<Articles>Several Problems about the Mine Industry : A Case Study of Sanko 三光 Copper Mine in Wakasa 若狭

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Other Title
  • <論説>鉱山稼行とその周辺 : 若狭、三光銅山の場合
  • 鉱山稼行とその周辺--若狭,三光銅山の場合
  • コウザンカコウ ト ソノ シュウヘン ワカサ , サンコウ ドウザン ノ バアイ

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Abstract

Sanko copper mine in Wakasa was exploited in the later Edo 江戸 era when the production of copper decreased. At first it was in the direct management of the Obama clan and produced a lot of copper. But refining smoke and poisonous water of the mine had the ill effects upon the neighbouring villages, it was soon closed. Tokugawa Bakufu 徳川幕府 re-established the copper guild in 1767 and strictly controlled the copper industry in order to ensure the copper for export. The copper produced in Akita 秋田, Nanbu 南部, and BesshiTachikawa 別子立川 i. e. two thirds of the copper produced in Japan was appropriated for the export. The rest of copper was allotted for internal use, but its price was very unstable and sometimes made a sharp rise. As the price of copper for internal use was often much higher than that of copper for export, the production of copper for internal use should increase. The Sumitomos 住友, one of the biggest copper mine operators, were interested in the re-exploitation of Sanko, for the copper of their Besshi別子mine was appropriated for export by Bakufu, so that its management was not easy. By the previous experience the Obama clan was careful about the re-exploitation, but in order to tide over the financial crisis it permitted Sumitomo to mine. Sumitomo took various measures to prevent the mine pollution. Though Sanko was one of the richest copper mines producing for internal use, it fell in financial difficulties. It was due to the nature of ore, price control of copper guild and the expenses of the measures to prevent the mine pollution. Management organization remaining unchanged, its operator changed one after another, and in Meiji 明治 era it was closed at last.

Journal

  • 史林

    史林 57 (1), 1-67, 1974-01-01

    THE SHIGAKU KENKYUKAI (The Society of Historical Research), Kyoto University

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