Japan by the Japanese/Chapter 20.2

The largest copper-producing country in the world is at present the United States of America, while Spain and Chili follow. Japan takes the third rank, although her name does not appear in the statistics. Even if her name does appear, it occupies the lowest rank, in spite of the fact that her producing capacity is never lower than third. The amount of copper produced in Japan in 1899 was 40,459,709 catties (1 catty equals about 1⅓ pounds), of which over 10,000,000 catties were produced in the Ashio Mines. Besides being the most important mine in point of production, Ashio is also the most advanced in methods of working, and it is noteworthy that all of the thousands of men and officials and engineers employed are Japanese. There are many copper-mines in Japan, the noted ones numbering as many as fifteen or sixteen, while Ashio alone supplies a quarter of the whole amount of Japan’s copper production. The Besshi Mine ranks next to Ashio, but its production has never been more than one-half of that of Ashio. The others are comparatively small mines.

Japan, being one of the old countries of the world, was not ignorant of the work of mining and metallurgy. This was, of course, not only known, but practised, in the earliest times; but in Japan the work was limited to the demand of coal for domestic consumption, and so was of slow development. Moreover, in the days of the Tokugawa Shogunate, foreign trade ​having been prohibited, the export of mining products was completely stopped. The gold, silver, copper, iron, and other mines in those days were all worked by the Government, and even after the Restoration, when foreign trade was permitted, the principal mines in the country continued to be worked by the Government in such an extravagant way as to prevent them from becoming paying concerns. The other mines that were worked by private capital were not more successful, on account of the want of sufficient capital, and also because of the primitive way of working.

While the mineral wealth of the country was thus undeveloped, Mr. Furukawa undertook to work the Ashio Mine, which under his guidance and leadership has become practically the most successful mining business in Japan financially. In this way he proved the possibility of the successful and economical working of a mine as a private undertaking.

In 1885 Mr. Furukawa bought from the Government the Innai Silver-mine and the Ani Copper-mine, and when the work became fairly established under his management he invested further sums, and became the owner of practically all the principal mines in the northern portion of the Main Island. The work thus acquired was extended and established on a sound basis, gradually proving a business success. The formation of a Copper Syndicate in Europe led to the price of copper suddenly appreciating, thus increasing Mr. Furukawa’s profit. The syndicate having been found to be speculative in its transactions, Mr. Furukawa, instead of selling his copper direct to the syndicate, sold it through Messrs. Jardine and Co., to which company he bound himself to sell his total annual production at a fixed price for a term of three years. By this arrangement he luckily escaped the loss consequent upon the disappearance of the syndicate. He utilized all the profits he thus obtained to introduce improvements in the workings of his mines, of which the smelting works received his principal attention. In 1893 he introduced the Bessemer system of smelting matter. He was not only the first in Japan to adopt that system, but the first to adapt the system to copper-mines. Seeing also the necessity of introducing the most improved methods in reduction work, he established the Shinonome reduction system in all his copper-mines in the north-eastern district. In Tokyo he established the Copper Refining Works, where electric refining is employed and copper wires are manufactured. He also has a coke factory, which supplies his smelting furnaces with its output. The mines and factories owned by Mr. Furukawa are as follows:

Ashio Copper-mine, Ani Copper-mine, Daira Lead-mine, Hachimori Silver-mine, Shinonome Reduction Work, Furogura ​Copper-mine, Nagamatsu Copper-mine, Otori Copper-mine, Mizusawa Copper-mine, Kusakura Copper-mine, Kune Copper-mine, Katsuno Coal-mine (in Kyushyu), Tokyo Copper Refining Works, Tokyo Coke Factory.

In carrying out the work of the above mines and factories, Mr. Furukawa depended solely on his own capital. He had no partner in his extensive business.

Mr. Furukawa devoted himself to mining, and to his energy is due the present advanced state of the Japanese mining industry. His own opinions on the subject of mining are expressed in the following sentences:

‘Since I determined to give myself up to the mining enterprise, I have never engaged in any other business; nor have I allowed myself to be prevailed on by some of my friends, who advised me to quit my present position and take up a far more profitable one in the business world. Secluded as I am in remote mountains, the life of a miner seems to be invariably monotonous and uninteresting; but, far from being so, it very much resembles that of a planter in a new territory, who must be provided with all that is necessary for the preservation of life. For their health and education miners have to establish schools and hospitals. There must be some charity arrangements for the benefit of the poor and the down-trodden. As places of public worship, temples and shrines are erected among the inhabitants, roads and railways must be constructed to facilitate public communication. For the supply of daily necessaries of life market-places must be established and kept opened. These, together with other innumerable affairs indispensable for human existence, go to make up the miner’s life—a miniature representation of a national life. How exulting would it be for a commoner to be crowned King of a nation, small though it be! Yet such a triumphant rejoicing awaits an enterprising miner who dares to sacrifice all to his main purpose.’

Everything received his personal supervision, though his son, Mr. Junkichi Furukawa was at the head of the business department. Numerous experts and other officials are employed in the different departments of this extensive concern. The number of employés at the end of 1900 was:

These numbers are subject to increase by temporary service employed from time to time.

