Show COTTON TADE relations with united states have have Fal lenOff washington march 6 0 cotton claths cloths from the united states to japan have fallen by reason of the rapid increase in the manufacture of cotton cloth in that country the total for 1902 being but against in 1897 meantime however ex of raw cotton to japan have rapidly increased being as already indicated in 1802 against in this Is largely due to the increase in the manufacture of botton goods in japan though american cotton has grown in popularity with the manufacturers there within the past few years experience has chown them that cotton atom the united states Is more satisfactory tor use n manufacturing than that which japan had been accustomed to obtain from india and china the staple in american cotton being longer thus giving better results the cotton ot adla ho ryver rolls at a lower price ban that 0 the united states and therefore still finds a large market in japan in years of plentiful supply japan also produces a considerable amount of cotton though it caa scarcely be expected that this wll increase in a manner to at all keep pace with the growth of her cotton manufacturing industry the entire area of jap nn Is but square miles or less than the state of california while but about 12 per cent of the land Is under cultivation an d buta comparatively small proportion cultivable since mountain ranges an rocky islets and shores occupy a large proportion of its area it must be remembered that japan with her small cultivable area has a population bojt and must therefore devote most other arable land to the production of food stuffs while her natural products of bilk and tea are so much in demand the world over that they are not likely to be displaced for cotton which can be BO readily brought from other and comparatively adjacent countries cotton manufacturing in japan has however grown very rapidly the total number of spindles in 1899 being against in it is thus apparent that japan will continue to purchase from other parts of the world a large proportion of the raw cotton which her rapidly growing cotton mills will consume and as the cotton from the united states has already made headway against that from the nearer countries of china and india it Is rea atonable to assume that the market for american cotton will continue to grow especially it an isthmian gives opportunity tor direct water shipments from the cotton growing section 0 the felted states to the ports ot japan without breaking bulk |