Directory_and_Chronicle_1917 — Page 754

CHEMULPO

浦物濟 Che-mul-po

This port, called by the Japanese Jinsen, and by the Chinese Jenchuan, is situated on the west coast of Chosen (Corea), in the metropolitan province of Kiongki, at the entrance of the Salée River, an embouchure of the Han or Seoul River. It was opened to foreign trade in 1883, when it was a poor fishing village, and is now a flourishing and rapidly increasing centre of trade, with a native population of just under 13,000 and a foreign population of about 13,500, of which between 11,000 and 12,000 are Japanese; the Chinese number between 1,000 and 2,000, the number being greatest in the summer months; the European population numbers about 50. A railway runs from Chemulpo to Fusan, meeting the line from Seoul at Yong-dong-po (Yei-do-ho). The Settlements are fairly well built over and are now fully occupied. The price of land has risen to almost fabulous rates.

Chemulpo enjoys a beautiful climate and is never shut up by ice. The port has two anchorages, the outer one accommodating ships of all sizes, and the inner one frequented by ships of about 1,000 tons. An enormous rise and fall of the tide, which averages 30 feet, renders the inner anchorage difficult of access to larger ships, and is also a serious hindrance to the navigation of the Seoul River. Only vessels not drawing over six feet may safely run between Chemulpo and Mapu, a place on the river three miles south-west of the capital.

The steamers of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Osaka Shosen Kaisha call regularly and have the bulk of the trade and passenger communication with Japan, and, in the case of the former, with North China. The Russian East Asiatic Steamship Company have a regular service between Vladivostock and Shanghai, touching at Chemulpo. British steamers also call more frequently than formerly.

There are telegraphic communications with China (overland), and with Japan, a cable between Chemulpo and Chefoo remaining a desideratum.

The volume of trade at the port has more than trebled during the past ten years. In 1915 it amounted to 20.964,000 yen-imports being valued at 12,833,000 yen and exports at 8,131,000 yen. This was, in excess of the volume of trade for 1914, which amounted to 19,442,000 yen, but was below the total volume of trade for 1913, which reached 23,407,000 yen. Japanese enterprise is abundantly in evidence, and many projects for the improvement and development of the port are at present receiving attention, including harbour improvements, waterworks, and industrial enterprises.

DIRECTORY

BANK OF CHOSEN-7, Hon Machi, Itchome; Tel. Ad: Chogin; Telephs. 11 and 312. Head Office, Seoul

T. Kamejma, manager

K. Shiokawa, p.p. manager M. Nasu,

do.

Kwang-chang

BENNETT & Co., Merch'ts.-Tel. Ad: Bennett

Walter Geo. Bennett, signs the firm

T. Ito

S. Mori

Agencies

Phoenix Assurance Co., Ld. China Navigation Co., Ld.

Ocean Steamship Co., Ld. China Mutual S. N. Co., Ld. Peninsular and Oriental S. N. Co. American Asiatic S. S. Co. Ben Line of Steamers

North China Insurance Co, Ld. "Bank" Line of Steamers

Andrew Weir & Co.'s Line of Steamers

Cie. des Messageries Maritimes

Barber Line of Steamers

China Mutual Life Insurance Co., Ld. Union Marine Insurance Co., Ld.

Norwich Union Fire Ins. Society, Ld. The Central Agency, Ld., Glasgow Lloyds

Royal Mail Steam Packet Co.