The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-09-17
KOREAN GOLD MINES.

Korea seems likely to be one of the
prominent gold producing countries OF
the future. Concessions have been
granted to Americans, Russians, Ger
mans, British and Japanese. Finally
the French have received a concession
just recently. These concessions are
for twenty-five years from the date of
commencement of operations, which
must be mace within two years A
royalty of twenty-five percent is paid
TO the Korean Government after the
expense of development has been re-
covered.
Seeing that some of our people have
been putting their surplus cash into
Klondike mines, they might turn their
attention to Korean mines. Korea has
for SO long a time been shut out from
the world, has been so completely self
contained, that one can hardly credit
the wonderful development that is at
present going on. The land of the
morning calm is rousing up to indus
trial action and the Korean population
is found to supply good and industrious
workmen.
The Russians have been using the
Koreans as laborers upon their railway
and found these superior to any other
class of labor in their employ. Koreans
have also settled within the Russian
border and have proved good agricultu-
ralists. Koreans of rank have visited
ana are visiting the countries of the
West land young Koreans are entering
some of the Western institutions of
learning. There is a thorough awaken
ing in Korea. Seeing that it was Korea
which gave to Japan it's wonderful cul-
ture, there is no reason why Korea
should not take up her arrested pro-
gress, and advance to be one of the
foremost energies of the East. Large
territories do not necessarily take the
lead in development.
Commercially the mines recently
opened up will help to develop Korea.
The Moonsan mines are those which are
under American control. The company
is known as the Oriental Consolidated
Mining Company and is the leading
mining interest at the present All
machinery and goods for the mining
company is imported duty free and
there is no export duty According to
Consul General Aliens report the
American company has a, district some
rs by 80 miles in extent in the richest
known gold region in Korea. The COM
pany disposed of the rs per cent royalty
by paying a large sum in cash and
agreeing to pay a fixed annual amount.
1t is now successfully operating two
mills of 20 stamps each and one of 40
stamps, while another 40 stamp mill is
in process of erection. The managers
have their own cyanide plant as well.
The operations at present are confined
TO quartz work, but the extensive placer
deposits will soon be worked. Some
seventy foreigners are employed at
these mines, with over 5000 natives on
the pay roll or indirectly in the pay Of
the company. The natives are said to
be satisfactory as miners, and they are
content on a wage of 20 cents gold per
day. The output and prospects are pro-
nounced to be entirely satisfactory.
The British mines are at present the
next in Importance to the American
mines. They lie not very far from the
district occupied by the, Americans and
have long enjoyed good reputation
Much money is being expended in ex-
ploitation, but they are too new to be
out of the development period.
The Germans are actively engaged in
working their district, which lies to the
east Of Seoul. The Japanese are open