​The Ashio Copper-mine is situated in the province of Shimotsuke, close to Nikko; its exact position is latitude 36° 30′ north and longitude 0° 20′ west. The highest part of the mine is 4,400 feet above the sea-level. The office of the mine, even, which is situated in a valley, lies as high as 2,580 feet above the sea-level. It was in A.D. 1610 that the existence of copper here was first discovered, and from the year following the Tokugawa Shogunate undertook the work as a source of revenue. The copper used in the magnificent temples of Shiba, Uyeno and Nikko was all supplied from this mine. In Yedo (the present Tokyo), Osaka, and Nagasaki, depots were established for selling the copper produced. The amount of copper produced in those days is difficult to ascertain, but one-fifth of the amount sold in those depots is said to have been bought by the Dutch and exported. The work of the mine has not been free from vicissitudes, but its richness is so great that even to-day its possibilities cannot be adequately estimated, and the mine still continues to be a most promising and paying concern.

At the commencement of the New Era (the Restoration period), 1867–68, the mine, then under the control of the Nikko Prefecture, encountered its greatest adversity, and the enterprise was far from prosperous. In 1871 the work was transferred from the Government to private undertakings, but this only resulted in an increase in the amount of production of some 25 or 26 tons a year.

In 1877, however, the work began to show signs of improvement owing to the joint efforts of Messrs. Ichiu Furukawa, Eiichi Shibusawa (now Baron), and Naomichi Shiga; later the last two gentlemen transferred their interests to Mr. Furukawa, who thus became the sole owner of the mine.

The mine having been worked for so many years, there are many old levels, but they have been completely abandoned as a result of the introduction of improved methods of working. The present levels are those of Honzan, Ariki, Kotaki, and Tsudo. Their total length is 149,973 feet, and all are connected by shafts and wings. The length of the vertical shafts is 12,269 feet.

The present works in the mine being above the lowest water-level of the mountains, the lodes are worked mainly by the driven levels, and the vertical shafts are sunk where communication between the levels, transportation, or ventilation, makes them necessary. There is no necessity for furnishing power for pumping and winding, which is so great a feature in mines below the water-level, which is a great advantage in the working of the mine.

The underground working faces upon which work is now ​actually being done are about one hundred. The working hours of the miners are eight, sometimes six. The day is divided into three or four equal parts according to the class of work. The average amount of ore extracted by one miner (in eight hours) is from forty to fifty kwan. According to the nature of the rock, gunpowder or dynamite is used, while in case of a necessity for more rapid working, rock-drills are always employed. The length of the mining railway for conveying the ores and stones, etc., is 173,159 feet.

The ore is sent to the concentration mill, from whence the dressed ore is forwarded to the smelting department. The number of workpeople employed in February, 1901, was as follows:

The smelting department is situated within the mine precincts, and the monthly amount of copper turned out is about 920,000 catties. The number of hands employed in this department is 719.

The most modern and varied machines are employed in mining, dressing, and smelting the ore.

In the practical application of electricity, as a motor both in and out of the mine, Ashio was the pioneer. The work was begun in 1887 and completed in 1889. Since then the electric power has come to be utilized for various kinds of work in the mine. The working of the Ashio Mine being above the water-level of the mountains, comparatively less total power is needed, and, there being numerous streams in the mountains, facilities are provided for obtaining motive power by leading the streams to suitable places for the driving of electric turbines. Thus, the power necessary for the general working of the mine, as well as the electric lighting and railways, is all furnished by the streams of the Ashio Mountains. In winter, however, it is necessary to employ steam-power, as the streams are frozen.

For the health of the workers employed in the mine, as well as for their education and provision against cases of sickness and accident, the mining department has established various institutions. At the mine itself there are three hospitals for the miners and officials. There are also two common schools for the education of their children. Besides this, there is a sum of money set aside for the assistance of the sick and of the ​families of deceased miners. This sum is formed by contributions from the owner, the mine officials, the friends, and visitors.

Of all the mines in Japan, Ashio is situated nearest to the capital of the country, and so has the greatest advantage in means of conveyance; and yet, for the working of the mine, as well as for the men and the officials, special measures have had to be taken to insure the supply of necessary articles. For this purpose there were established two special departments—the engineering and the provision. In the engineering department everything relating to the electrical, mechanical, and civil works is dealt with. The manufacture and repair of the mining machinery is undertaken in this department. In the provision department everything relating to forestry, stores, and transport is supervised. Under the head of forestry is included the provision of the necessary timber for the underground workings, as well as the general supply of timber. This timber is procured from far-distant forests, and the question of its transport to Ashio is a very complicated one. Under the head of transport comes the conveyance of the finished copper from the mine, and also the conveyance to the mine of all goods necessary for every branch of work. There is a private tramway which connects the Nippon Railway Company’s lines at Nikko Station with the aerial tramway over the mountains to the mine. In the work of transportation many cattle and horses are employed. In the shops at the mine provided by the mine management are to be obtained all the tools and materials necessary for the work at the mine, besides provisions and necessary articles for the officials and men. These things are sold to the men at the original cost, thus enabling them to live very cheaply and economically. Besides these shops, there are thousands of retail merchants in the neighbourhood of the mine, but they find it impossible to compete with the wholesale prices of the mining shops. The cost of articles thus purchased is deducted from the wages of the miners, and the men thus derive greater benefit than they would under the co-operative system in vogue in Europe and America.