchuria.
The Second Period (from early in the Taisho Era to the end
of the Taisho Era)—-A period of industrial initiation.
The Third Period (from the end of the Taisho Era up to the
present)—A period of original industrial activity.
The First Period—A Period of Research Work
on Natural Resources
The first period of research work on the natural resources
in Manchuria was ushered in by the Russo-Japanese war (1904-5),
which imparted a powerful stimulus to the advance of the Japanese
people into Manchuria and Mongolia. The Central Laboratory
was entrusted with the task of undertaking laboratory work on
natural resources and hygienic and sanitary...”
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“...4 CONTEMPORARY MANCHURIA
The Second Period—A Period of Industrial Initiation
The second period, which was of industrial initiation, lasted
from the beginning to the end of the Taisho Era, namely from
1912 to 1925. In this period, studies were made on those
natural resources, on which research and laboratory work had
been conducted in the preceding period, for the purpose of
contributing to their industrialisation. Selecting those natural
resources which would be amenable to industrialisation, the
Central Laboratory set about industrialising them, by introduc-
ing experts from Japan or Europe and by conducting semi-
industrial -experiments on them. The major resources, thus in-
dustrialised are as follows.
The Soya-Bean Oil Industry
Early in the Taisho Era, the Central Laboratory purchased
from Europe an apparatus for extracting oil from soya-beans
using benzene as a solvent and installed it in an experimental
plant at Ssuerhkou in Dairen. This was the first plant for ex-
tracting oil...”
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“...THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN MANCHURIA 5
oil industry in Japan, where it forms one of the most important
branches of industry in general.
The Fire-brick, Ceremic and Glass Industries
The Central Laboratory has been conducting research work
on the ceramic industry in a trial plant, which has been devoted
to the experimental manufacture of fire-bricks, ceramic wares and
glass from materials available in Manchuria. The Dairen Ceramic
Works, Ltd. and the South Manchuria Glass Co., Ltd. represent
a consummation of the research work conducted so patiently and
systematically by the Central Laboratory. These two business
corporations were organised in the latter part of the Taisho Era
(1912-1925). The Shok6 Glass Co., Ltd., which was established
later in Dairen, is manufacturing plate glass by means of a process
evolved by the Central Laboratory. Thus the Central Laboratory
has been instrumental in making possible the organization of
those business corporations now engaged in the ceramic industry...”
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“...6 CONTEMPORARY MANCHURIA
present day, the Central Laboratory has emerged from the stage
of mere research and laboratory work or imitation of established
industries and launched upon original research and laboratory
work with a view to creating new, original industries. Processes
thus evolved by the Laboratory are industrialised in Manchuria,
while the reports of the Laboratory on its research work are at-
tracting growing attention from the scientific world in Japan.
These reports include papers on “ Research on the fermentation
of kaoliang gin”, ‘‘ Research on oil shale and shale oil”, “ Re-
search on the Manufacture of Fuel Oil by Dry Distillation of
Soya-Bean Oil with Fatty Acid and Lime Treatment”, “ Re-
search on Chinese herb medicines”, “ Research on the Fermenta-
tion of Aceton-Butyl Alcohol”, and ‘“ Research on the Extraction
of Soya-Bean Oil with Alcohol Treatment ”’.
Of the new industries which have been organised on the basis
of research carried out by the S.M.R. Central Laboratory...”
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“...THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN MANCHURIA 7
In connection with the shale oil industry at Bujun (Fushun),
the Bujun (Fushun) Cement Company, Ltd. is: manufacturing high-
grade cement on the basis of a process evolved by the S.M.R.
Central Laboratory. In working oil shale deposits, small fragments
are produced in large quantities, but they are unfit for use in the
retorts in which shale oil is manufactured. They are, however,
superior material for the manufacture of cement. Besides, they
save the cost of production of raw materials as well as the cost
of fuel for burning raw materials in manufacturing cement. These
factors are fully utilised by the Bujun Cement Co., Ltd.
Aluminium and Magnesium
Manchuria holds out every possibility of success for the light
metal industry, blessed as it is with rich deposits of alumina clay
and magnesite as well as with ample water and: coal power re-
sources,
The process of manufacture of aluminium by means of elec-
trolysis was invented by Charles Hall about...”
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“...8 CONTEMPORARY MANCHURIA
on the construction of another plant at Antung, with a view to
expanding its annual production.
The magnesite deposits at Tashihchiao in Fengtien Province
can, from both the quantitative and qualitative point of view,
bear comparison with similar deposits anywhere else in the
world. In 1913, when these deposits were discovered by an ex-
ploration party of the South Manchuria Railway Company, the
Central Laboratory immediately started research work on their
utilisation, and succeeded in manufacturing “lignoid ”’, a sort of
Sorel cement from magnesite ore. The Laboratory also conducted
research work on the manufacture of magnesium from magnesite
ore. In 1932, the Nichi-Man Magnesium Company, Ltd. was set
up at the town of Ube in Yamaguchi Prefecture in Japan for
the purpose of manufacturing magnesium by co-ordinating the
process evolved by the Central Laboratory for the manufacture
magnesium from magnesite and that evolved by the Physico-
Chemical Research Institute...”
