Directory_and_Chronicle_1895 — Page 482

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

GENSAN OR WONSAN (YUENSAN)

This port, situated in Broughton Bay, on the north-eastern 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 Japan and China no other countries are commercially represented at present. It is called Gensan by the Japanese and Wonsan by the Coreans, and under that name is thus described by Mr. Aston:- "The town extends for a mile along the southern shore of the bay, and consists of about two thousand houses with a population of perhaps 15,000 inhabitants. One main street of some ten to twelve feet in width winds through from end to end and into this open numerous narrow and crooked alleys." Near each end of the town is an open space where a market, chiefly for agricultural produce, is held about six times a month. The houses are mean and dirty, and the town presents a poverty-stricken appearance. 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 native town is increasing in size and extending in the direction of the foreign Settlements. The Japanese have a nice clean looking Settlement, consisting of about a hundred houses built in semi-European style and a really fine Consulate, of foreign design, containing at least forty rooms and offices. town as a whole is at present under Japanese administration. In 1893 there were 893 foreign residents, of whom 794 were Japanese and 74 Chinese. The population of the native city was in the same year estimated at 15,000. 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 1893 was $1,477,439 as compared with $1,579,203 in 1892. 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.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1895 — Page 482

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