Directory_and_Chronicle_1896 — Page 496

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

CHEMULPO,

Port of JENCHUAN, called also JINSEN and INCIIIUN

This port, known to the Japanese as Jinsen, is situated in lat. 37 deg. 28 min. 30 sec. N. and long. 126 deg. 37 min. E., at the entrance to the Salée river, an embouchure of the Han-kang close to and immediately east of Roze island, on the west coast of Corea, in the metropolitan province of Kiung-kei. Though only nine years ago a mere fishing village, and now still in its infancy, many buildings of a substantial character have been erected and the port is rapidly rising into importance as a commercial centre.

The sub-prefectural town of Jenchuan is situated 10 li distant from the port, which latter is locally known as Chemulpo. Fut-bing on the Han-kang is the nearest prefectural city, and is distant some 35 li, near which place is situated, also on the Han-kang, the rising town of Mapu, which lies on the main road to Hanyang (Seoul) some 75 li distant from the port (Chemulpo), or 30 li from Seoul. The whole of the land forming the Japanese Settlement at Chemulpo was sold publicly early in 1884; and the first land sales in the general Foreign Settlement took place on the 7th November of the same year. There is a Municipal Council at Chemulpo composed of the Foreign Consuls, one Corean official, and three representatives of the landholders. The Council employs one European and six Japanese and Chinese police constables. The settlements have been neatly laid out, with broad well metalled roads, some of which are planted with trees, and the lots are all built upon. The outer anchorage is accessible to ships of all sizes, and the inner one to coasting vessels and steamers ordinarily employed in the local trade. The river is navigable for vessels not drawing over 10 feet up to Mapu; but seeing that at certain seasons there are a few places where the fall in the river is very considerable, owing to the existence of sand banks, it is desirable that river steamers, intended to run regularly, should not draw over six feet. An overland telegraph line from China to this port and the city of Seoul was opened to traffic in November, 1885. The climate is healthy and may be compared to that of Chefoo. The foreign population was 3,719 (including 3,492 Japanese and 179 Chinese) in 1894; the natives were estimated at 3,532.

The port was opened to Japanese trade on the 1st January, 1883, and to foreign trade on the 16th June of the same year. The value of the imports from foreign countries in 1894 was $3,703,115, and that of the exports to foreign countries $1,276,453. The total value of the trade of the port in 1894 was $6,050,652 compared with $3,976,885 in 1893.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1896 — Page 496

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