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“...THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN MANCHURIA 9
on the basis of the new process. Extraction of soya-bean oil
by means of treatment with alcohol remains to be organised on
a large-scale industrial basis, but the new process is characterised
not only by production of high-grade soya-bean oil and bean-
cake, but by isolation of useful components of the soya-bean
such as lecithin, vitamin B and others, which were not possible
of extraction under the old processes.
Liquefaction of Coal
A drop of oil is reported to be as valuable in time of war as
a drop of blood is. It is hardly necessary to mention that self-
sufficiency in liquid fuel is vitally important for Japan, which is
not blessed with oil deposits. The S.M.R. Central Laboratory
has already made no small contribution to the development of
the shale oil industry, by completing the basic research work on
the manufacture of shale oil. Now that a law has been enacted
to provide for the promoting of coal liquefaction on an industrial
scale, the ...”
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“...10 CONTEMPORARY MANCHURIA
that industrialisation of his process has been successfully attempt-
ed. Of all the branches of the chemical industry, the lique-
faction of coal is regarded as one of the most difficult in respect
of technical installation. This accounts for the fact that Germany
is the only country in the world where this process has been
industrialised. In Germany brown coal is used for liquefaction,
but the plant at Fushun has to use bituminous coal, which is
more difficult of liquefaction. Credit is due the Fushun plant
for its success in liquefying coal within a year of its establish-
ment, obliged as it was to use such difficult coal and to depend
upon technical equipment, which were made in Japan with
materials produced at home; especially since liquefaction of coal
in Germany and Great Britain has a long record of difficult ex-
periments behind it. The coal liquefaction plant at Fushun still
remains an experimental one so far as size is concerned, but in
producing oil...”
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“...THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN MANCHURIA 11
furnace process and is highly esteemed as raw material for making
special types of steel. Japanese swords made of this iron have
captured the fancy and imagination of the Japanese people.
Researches on this kind of pure iron are being carried on
in various parts of Japan and Manchuria. Certain processes for
the manufacture of pure iron have already been commercialised
together with that evolved by the S.M.R. Central Laboratory ;
thus there appears to be a bright future ahead of this new branch
of industry.
Others
There are other processes, evolved by the S.M.R. Central
Laboratory, which have been already industrialised or are going
through experiments with that end in view, including fermenta-
tion of aceton-butanol and mineral separation by “ flotation ”.
The research and laboratory work conducted by the Central
Laboratory has been bearing fruit in industrialisation since the
beginning of the Showa Era (1926), and has been a substantial
factor...”
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“...12 CONTEMPORARY MANCHURIA
Capitalisation
Business Corporations (or Working
(or Factories) Funds) Enterprises
6. The Sankyo Company, Ltd. (Dairen
Works) oo... ceccccccccc nce ecec ees nsecaeeneeenes — Bean-cake & soy
7. The Fushun Shale Oil Plant (The
_S.M.R. Fushun Coal Mines)............ 20,000 Shale oil
8. The Manchuria Chemical Industry Co.
(Hydrogen Plant) 00.00.00... cece eee — Hydrogen
9. The Manchuria Soya-Bean Industry Co. 5,000 Extraction of soya-
bean oil
10. The Fushun Cement Co. .................. 2,500 Shale cement
11. The Manchuria Light Metal Industry Co. 50,000 Aluminium
12. The Manchuria Magnesium Co. ......... 10,000 Magnesium
13. The Fushun Coal Liquefaction Plant
(The S.M.R. Fushun Coal Mines) ... 20,000 Synthetic oil
14. The Fushun Experimental Iron Works
(The S.M.R. Fushun Coal Mines)...... 2,000 Pure iron
15. The Manchuria Special Products In-
dustrial Co. ......... eee eee eteceseeceeesteees — Refined Kaoliang
(2) Major Enterprises Which Have Entrusted...”
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“...THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN MANCHURIA 13
tributions, not only to the industrial development in Manchuria,
but also to the advance of science in general and to the raising
of technical standards. Besides establishing its position in the
scientific world as a physico-chemical research institute, the Labora-
tory has become the nerve centre of the chemical industry of
the Asiatic Continent, as a sequel to the growth in scope of the
China Incident. Contributions made by the Laboratory to the
development of the heavy and other branches of industry in
Manchoukuo, which has made a successful debut upon the world
stage as a rising industrial power, has already been reviewed in
the preceding pages, together with the results attained by its
research and ‘routine workers. Manchoukuo’s Five-Year Industrial
Plan further adds to the Laboratory’s responsibilities by calling
on it to redouble its efforts in alJ the fields in which it has
been working. The electro-chemical industry, which will de-
velop in...”
