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Larroque was charged with conducting inspections and preparing an estimate for the modernization of the Besshi mine. During the 22-month contract period, Larroque surveyed approximately 165,000m² of mining areas and prepared a realistic, detailed, and forward-looking report. Hirose was delighted with the report’s thoroughness and gave Larroque the highest praise. Upon finishing his job and fulfilling his contract, Larroque expressed concern that perhaps such a major undertaking would be too difficult for the Japanese to complete on their own. He recommended that his contract be renewed. Hirose, however, being well versed in the mining business and having spent his life since age 11 at the Besshi mine, made the bold choice to proceed without foreign help. Hirose then set out to modernize the Besshi mine. He sent two Sumitomo employees to attend a mining school in France and moved swiftly to introduce new machinery like steam engines, ro ck drills, and windlasses. These efforts yielded results and the mine’s performance gradually improved. By 1888, the mine was recording the highest copper output in the nearly 200-year history since mining operations began in 1691.
All over Japan, spinning mills, shipyards, ironworks, mines, and other government-run facilities built under the guidance of foreign engineers began operations. Such industries were at the forefront of bringing modern technologies from overseas to Japan.
In the roughly 30-year period from the Meiji Restoration to the century’s end, Sumitomo as well as the nation acquired knowledge and technologies brought by foreign nationals, and stored up energy for the coming century of industrialization. |
