Directory_and_Chronicle_1899 — Page 537

CHEMULPO-WONSAN (GENSAN OR YUENSAN)

NIPPON YUSEN KAISHA (Japan MailS. S. Co.)

S. Todzio, manager

T. Oka, F. Mori, K. Takasaka, S. Sugihara, H. Kitahara, O. Tachi- bana, K. Yamamura, clerks

ORIENTAL CONsolidated MINING CO.

Leigh Hunt, general manager

ORIENTAL HOTEL

N. Krell, proprietor

OSAKA SHOSEN KAISHA

J. Shibahara, manager

H. Katsumura, chief clerk

SEOUL-CHEMULPO RAILROAD

The American Oriental Construction Co.,

Contractors for Construction

H. Collbran, presdt, and gl. manager

H. R. Bostwick, auditor & asst. mgr. S. F. Philips, supdt. of construction

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E. E. Rittenhouse, supt. motive pwr.

W. H. Homes, superindt. of bridges A. Salvucci, engineer

T. Komatsu,

do.

J. T. Nagasse, chief clerk M. Takana, clerk

SEOUL ELECTRIC STREET RAILROAD

The American Oriental Contruction Co.,

Contractors for Construction H. Collbran, presdt. and gl. manager

H. R. Bostwick., auditor & asst. mgr. J. T. Nagasse, assistant auditor H. Maki, chief engineer

J. L. Ferguson, supt. of construction

TOWNSEND & Co., Merchants

W. D. Townsend Agency

Standard Oil Company of New York Sub-Agency

Commercial Union Insurance Co., Ld.

WONSAN (GENSAN 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 Vladivostock. It was opened to Japanese trade on the 1st May, 1880. and to other uations in November, 1883. It is called Gensan by the Japanese and Yuensan by the Chinese. 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 residents number about 20. The harbour is a good one, being spacious, easy of access, well sheltered, with excellent holding ground, and con- venient 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 Wonsan 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 the 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.

Trade is carried on by regular lines of steamers running to Japan, Shanghai, and Vladivostock. The imports from foreign countries in 1897 amounted to ven 1,647,079 and the exports to yen 571,849. The total net value of the trade in 1897 was yen 3,071.726 as compared with $1,411,898 in 1896, $2.816,306 in 1895. $2,298,687 in 1894, and 81,477,429 in 1893. The exports consist chiefly of hides, beans, gold-dust. dried fish, and skins. The value of native gold exported to foreign countries in 1897 was yen 985,045, not included in the exports of merchandise. The imports consist chiefly of cotton and silk manufactured goods, metals, and dyes.

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