Directory_and_Chronicle_1930 — Page 613

CHOSEN SEOUL

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s had to a loan from the Japan Industrial Bank for 10,000,000 yen, but accepted at 090 yen per 100 yen, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent., and the Corean Customs

receipts were pledged as security for repayment. The first loans were for the reform ta of the currency. The currency in the country had long been in a scandalous state. T There was no reserve of precious metals, and reliance was placed on a nickel coin g of small intrinsic value. Not only were permits issued without stint to private persons enabling them to undertake the work of coining, but the country was inundated with spurious coin. It was possible before Japan took the reform of Corea's currency in hand to obtain 245 cents for a Japanese yen. Japan's control of the country's finances was signalised by the adoption of the gold standard, the prohibition of private minting, the issue of a new currency, supplemented by a note issue by the Dai Ichi Ginko (First Bank). The old nickel coins have been gradually withdrawn, and it is hoped in time to rid the country of fractional cash.

A railway connecting Chemulpo with Seoul was opened on September 18th, 1899. The Seoul-Fusan railway, 280 miles in length, was opened in May, 1905, and acquired by the Japanese Government in 1908 as a State railway. The railway between Seoul and Wiju, 310 miles, hurriedly constructed for military purposes in 1904-1905, has been reconstructed at a cost of 44,500,000 yen. A line running from Pyong-yang to Chinnampo, 343 miles in length, was opened in October, 1910. There are now inore than 1,150 miles of railway in operation in Corea.

The carrying trade of the country is practically in the hands of the Japanese.

SEOUL

The old city of Han-yang, better known to foreigners as Seoul (which is merely the native term for capital), is situated almost in the centre of the province of Kyong-kyoi, on the north side of and about three miles from the river Han, about 35 miles from its mouth. It lies in 37 deg. 30 min. N. lat. and 127 deg. 4 min. E. long. Han-yang means

"the fortress on the Han." The city was formerly enclosed by crenclated walls of varying height, averaging about 20 feet, with arched stone bridges spanning the water-courses, but these walls have now all been removed except in the hills, where there are no roads. The city is in the form of an irregular oblong, and stretches lengthwise in a valley that runs from north-east to south-west. The Corean houses are about eight or nine feet high, built of stone or mud, and mostly roofed with tiles. Internally they are clean, for the Coreans, like the Japanese, take off their shoes before entering their houses. A long main street, about 100 feet wide, running east and west, divides the city into two nearly cqual portions. In the northern half are the walled enclosures con- taining the late King's Palace and the inore important public buildings. A street about 50 feet wide intersects the main street at right angles, dividing the northern half of the city into eastern and western quarters. At the point of intersection stands a pavilion called Chong-kak (the "Bell Kiosk "), from a large bell, about seven feet high, which is placed there. This spot is regarded as the centre of the city; and from it another street, as wide as the main street, branches off to the south-west. The four wide streets which thus radiate from the "Bell Kiosk" are known as the four Chong-no or "Bell roads. Another conspicuous feature of this central part of the city is the row of large warehouses, two storeys high, the lower portions of which are divided off into little shops, opening into a small courtyard instead of facing the street. The width of the main streets was formerly much reduced by the construction in front of nearly every house of a rude wooden shanty used for a workshop or for business purposes, which gave the streets a poor and squalid appearance, but some of the principal streets have now been cleared of these unsightly obstructions, and the people are gradually being taught the benefits of good roads and clean surroundings. A spacious market place has been erected in one of the busiest parts of the city. An annual appropriation of $50,000 has been made by the Finance Department for the maintenance and im- provement of the roads. The shops are small and unattractive, and contain no

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