Directory_and_Chronicle_1896

GENSAN OR WONSAN (YUENSAN)

This port, situated in Broughton Bay, on the north-castern coast of Corea, is in the southern corner of the province of Ham-kiung, about half way between Fusan and Vladivostock. It was opened to Japanese trade on the 1st May, 1880, and to other nations in November, 1883, but with the exception of a Russian steamship agency Japan and China are the only countries commercially represented at present. It is called Gensan by the Japanese and Wonsan by the Coreans. The native town has grown considerably since the port was opened to trade and contains now a population of fully 20,000 inhabitants. The town is built along the southern shore of the bay, and through it runs the main road which leads from Seoul to the Tumen river. Markets are held five times a month for the sale of agricultural produce and Foreign imports. The Custom House is situated in the heart of the Foreign Settlements about a mile distant from the Native town. The Japanese have a well-kept settlement containing about 200 houses, with nearly 1,500 inhabitants. The Chinese settlement, which was deserted during the recent war, has been reoccupied, there being at present about 30 traders living in it. The European and American residents number 38 all told. The harbour is a good one, being spacious, easy of access, well sheltered, with excellent holding ground, and convenient depth of water. January is the coldest month, and one corner of the harbour-that before the native town--is sometimes frozen over, but the part used by shipping is never covered with ice of such a thickness as to interfere with navigation. The country around Yuensan is under cultivation, and the soil is very rich. Within a short distance of the port are mines producing copper and other minerals, and gold is found amongst the neighbouring mountains. The cattle at this port, as nearly all over the country, are very fine and plentiful, and can be bought at very low rates; they are used as beasts of burden and for agricultural purposes. A telegraph line from hence to Seoul was opened in July, 1891.

The trade is carried on by regular lines of steamers running to Japan, Shanghai, and Vladivostock. The net value of the trade in 1894 was $2,298,687 as compared with $1,477,429 in 1893. The exports consist chiefly of hides, beans, gold-dust, dried fish, and skins. The imports consist chiefly of cotton and silk manufactured goods, metals, and dyes.

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