Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-09

$3.50 - ANAHo ~
sorts Of American goods for Coreans.
la addition to these there are about $50
missionaries, representing the different
churches Of the United States. They have
their stations in all parts Of the country.
They have excellent schools and are doing
a vast deal Of good. The most of them are
men of good education and sterling ability.
Several have written books about the
country and not a few have aided in or.
g~anizing schools for the emperor.
American Goods In Coren.
The Coreans already take much American
cotton and this trade can be greatly in
creased. The whole population dresses in
cotton and the country raises practically
none. They want the best of cotton and
like to have 1t Of all colors, pinks, light
blues, yellows and whites. In the winter
they pad their clothes with raw cotton for
warmth. The trade is hardly large enough
to warrant sending an agent to Corea
alone, but in connection with Manchurla
and North China 1t could be made profitable.
There are steamships which go from Nag
asaki and Kobe to Tien Ts.n, calling at
Fusan and Chemulpo. The time from Kobe
to Chemulpo by direct steamer Is three or
four days and by the regular steamers
which call here it is about six days. The
fare from Yokohama to Chemulpo is $25
gold, and, I should judge, just about as
much additional to cross the Yellow sea
from Chemulpo to Tien Tsin.
Corea can also be taken in on the way to
Vladivostock. There are steamers from
Nagasaki and Fusan around the east coast
to Gensan and then north to Vladivostock
at the eastern terminus of the Trans
Siberian road. l have Travelled on all OF
these lines and have found the food in
v~ariably good and the other
tions comparatively so. The trip across the
Yellow sea is apt to be boisterous and some
what dangerous, but a tour can be planned
which should result In many orders for our
commercial travellers who represent the
articles most desired by the people.
What the COreans Want.
American drummers who speak English
only can get along at any of the ports. for
there is always some one there to act as
interpreter. In their trips to the interio.
they will need to carry a guide and inter
prefers. There are hotels at Chemulpo.
Seoul, Gensan and Fusan. That at Seoul
is Japanese, with beds on the floor. The
prices everywhere are about 81 per day
and the interior travel is comparatively
cheap.
Some knowledge of Corea and the Coreans
is needed before coming. The things you
might suppose to be in most demand are
not wanted at all. For instance, 1t is cold
there in winter, but you could not give
away stoves. The rooms of most Corean
houses are small and they are heated by
fues which run under the floors. Cook
stoves are unknown and furniture of our
kind is not wanted.
There Is a good opening for American to-
bacco. Men, women and children smoke
and everyone has his pipe. The people
grow some tobacco, but they do not under
stand how to cure it, and prefer the for
eign article. There is a great demand for
cigarettes, but not much for cigars, except
those as thick as a lead pencil. The en-
peror smokes cigarettes. He prefers Amer
lean makes, and especially likes the Vir-
ginia tobacco. There are many Japanese
cigarettes sold and quite a lot of native
cigarettes, which sell as low as twenty for
a cent.
With the new railroads there will be
demand for American machinery,
rails and rolling stock, although it Is prob
that the japanese will equip their lines
as far as possible from their own country.
Quite a lot Of bridging will have to be
done and there should be a market there
for our Pacific coast lumber.
Ranking and Money Matters.
The new banks started by Americans will
probably make money. Interest rates are
very high and the people will borrow to the
full extent of their possibilities. The court
spends a great deal and, Notwithstanding
the poverty of the masses, there are mobiles
who live as extravagantly as our rich men
at home. Among the poor and out in the
interior copper cash is the principal cur
rency. 1t takes a thousand and more cash
10 equal the value Of a silver dollar, and IL
)ne travels far he must take along an extra
mule or bullock to carry his money.
Extortion is often practiced by the higher
and during the winter especially
here is danger from robbers. As a result
he natives have curious ways Of conceal
ng their money. They make the earth
heir safe deposit boxes. They dig a pit in
he yard back Ct the house and cover its