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“...14 CONTEMPORARY MANCHURIA
2. Researches on the manufacture of cylinder oil from
oil shale paraffin.
Researches on the Manufacture of Aluminium from
Alumina Shale.
Magnesite :
1. Manufacture of magnesium by direct reduction.
2. Researches on special fire-bricks.
Mineral Separation or Dressing (For Treatment of Poor
Ore).
Soya-Beans :
1. Researches on the new process of extraction of Soya-
Bean Oil.
2. Researches on the Industrial Utilisation of Soya-Bean
Albumin.
3. Processing of Soya-Bean oil.
(Hardened oil, high-grade alcohol and rubber sub-
stitute)
4. Researches on the Ingredients of Soya-Beans.
(Vitamin B, sucrose and stachyose)
Kaoliang and Maize:
Fermentation of Aceton-Butanol.
Wood and Plants (Bean-Husks, Cotton-Stalks and Reeds) :
1. Researches on the Manufacture of Pulp.
2. Researches on Synthetic Fibres.
3. Manufacture of Tannin and its Derivatives.
(Manufacture of White Birch Oil)
4. Researches on the Saccharification of Wood.
The objectives, methods of research and progress...”
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“...THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN MANCHURIA 15
perties of coal produced in Manchuria and North. China as well
as on new solvents and reagents. In the process of carrying out
fresh researches from every possible angle, the Laboratory has
succeeded in discovering an efficient new solvent for use in the
secondary hydrogenation process, namely at the stage of gasolini-
sation by treatment with hydrogen of the intermediate oil pro-
duced. by direct liquefaction. The Laboratory is now conducting
industrialisation experiments on this new process.
The so-called Fischer process, which synthetically manufactures
liquid fuel for use in internal combustion engines from water gas
kept under constant pressure in presence of a catalyst has made
a remarkable development both in Germany and Japan. An
improvement on the process, aiming at the synthetic manufacture
of liquid fuel under high pressure has seldom been tried else-
where, involving as it does considerable technical difficulty. But
the Central Laboratory...”
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“...16 CONTEMPORARY MANCHURIA
churia. The pity is that Jalai Nor brown coal contains over 50
per cent of water and easily cracks and crumbles, which makes
transportation over any real distance and even storage for any
length of time quite impossible. At the request of the Man-
churia Mining Company, the Central Laboratory investigated the
hardening of this coal and has perfected a process of making
briquettes from it. |
By-Products of Dry Distillation
Coal occupies an extremely important place in industry, not
only as.a fuel and the raw material for the manufacture of liquid
fuel, but as the basis raw material for the chemical industry.
Coal-tar, derived from the dry distillation of coal, and carbide,
produced from coal by the action of electricity form the back-
bone of the chemical industry. A phenomenal increase in the
production of coal-tar is promised in Manchuria, as the result
of the remarkable development of the coal distillation industry
and also of the projected large-scale expansion...”
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“...oil from paraffin derived from Fushun
shale oil, by a two-way chloridation using zinc chloride as catalyst.
Manufacture of this cylinder oil will be soon started at a plant,
which is now being designed by the General Directorate of Rail-
ways of the South Manchuria Railway Company.
(3) Alumina Shale
The S.M.R. Central Laboratory has perfected a process for
manufacturing aluminium from rich ore in alumina shale found
in Manchuria by combining the dry and wet methods. The
Manchuria Light Metal Manufacturing Company, which was set
up at Fushun, is manufacturing aluminium on the basis of this
process. The Laboratory has also evolved a process of manu-
facturing aluminium from poor ore in alumina shale, of which
the deposits in Manchuria are almost inexhaustible. The process
is based on the two-way treatment with alum, acid and lime. It
has already emerged from the laboratory stage and has success-
fully gone through industrialisation experiments. A by-product
of this process is sulphate of...”
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“...because
their melting-point is low and they are acid in nature. Besides,
Manchuria does not produce the proper type of silica for manu-
facturing firebricks. This has stimulated the Central Laboratory
to start research on the production of firebricks from magnesite
ote, which is found abundantly in Manchuria. The process
evolved by the Laboratory consists in melting magnesite by
electric heat and then moulding it into bricks. The Showa Steel
Works, Ltd. is now building an experimental plant at Anshan to
manufacture firebricks on a semi-industrial scale on the basis of
this process.
The firebrick made by this process is far superior to silica
and magnesia bricks in its resistance to heat, pressure and sudden
changes in temperature and in its power to withstand corrosion.
Therefore, it makes the best material for the construction of
furnaces for iron manufacture. Now that the iron and steel in-
dustry in Manchuria has been making phenomenal strides, the
successful manufacture of such superior...”
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