Evening journal., 1905-03-06
JAPAN'S KOREAN POLICY
The Building Of Railways In the
Hermit Kingdom.
EQUIPPED WITH AMERICAN STEEL

AhhhAhAF-AsAheA For EmcrHcucy Use
VIII he Permanent--Japanese COL
onfsts Scattered Along the Rail-
wnys-Purposes Regarding Govern
ment of the Country.
An interesting sidelight on the war
10 the far east is shown in the history
OF railroad building in Korea since
1899, OF which a report has recently
been made by the American consul gen
eral at Seoul. Gordon Paddock, says the
Washington correspondent OF the New
York Post. What a calamity would
have befallen japan had the Russians
been permitted unmolested 10 push the
boundaries OF their zone OF influence
down through Manchuria TO the sea on
the south and east is made clear The
well matured plans Of Japanese states
manship. the fruit OF many years OF
patient thought, based ON the percep-
ton that the japanese archipelago
would not for an indefinite period ar
ford elbow room for the mikado's sub
jects. were doomed TO failure II Russia
were to carry out her apparent policy
OF making Korea to all intents and pur.
poses a Russian dependency.
The Korean railways are being built
and equipped with American steel. The
first OF them, running between Seoul
and Chemulpo. was constructed IN
1890 by an American conccssionnaire,
but Just before completion It was sold
TO a japanese syndicate, which has
made it a commercial success, and re-
Gently completed n branch line, begun
in 1901, from Seoul TO the southeasterly
point Of Fusan. distance OF about PCS
miles. This branch line, aided by
modern ocean ferry. has established
quick communication between Seoul
the Korean capital, and Japan Under
the old system OF transportation the
journey from Tokyo TO Seoul occupied
seven days. Now II is made in fifty
six hours.
The construction OF a railway be-
tween Seoul and wiju, the northern Dor
der city Of Korea, was begun I'm 1902
by the Korean government. This line
has since been taken over by the Japa-
nese government, which is now finish
Ing Il under military direction. II will
be 800 miles long A line to connect
Seoul with Gensan, the Korean eastern
treaty port is now being constructed.
also by japanese military engineers.
These lines, although for emergency
use, are TO be permanent, and few
Z trunk lines in the United States are
provided with a higher grade OF steel
or a more substantial rondbed. In con-
nection with the Fusan line the two
branches referred 10 will connect the
northern and southern extremities OF
Korea with the east and west coasts,
besides traversing the interior At the
end OF the present war, provided japan
in the peace that will follow is not
again euchred out Of her rights. the
whole OF Korea viii be opened up to
trade and commerce as well as to i'm
migration. all under the guiding hand
OF the mikado's ministers and for the
furtherance Of Japanese policies.
The entire railroad scheme is financed
by the japanese government. which has
not only guaranteed the necessary capt
tai. but subscribed S1.245,0O0 on its
own account. provided the lines are
brought in operation by a certain date.
The authorized capital was insufficient
for the purposes OF constructing the
Fusan line. and so S4.9S0.O00 was bor-
rowed from the banks at Tokyo The
interest on this loan has been paid, but
the government has since been com
PEELED to come forward with $4,000
more. which completed the line before
the 1st Of last January.
Japanese colonists have been scatter
ed sll along these Korean railways, and
as soon as peace shall have been de
clared they will form the nucleus OF a
large japanese immigration. Further
more. three large japanese immigration
companies are already announcing new
openings for settlers in Korea, contin-
gent only on the restoration OF peace.
Having been financed by japan, these
railways viii remain perpetually under
japanese control No further loans on
them can be made without the consent
OF the Japanese minister at Seoul. The
monetary system used by these rail-
ways viii be japanese. and ultimate
" 1t is believed that the smaller coins
OF Korea will pass out OF circulation.
A central bank Is to be established at
Seoul TO facilitate this movement.
II is said TO be the purpose Of Japan
to establish a model administration In
one OF the Korean provinces fully mod
ern in its appliances and policies and
calculated 10 develop the province In
the shortest time. Should this expert
ment prove a success II win be extend
ed to the entire peninsula. Should Ko-
rea express the desire to have Japan
watch over her foreign interests the
Korean ministers and consuls will be
recalled, the ministers Of foreign coun-
tries at Seoul win return home, and
only the foreign consuls will remain.
The Korean army will at the same time
be reduced TO a nominal size, and the
military system Of the country will be
merged with that OF Japan. This In
brief is the japanese policy in Korea.
The Russian occupation would have
overturned all this, and Japan would
have remained an island empire, over
crowded to the point Of suffocation.
From the viewpoint Of the japanese
Korea is a prize worth fighting for.
Its possession is one OF the necessities
OF the Japanese situation. even though
nominal Korean government may
continue in existence. Its control by
Russia meant without any question the