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“...were disappointed. Prospects
gradually weakening, crop estimates became smaller and smaller so
that prices rose in sympathy, and to such an extent that at the end of
the year under review they reached a point higher than any recorded
during the last 20 years. Many of the cotton mills which had failed
to take advantage of the profitable prices during the first half of the
year found themselves compelled to buy Chinese and American cotton,
which was cheap in comparison with the Indian staple. This holds
good more particularly for the last quarter of 1910 in respect of American
cotton. During the first nine months of 1910 prices for American
cotton ruled very high as compared with those of Indian cotton, and
the mills gave their attention principally to the latter, imports of
American cotton for this reason showing a heavy decrease on those
of 1909. In the last three months, however, whilst Indian cotton...”
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“...kobe.
5
steadily advanced in price, American rose but slightly, and the mills
reverted to the latter for supplies. Large quantities of American
cotton were sold in November and December, but these did not reach
Japan before the end of the year 1910.
The import of Chinese cotton for the first eight months of the
year were below the average, but from September to December,
for the reasons above stated, business became much brisker. The
import of the new season's cotton from China promises to be in excess
of any previous season.
Complaints are still made with regard to the watering of Chinese
cotton, which seems to be indulged in as much as ever, no check
apparently being put upon the practice by the Chinese authorities.
This cotton would assuredly command far better prices except for this
failing, which, owing to the superabundance of moisture held by the
cotton, renders it unsuited for long storage.
As already stated, there was a considerable increase in quantity
and more especially in value...”
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“...electrification plant,
for which one of the two above-mentioned secured the power-house
machinery and rolling-stock, and the Kobe Electric Light Company, the
turbo-generators for which were secured by the same firm, the boilers,
however, being British. Amongst the orders secured for American
manufactures may be mentioned the Minomo-Arima Electric Railway
(power station and rolling-stock), the large filtering plant for the
Kyoto municipal waterworks, and the complete equipment for two
large sugar mills in Formosa (the orders for which were placed in Kobe
though the machinery was shipped direct to Formosa). The large
turbo-generators for the Osaka Electric Light Company were also
ordered from a well-known American firm.
Amongst the contracts secured for British machinery may be
mentioned the Kobe Electric Railway Company (complete power-
house and trucks, while the motors for the trucks were secured by an
American firm) and the Keihan Electric Railway Company (the power-
house and the motors...”
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“...which showed
an increase over the previous year of 51,948| bales. The market ruled
flat in the beginning of the year, but towards the middle of February
export inquiries from China considerably enlivened it, and, coupled
with the advance in raw material, it became quite firm by the end of
March. The arrangement among the mill owners for restricting the
production by curtailment of spindles came to an end at the same
time and was not further renewed. The consequence was that the
output by the mills was at their fullest capacity, and the monthly
production averaged nearly 100,000 bales, causing thereby a rapid
accumulation of stocks. The dulness of export, the over-stock of
cotton in the market, the depression in piece-goods and the damage
by floods in August combined to bring about a heavy decline. On
the other hand, raw cotton continued to advance, and spinners had
to face a serious difficulty as they could see no probability of improve-
ment in yarn prices. Therefore the Mill Owners' ...”
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“...10
kobe.
up both for export and for home consumption. In sympathy with the
continuous advance in raw cotton as well as in silver the yarn market
followed suit, and not only all the heavy stock on hand was soon
disposed of by the end of the year but forward contracts to the end
of April were also entered into by the mills. The market closed very
strong. Prices of 20's ranged as follows :
Price per Bale.
Yen. Yen.
January to May ......... 132 to 138
May to August............ 138 123
August to December......... 123 150
Note.1 bale = 40 bundles.
Copper.The value of the export of refined copper shows a further
move in the upward direction, with an increase of 28,000?. on that of
the previous year, although the amount exported was a few hundred
tons less in quantity. The distribution of the export was as follows :
Lbs. £
United Kingdom 13,732,147 360,972
Hong-Kong ... 16,505,025 384,492
British India ... 5,766,653 155,694
United States ... 5,500,487 177,290
China ............294,875 8,861
Other...”
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“...imports of which were less by over 10,000?. than in 1909, while imports
of German goods rose from 50,383?. in 1909 to 78,184?., and of those
from the United States from 26,976?. to 51,090?.
Raw cotton.The imports of raw cotton in 1910 reached a figure
far in excess of any hitherto, and amounted to 44 per cent, of the
import trade of the port. This is partly to be accounted for by the
depletion of stocks at the end of 1909 and partly by the activity of
the spinning and weaving mills throughout the year.
The cotton mills in Osaka consumed during the year ended June 30,
1910, 200,652,149 lbs. of raw cotton, in the following proportion :
The consumption of Indian cotton was some 36,000,000 lbs. and
that of Egyptian some 2,000,000 lbs. greater than in the previous
year ; other varieties showed a decrease.
The statement in the trade report for 1909 as to the increasing
tendency to import raw cotton direct to Osaka, instead of through
Lbs.
Indian ...
American
Chinese...
Egyptian
135,981,380
30,735...”
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“...cotton yarn by the Osaka mills in 1910 was un-
precedented, in spite of the fact that a large number of spindles were
suspended in order to keep prices up and prevent a glut of the market.
The increased demand in China for yarns of the finer counts was
marked, exports of yarn of over 20 count having risen from 2,988,400
lbs. in 1909 to 5,421,580 lbs. in 1910.
Textiles.A further increase in the export of cotton goods is to be
noted in 1910, with the exception of shirtings and sheetings, which
fell off. Exports of cotton drills to China rose by no less than 160,605?.,
or over 50 per cent. China takes about 50 per cent, of the exports of
cotton goods from Osaka, the Kwantung Peninsula about 20 per cent.,
and Corea a similar proportion.
There are in Osaka and its vicinity 191 cotton weaving mills, large
and small, with 12,707 looms, the weaving industry being only second
to that of cotton spinning, with which it is associated in several of the
larger spinning mills.
Matches.Exporters of matches...”
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