FUSAN
山釜 Fu-evt
Fusan, or Pusan, as it is called by the native population, is the chief port of Kiung-sang-do, the south-eastern province of Chosen, and lies in lat. 35 deg. 6 min. 6 sec. N. and long 129 deg. 3 min. 2 sec. E. It was opened to Japanese trade in 1876 and to Western nations in 1883. The native town consists of some 550 houses with a population of about 5,000 inhabitants. The Japanese settlement is situated a little distance from the native town, opposite the island of Cholyongdo (Deer Island). It is under the control of the Prefect appointed by the Government-General of Chosen. The Japanese population in Fusan numbers about 15,000, and there are about 3,500 more resident inland in the vicinity of the port. The Seoul-Fusan Railway and a daily service of steamers to Japan have combined to make Fusan a great centre of activity, and the volume of trade passing through the port has greatly increased. In connection with the railway a big scheme of harbour reclamation is being carried out, and this will provide building sites suitable for godowns, which are now sadly deficient. Many public improvements have been carried out in recent years, including the erection of a new settlement, the construction of water-works, the instal lation of electric light, and the making of good roads in the neighbourhood of the foreign quarter.
Order is maintained by a police force in a uniform of European pattern. Water conducted from the neighbouring hills, is distributed through the Settlement by pipes and hydrants. The native town of Fusan is a walled city, situated at the head of the harbour; it contains the Royal granaries for storing rice, a few wretched houses, and the residence of the minor military official in charge. The harbour is good and capacious, with a sufficient depth of water to accommodate the largest vessels. The climate is very salubrious and the place is considered extremely healthy, Sea bathing may be had in perfection, and there is a nice hot spring near Tongnai. The district city Tong-nai Fu, which is distant about eight miles, is the local centre of trade. It contains a population of 33,350. Regular lines of steamers connect the port with Japan, Shanghai, northern ports of China, and Vladivostock. Fusan was connected with, Japan by a submarine telegraph cable in November, 1883. As a trading centre Fusan is the second port of the peninsula, the value of the trade of the port being about one million and a half pounds sterling, imports representing three-fifths of the amount. There are
no European firms in the port, and business is carried on principally by the Japanese.
BANK OF CHOSEN
H. Abe, manager
DIRECTORY
HOLME, RINGER & Co., Import and Export Merchants; Tel. Ad: Ringer; Teleph. 545 N. B. Reid, manager (Shimonoseki)
J. H. Wallace (Nagasaki) P. J. Buckland
do.
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