Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-07

cheaper than before. but the lower freight
charges will make the export of vegetable
OILS profitable, and the native must needs
IND some substitute to light his home
The Seoul-Wiju road is really a part Of
the same line-a continuation thereof For
tne present the construction is In the hands
pI me army, while the ''Kei-Fu'' line has
Deen bu1lt by civilians. The gauge is the
same. the work. If not as thorough at pres
ent. destined to be quite as permanent In
building this line the Japanese have been
~. tuAate IN being able to use in many
cases, the roadbed built by the French.
engineered Korean Company.
All along the line the railway troons
;'le at work. The results attained thus far
nave oeen most satisfactory. In eight
months they have pushed forward thei,
llne at rapid pace The grades are much
100 steep, the bridges are all of wood the
German sixty-pound rails are too light
gu. THESE are necessary evils. and will be
easily remedled. Haste is all-important
Proper grading and the construction of
stone ana steel bridges may be postponed
Work has been carried on simultanaousIv
all along the line. Materials Were landed
at various points on the coast where small
streams rendered It's transport inland an
eaSy task The 200 miles of track to the
nalu VIII p obably be laid by the end OF
ms year, certainly early in 1905. bur IL
VIII De some years before the line can be
put into final shape
Question of Control.
1t is possible that there may be in the
future some question raised concerning
the right OF the Japanese to retain control
OF the road for which French companv
originally obtained the concession. This
company surrendered its rights to the Ko-
teal government on condition that all ma-
lerials should be bought in France and
only french engineers employed. If Japan
10 successful IN the present war, however
hef position in Korea will be such thnt
Whlfe she may, to avoid all UNDERSTANDINGS
pay considerable indemnity to the French
men interested, there will be no disputing
her claim TO the control of the road
The Strategical Importance of such line
rom north to south cannot be overestimat-
ed 1t Is for this reason that steps are be-
ing taken to fortify the Island of Kojedo
winch guards the harbor Of Masapo 4
ofanch line connects Fnsan with this neigh
ooring town and the fortress Will be For
the express purpose of safeguarding the
southern end of the railway
Commercially the railroad will do much
for Korea. II will above all things facili-
tate the emigration which the japanese are
seven-day trip between Seoul and Tokyo
may be made in fifty-six hours. Already
emiSrants are fockng to the peninsula. All
along the railroad the employees of the line
have formed the nucleus OF an ever-increls-
ing Japanese colony. Small tradesmen of
all sorts are opening their little booths.
There are many schemes for the exploita-
ton of the vast tracts of waste land. and
IN Japan the well-orgauized emigration
societies Will undertake 10 bring settlers
into the fertile farm lands. The line is the
steel-tipped wedge driven far into the very
heart of the hermit kingdom" 1t will be
n potent factor in the future development
of the peninsula; an effective means to
Japan's desired end, the absolute domina-
ton Of Korea.