The Pensacola journal., 1905-01-11
War with Russia Gave
Great Impetus to
the Work OF
Construction.
LINE FROM FUsAN TO SEOUL
sHoRTENs JOURNEY FROM JA-
PAN FROM SEVEN DAYS TO
FIFTY-s1X JAPANESE
IMMIGRANTS FLocKfNG INTO
HERMIT KINGDOM.

Z -
Toxic Dec. 5.-By the first of jan
uary the Japanese will be able to run
trains from FuAn to Seoul. The mill
tary line to Wiju will be completed as
far as Pingyang, and in Manchuria the
Imperial engineers expect to open rail-
way communication between LsoyaIg
and Antunghsien. In March ground
will be broken for the SeoukGensan
line. Surveyors have already started
work and it is hoped that the road
will be finished by the end of 1905. In
connection with the Seoul-Chemulpo
line it will form the trans -peninsular
route between the Yellow Sea and the
Sea of Japan. The trunk line from
Fusan to the YaIu and from Antung
to Liaoyang will bring Japan into
direct touch with the China Eastern
railway, the Siberian. route, and
Europe.
From the moment war was declared
rapid transit from Fusan through
Korea to the scene of hostilities in
Manchur1a, became military necessi-
ty. This the Japanese had fOrseen.
Even before the completion of the
Chemulpo line, the first railroad in
the Hermit Kingdom the company
engaged in this work had secured the
concession to build a railway. also
broad guage, to the southern coast.
This was in the autumn of 1858.
Eighteen months later work on the
''Kei-Fu'' railroad was formally CON-
at Yongtongpo. a small town
some six miles from Seoul. and from
which point the new road was to
OPh
War Gave Impetus.
Toward the end of last year the i'm
pending war gave a fresh impetus to
the work which had been progressing
slowly, though steadily, since 1900.
Thousands of coolies were put to work
where before there has been but hun
dreds. The Japanese government be-
sides guaranteeing the 25,O0O,0OO ven
capital already flOated subscribed an
additional 100000 on condition the
road should be completed by the end
Of 1904. If this was not done the
company agreed to repay the amount
with interest. The bonds
had face value of so yen and the
were payable in ten in
stallments. At present the stock is
quoted at considerably below par. II
was necessary to borrow 10000 900
yen from Toxic banks to carry on the
work, the 6 per cent interest on this
loan being paid by the government
through the railroad administration.
In the middle Of August, 1904. il was
estimated that an additional 1900. 600
yen was needed to complete the line.
The Imperial Department of Commu-
nfcations on investigation reported
that with various economies t.5OO. 600
ven would suffice. This sum the gov
ernment loaned the company on EASY
terms; no payment need be made for
The first five years; at the end of that
time the subsidy was to be repaid in
annual installments of $4,000 yen. on
condition that such an outlay did not
interfere with an per cent dividend.
With this cOStant Official help the road
has been practically completed six
weeks ahead of time, though the for
nal opening will not take place until
January /.
Work Was Pushed.
Before the war began, regular trains
had been running some twenty miles
over the northern, and some twelve
miles over the southern branch. In
February, 1904, the lines had been
extended as far as Usan, thirty miles
south of Yontongpo. WoEkmen in
ever-increasing numbers were put on
he embankments, the grades and the
bridges. From Yongtongpo south, and
rom Ftsan north, everything was bus
tie and hurry Great loads Of ties
from the Hokkaido and rails from
England and America were brought
INTO Chemulpo and F'usan. At these
ports they were reloaded on fiatbOats
and towed along the coast and up the
little streams to the points nearest
he railroad. Here the material was
landed and piled on bullock carts. then
dragged across the country to its
destination.
The terminal points Of either end
we're moved farther and farther afield.
By the beginning of June a regular
passenger service had been establish
ed to Mitsuyo, thirty-six miles north
1f Fusan, construction trains running
about twenty miles farther to TaiRu.
Here a mountain spur blocked the