Directory_and_Chronicle_1897 — Page 129

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

GENSAN, WONSAN, OR 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 Wladivostock. 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 steainship 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. The European and American resid- ents number about 40. 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 port, as nearly all over the country, are very fine and plentiful, and can be bought at this 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 Wladivostock. The net value of the trade in 1895 was $2,816,306 as compared with $2,298,687 in 1894 and $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.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1897 — Page 129

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