CHEMULPO
浦物濟
Che-mul-po
Ging
This port, called by the Japanese Jinsen, and by the Chinese Jenchuan, is situated on the west coast of Corea, in the metropolitan province of Kiongki, at the entrance of the Salée River, an embouchure of the Han or Seoul River. It was opened to foreign trade in 1883, when it was a poor fishing village, and is now a flourishing and rapidly increasing centre of trade, with a native population of under 12,000 and a foreign population of about 16,000 of which between 13,000 and 14,000 are Japanese; the Chinese number between 1,000 and 2,000, the number being greatest in the summer months; the British number 28; Germans 28; Americans 10; and French 8. A railway now runs from Chemulpo to Fusan, meeting the line from Seoul at Yong-dong-po- (Yei-do-ho)
The Settlements are fairly well built over and are now fully occupied. The price of land has risen to almost fabulous rates.
Chemulpo enjoys a beautiful climate and is never shut up by ice. The port has two anchorages, the outer one accommodating ships of all sizes, and the inner one frequented by ships of about 1,000 tons. An enormous rise and fall of the tide, which averages 30 feet, renders the inner anchorage difficult of access to larger ships, and is also a serious hindrance to the navigation of the Seoul River. Only vessels not drawing over six feet may safely run between Chemulpo and Mapu, 8 place on the river three miles south-west of the capital.
The steamers of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Osaka Shosen Kaisha call regularly and have the bulk of the trade and passenger communication with Japan, and, in the case of the former, with North China. The Russian East Asiatic Steamship Company have a regular service between Vladivostock and Shanghai, touching at "Chemulpo. British steamers also call more frequently than formerly.
There are telegraphic communications with China (overland) and with Japan, a cable between Chemulpo and Chefoo remaining a desideratum.
Chemulpo easily retains its position as the principal port in Corea. The volume of trade at the port has more than trebled during the past ten years. Japanese enterprise is abundantly in evidence, and many projects for the improvement and development of the port are at present receiving attention, including harbour improve- ments, waterworks, and industrial enterprises. The foreign trade of the port for 1907 showed an increase of about £1,000,000 as compared with the returns for 1906. It reached the sum of £2,562,189, exclusive of gold export (£388,991). Imports were valued at £2,089,930 (cotton goods, railway plant and silk piece goods being the largest items), and exports £472,259.
社會合資易貿英日
DIRECTORY
ANGLO-JAPANESE TRADING CO., Export and
Import Merchants (Nichiyei Boyeki
Goshi Kwaisha): Tel. Ad. Nichiyei
Director-W. Geo. Bennett
Do. -Shiuichiro Yebara
Agency
Chiyoda Mutual Life Insurance Co.
昌廣
Kwang-chang
BENNETT & Co., Merch'ts: Tel. Ad, Bennett
Walter Geo. Bennett, signs the firm Shiuichiro Yebara,
do.
T. Ito
B. Uyeyama (Dalny)
Agencies
General Accident Fire and Life Assce.
Corporation Ld.
Phoenix Assurance Co., Ld.
North China Insurance Co., Ld,
Manufacturers Life Insce. Co. of Canada
CHAMBER OF COMMerce (Japanese)
Chairman-Y. Kaku
Vice-Chairman-K. Shigen