Directory_and_Chronicle_1907 — Page 708

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

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WONSAN (GENSAN OR YUENSAN)

Yuen-san

This port, situated in Broughton Bay, on the north-eastern coast of Corea, is in the southern corner of the province of South 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. 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 250 houses, with 2,000 inhabitants. The Chinese number 120, and the European and American residents about 30. 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. It has been decided to illuminate the harbour by three lighthouses. 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 mirerals, 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, and are largely exported to Vladivostock for food purposes. A telegraph line to Seoul was opened in July, 1891, and has been extended northwards to within 100 li of the Russian frontiers.

Trade is carried on by regular lines of steamers running to Japan, Shanghai, and Vladivostock. The returns for 1905 show the value of the trade with foreign countries to be: Imports £400,945 (as compared with £108,029 in 1904), and Exports £63,073, against £65,902, in 1904. The exports consist chiefly of beans, cattle, dried fish, gold-dust, whale-flesh and skins. Imports consist chiefly of cotton and silk manufac tured goods, cotton wadding, metals and kerosene oil. Cotton goods imported in 1905 were valued at £194,427, representing an increase of about £140,000 on the figures for 1904, and metal goods valued at £8,914, was more than four times the previous year's import.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1907 — Page 708

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