Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-16
Department of Commerce and
Labor Issues Monograph
on the Subject
"coMMERcIAL KOREA IN 1904"
Such is the Title Of an Extensive Dis
cussion of Commercial and Other
Conditions in That Country Whose
Development Commercially Began in
1s7s-History Of the Treaties Made.

Washington, March 16.-Commer-
cial Korea in 1904 is the title of a
monograph just issued by the depart
ment of commerce and labor thru its
bureau of statistics. 1t Discusses com
mercial end other conditions in Korea
showing area, population, Transports
tion facilities, railways, telegraphs,
postal service, and foreign commerce
including imports and the countries
from which they are drawn. and ex-
ports and the countries from which
they are sent. The population of ko-
rea the monograph in question puts at
about Is millions in round numbers,
the area at about equal to that OF the
state of Kansas, and the foreign COM
merce at about IL naillion dollars, of
which imports form about Z II millions.
A part of the Chinese empire prior to
the Christian era, Korea remained un-
der the control OF that country until
about the end of the sixteenth cen
fury, when the japanese sent a large
invad ding army into Korea for the pur-
pose of driving out the Chinese and
taking possession. The Japanese rule,
however, was comparatively brief, and
in 1927 the people of Manchuria placed
the country under vassalage, and until
1894 Korea recognized the control of
China by sending misunderstanding mis-
sions annually to Picking.
In 1894 an instruction led the coun-
try to ask aid from China, and Chi
nese troops We're sent. This action,
step toward the complete control OF
Korea by China, precipitated war
Between China and Japan in 1894,
which resulted favorably to Japan and
was followed by a renuncia ton of Chi
nese sovereignty by the Korean king,
the substitution of Japanese for Chi
nese influence, and the Introduction of
many important reforms under Japan
csc advisers. These reforms included
adjustment of taxation, abolition of
slavery, establishment of educational
Institutions, introduction OF postal
system, membership in international
Postal Union, and a reform of, the
judiciary.
Commercially the development of
Korea begins with 1876, when two
ports, Gensan and Fusan. were. upon
the insistence of Japan, opened to
trade with that country only. In 1882
Admiral Shufeldt, of the United States
navy, visited Korea and secured .
treaty of friendship between the United
States and Korea by which American
vessels We're given access and citizens
assured. This was followed by treat
les with Germany and Great Britain
in 1883, Russia and Italy in 1884,
France in 1886, Austria in 1892. and
China in 1897. The formation of the
treaty between Korea and the United
States in 1882 was Immediately fol-
lowed by visit from a Korean en-
bassy to Washington, sent to ex
change notifications of the treaty.
From this time forward Korea
was opened to foreign trade and wes
tern civilization, and the Korean gov
eminent established it's legations In
the United States and other great COM
mercial nations. With the opening of
the treaty ports and the estab hshment
of commerce an official record of Ko-
rean imports and exports began. THIS
shows imports In 1884 amounting to
about 100000 and exports amount
ing to $4,000. BY 1890 imports had
grown to $3.S50.000 and exports to 81
975,O00. In 1894 imports and exports
fell considerably below those of 1890,
but in 1897 again increased, being for
that year of imports about $b,000.000
and exports about four and one-half
million dollars. In 1902 the imports at
the theaty ports amounted to about
1000, 900 and the exports of merchan-
disc TO about s4,2oo000. In addition to
this. exports of gold amounted to over
s2000,O00. while the imports and ex-
ports at other than treaty ports are es-
tin,ated as being sufficient to bring the
total commerce of 1902 up to fully
s15,00O,000, exclusive OF gold exports,
which, as above indicated, amounted
to about s2,000000.