Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-31
GOLD MINING IN COREA.
Veins Of Medium Grade Ore Opened
by Americans.


by Americans.
Consul General Allen at Seoul has re-
ported to the State Department that work
in connection with the goldmining conces-
sion granted to an American, James r.
Morse, by the Corean government is pro-
crossing favorably. The district is one OF
some twenty-five miles in width and in
cludes the country reputed to be the richest
in gold of any in Corea. The concession is
for q period of twenty-five years and is
very favorable, including the right to mine
any other minerals found in the district
Mr.. Morse has granted a subconcession to
another American, Leigh Hunt, who has
succeeded in interesting American capital
to such an extent that the subcompany is
about to discard the obsolete and unsatis-
factory mill sent to the Corean government
ten years ago by a San Francisco firm and
will shortly install in its place modern
and carefully selected mill of forty stamps
AS yet not much has been done beyond
what might be called prospecting on large
scale; but veins of medium-grade ore have
been opened which give good prospects.
The company is on good terms with the
people, and life and property are perfectly
safe at the mines.
Tine placers have been well worked over
upon the surface, but the natives have not
been able to get down very deep. and bed
rock has not been reached. The native
method Of working the quartz veins is to
chip out the gold-bearing rock with their
soft iron tools as much as possible, after
which they fill the hole with fuel and set
fire to it. When the rock is as hot as it can
be made they pour in water, which cracks
the surface SO that they can chip 1t off.
The ore thus obtained is then crushed on a
fat rock by huge stone rollers worked by
many men with poles. Water is the worst
obstacle the native miners have TO contend
against since their only way of emptying
shaft is by bailing 1t out with gourds,
which are filled and passed up from man to
man. When permanent water is reached
the shaft has to be abandoned: and as the
veins usually grow richer as this condition
is approached the natives declare that IL
they only had some means OF getting r1d
of the water they would be quite satisfied.
At present there are eight Americans en-
ployed at these mines in directing the ma
tive workmen and running the machinery.
The Germans have obtained mining
concession for q small portion OF the dis
trict adjoining the one held by Americans.
The terms of the German concession were
made as nearly like those of the American
as the Corean government would allow.
This property is soon to be developed Inc
concession for a railroad from Seoul to the
northwest border, granted to a French syn
dicate, gives them the right to open certain
mines as we'll; and, as it is generally known
that Russia is interested in this proposed
railroad 1t Is pretty sure to be built. Inc
road will be something under 500 miles IN
length and will run through this whole
mining region, which lies on the line be-
tween Seoul and the border city OF Wei1u,
where the proposed railroad will connect
with those about to be built in Manchuria.
These, with the American railroad now
building between the capital, Seoul, and its
port, Chemulpo. will give Corea and It's
chief port and capital. as well as these
mining regions. direct connection with Eu-
rope.