The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-28
LITTLE TRADE
WITH KOREANS
American Goods Imported Into
Hermit Kingdom Go Via
Japan or England.
CONSUL RADD0CK'S REPORT
BUSINESS AGENCIES SHOULD BE
ESTABLISHED.
CONSUL RADD0cK'S REPORT
Cspecial to Ma HeraldN


Washington, Aug. 27.-The affairs of the
Hermit Kingdom being much in evil
dence at this time. the following review
OF the foreign commerce of that country,
made by Vice Consul General Gordon
Paddock Of Seoul, will be of interest.
The total gross trade of Korea for the
year 1906 amounting 70 some $27.5OO, COO
was less by some 81, 800 900 than that of
1913. This decrease. according to a Gus
toms report, is due to the fact that the
minor ports drew their supplies for the
most part direct from abroad instead of
from the larger ports of ChemuIpo. Flu
san and WOnsan. 1t is a fact also that
during the continuance of the recent
RuSso-Japanese war there was an abnor-
maj Importation Of goods for the military
ana Tor construction of RAILWAYS etc al
lowing for which the normal trade of Ko-
Iea Tor 1906 would seem to show a salts
factory increase over preceding years.
Inc largest single item of import was
IS heretofore, cotton goods, principally
British and Japanese, to the value of So
$4,000 showing slight falling off as COM
pared with 1904, and a decrease of some
Sl,fSO,Oo0 as compared with 1906. This was
que TO Overstocking in 1906, together with
q less plentiful supply of money among
the Koreans in 1906. English and Ameri-
can sheeting were imported to the value
or S2l1,500, and some American cotton
drills We're imported, but as American
cotton goods are seldom II ever imported
direct, it is impossible to give exact fig
ures. The fact that American manufac-
turers originally took little interest in
Korean trade as to decline to furnish such
goods as the market demanded has re
suited in the establishment of certain
marks and qualities of other countries
with the demand for which II is now diff
cult to compete. The Importation of
wooden and miscellaneous piece goods
amounted TO about $4,000.
Their Imports and Their OriqIn.
Metals were imported to the value of
SIOJ,O00 largely for construction purposes,
but ii is impossible to designate the cOun-
tries or origin Matches. mostly made in
Japan, were imported to the value of
Si62, 500. American kerosene oil was i'm
ported to the value of $44S,000 Cthe largest
annual import on record, and railway
materials, about half of which were from
America, to the value of S1,O590OO To-
bacco, cigars and cigarettes were i'm
ported to the value of S55OO00, and cigar
cites imported by the British and Ameri-
can Tobacco company formed some con-
siderable proportion Of this amount. Flour
was imported TO the value of $153, 900. and
am informed that it was principally
American, though imported via japan.
Timber valued at $4,000 was Imported
largely for railway construction. but con-
siderable dressed timber was imported
from japan for the erection of Japanese
buildings With large quantities still I'M
cut on the banks of the Yalu river and
in the northeastern portion of Korea, ii
seems doubtful II there is a market here
for American timber.
1t should be remembered that there is
little demand in this country as yet for
articles which might be classified as those
of luxury. and the methods of agriculture
and manufacture in Korea are still so
crude as to cause but little demand for
modern implements, except such as are
required by established foreign concerns.
1t is likely, however, that with improved
FRdu to he init fnfa nd
suit of considerable development work
now under way or about to be com
menced, there will be market for min
ing and other machinery.
Extent of Trade With America.
According to customs statistics the di-
rect trade of the United States Of Amer
lea with Korea, composed mostly during
the past few years of kerosene oil and of
railway materials, has continued to ad-
vance. showing figures for 1906 of s.. 27S.
36S, as against $3.50. 406 In 1905, S906, 557 in
1904 and S195,1SS in 1903. This now gives
the value of our direct trade a position
inferior only to that of Japan G14,915,5O0 in
1900, and China (s2. 900 in 1860
Gold TO the value of 1929, 1872 was ex-
ported from Korea in 1906, showing a de-
crease as compared with 1905, when ex-
port of gold was 81 592 9SS. AS a cOnse-
ouence of the opening Of new mining dis
tricts in 195 and Of others projected for
1907, 1t is expected that the mining indus |
the future, to the advantage OF trade gen !
orally.
1t is believed that the extension Of our |
trade with Korea directly can best be &C
by the establishment of per- |
manent agencies or connections on the /
spot. and II would undoubtedly materially |
assist American trade If one of the steam
er lines running between San Francisco, /
Seattle or Portland and the east made a /
call each way at Chemulpo, or, /
failing that, at Fusan; or, If steamship /
line were established between the Pacific |
coast and VladivOstok, calling at a kO- /
rean port