Directory_and_Chronicle_1918 — Page 657

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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 sun mer 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 witli 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.. 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 inore than trebled during the past ten years. In 1916 it reached the record figure of 24,533,000 yen, as compared with 20,964,000 yen in 1915 and 19,473,000 yen in 1914. 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-9, Hon Machi, Itchome; Tel. Ad: Chosenbank; Telephs. 11 and 312. Head Office, Seoul

T. Kamejima, inanager N. Nomura, p.p. manager M. Yokosc,

do.

Kwang-chang

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

Walter Geo. Bennett, signs the firm

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 "Bank" Line of Steamers

Cie. des Messageries Maritimes Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. China Mail Steamship Co., Ld. Toyo Kisen Kaisha

T. Enomoto

S. Mori

S. Kato

K. Nakamura

Robert Dollar Company

North China Insurance Co, Ld.

Agencies

Phoenix Assurance Co., Ld.

Norwich Union Fire Ins. Society, Ld.

2

Union Marine Insurance Co., Ld.

Lloyds

China Mutual Life Insurance Co., Ld.