Directory_and_Chronicle_1911 — Page 757

CHINNAMPO

Chin-nam-po

This port was opened to foreign trade on the 1st October, 1897, in pursuance of a resolution passed by the Council of State. The port is situated on the north bank of the Tatung inlet, about twenty miles from its mouth, in the extreme south-west of the province of Pyeng-yang. It is some forty miles distant by water from Ping-yang, the third city in the Kingdom, with a population of 40,000, and it is expected that it will become a place of considerable commercial activity. The province is rich in agricultural and mineral wealth, the latter being now developed by foreign enterprise. Like all the other ports of Korea in 1907 Chinnampo was able to report a substantial increase in foreign trade.

The exports in 1908 amounted in value to Yen 1,978,744, and the imports to Yen 3,057,586, the total trade being nearly half a million less than in 1907. The business of the port is increasing year by year, the rich hinterland holding out good prospects for the future. In the General Foreign Settlement, where formerly only a few mud huts were to be seen, substantial wooden and brick buildings have taken their place. The business community is entirely composed of Japanese and Chinese. The Japanese population its about 5,000

The principal articles of export are rice, beans, wheat, maize, cow-hides and timber. Of imports, cotton and silk piece goods, matches, kerosene, porcelain, iron and hardware deserve mention. The harbour of Chinnampo affords safe accom- modation for a great number of vessels of the deepest draught and the largest tonnage.

PINGYANG

Pingyang, the capital city of the province of the same name, about 44 miles from the port of Chinnampo, ranks as the third city of Chosen. It has been opened as a trad- ing mart, where foreigners may reside, trade, and rent landand houses, according to native rules, anywhere within the limit to be marked off for that purpose. This limit was, however, ignored, and the Government allowed the matter to slide. No Custom-house will be opened there, all goods to and from Pingyang paying duty for and from abroad at Chinnampo. The foreigners residing at Pingyang are American, British and French missionaries, a few Chinese traders, and a growing number of Japanese. Two steamers under the Japanese flag keep up communication between Pingyang and the port of Chinnampo, making the trip in about five hours. The famous city of Pingyang, with its historical battlefields, is well worth a visit, fairly good Japanese house accommodation being procurable. The city is beautifully situated in an extensive plain, on the right bank of the Ta-tong River. To the northward of Pingyang city, about 100 i distant, are situated the American and British mining concession, where less than 20 years ago the foot of the Occidental had never been allowed to tread; the natives are now quite familiarized with western mining life as it unfolds itself before their eyes. Both imines are worked by foreigners with native help.