The Seoul-Fusan Railway.
The completion of this important line of communication is an event of international importance, for it marks a definite period in the construction of a through line that will connect Fusan with the whole of Europe. The trip from Tokyo to London will then require but a few hours of sea travel. The Korean Straits and the Straits of Dover are the Eastern and Western sea barriers which separate the two Island Empires from the great continent. To think that only a few miles of track require to be laid before this stupendous piece of work is completed is almost enough to take one’s breath away. A few years ago it was laughed at as being the dream of a fanatic. Today it is an accomplished fact. The dreams of yesterday are the realities of today.
The formal opening of this branch of the through line called for appropriate ceremonies. No other one thing has done so much to strengthen Japan’s hold upon the peninsula, and the way Japan has poured money into Korea to complete it shows how confident she was of ultimate victory in this present conflict. Of all known things capital is the most timid, and the unreservedness with which money was handed out for this purpose is a measure of Japan’s confidence in herself.
For weeks before the opening ceremonies took place the broad space acquired by the railway for terminal facilities outside the South Gate of Seoul was being prepared for the occasion. Enormous arches of evergreen were erected, a score of temporary buildings of various kinds were put up. The steep hill to the east was laid out with care and many forms of curious and beautiful ornamentation were devised to please and interest the guests of the occasion.
In honour of this occasion Prince Fushimi came from Japan to act as chairman of the opening ceremony. He is the son of Prince Fushimi who has lately been travelling in America. In preparation for his coming, the city went through a species of Spring house-cleaning and all the main thoroughfares were covered with a thick coating of fresh red sand.
On the momentous day a large company gathered about nine o’clock in the morning. Special trains had been run from Fusan and Chemulpo and besides the great number of Japanese and Korean officials there were upwards of fifty Europeans and Americans present. Gathered under a spacious awning the company had not long to wait before the exercises began. On the platform, Prince Fushimi for Japan and Prince Eui Yang for Korea occupied the places of honor. Various addresses were made in Japanese and in Korean and the Prince declared the railway open. Hon. H. N. Allen made an appropriate speech in English. It was partly reminiscent in character and carried his hearers back to the time when even between Seoul and Chemulpo there was nothing more than a bridle-path.
After the formal exercises were over the audience were treated to excellent samples of Japanese histrionic art. Poems were acted in character and though the words were lost upon some of the audience the acting was fully appreciated.
About eleven o’clock an elaborate banquet was served in a long pavilion where one thousand guests were seated. After this was concluded and the toasts had been drunk the guests wandered about the extensive grounds and listened to the excellent music discoursed by the Imperial Korean Band, or examined the curious objects of interest which had been prepared by the hosts. In one part of the grounds a company of jugglers drew the attention of many of the guests and in another part trained Japanese wrestlers were exhibiting their skill.
Late in the afternoon the guests dispersed, but only to return in the evening and witness the fine display of fire-works, which closed with several set pieces of great beauty.
Among the guests of the company was Mr. E. W. Frazar of Yokohama, the head of Frazar and Co. who furnished the line with a large part of the rails and the rolling stock. He is the son of Everett Frazar who was for so many years the Consul-general for Korea in New York. He expressed himself with great satisfaction over the fact that the Japanese had adopted the American system throughout, in their Korean railways, contrasting it with the heterogeneous system found in Japan itself.
The guests from Fusan were enthusiastic over the new 120 ton Baldwin engines that are being put on the road and over the fact that soon we shall see a nine-hour schedule between Fusan and Seoul. This will be an average of thirty miles an hour including stops. The road bed, the bridges, the culverts and tunnels are all of the most substantial character and do great credit to the constructors.
It is asserted that the traffic on this road is already quite considerable and that the Koreans are taking advantage of it very freely. The influence of such an artery of traffic and travel cannot but be immense. It will almost surely cause great changes in former methods, and during the period of readjustment it may be that more or less hardship may be caused. But this is incident to all great improvements and the ultimate results must be highly beneficial to all such Koreans as have energy and ability to take advantage of the opportunity.
When we think of the enormous appreciation of land values all along the line we feel as if Koreans ought to inaugurate a campaign of education, to make their countrymen aware of this enhancement of value and to urge them to make the most of it rather than sell to the first bidder who offers them a ten per cent rise upon the original value of the land. If a bag of rice formerly cost nearly its full original value to get it to market, while now it will cost only a few cents to do so, it is plain that farm land has nearly if not quite doubled in value. But there are other factors at work as well, which enhance the value of land, and unless the Korean is apprised of this he is likely to sell for much less than his land is worth.
Whatever sentimental notions one may have about the Koreans it is quite certain that the Japanese have come here to stay and they come with money, ready to buy liberally. One of the most important problems in sight, therefore, is that of the future of those Koreans who elect to sell their fields. They are not accustomed to handle large sums of money and it looks as if there would be considerable danger of their suffering loss. Koreans should be exhorted to hold on to their property at least until they have clearly decided what to do next.
The Koreans will have to learn by hard experience just as the Japanese themselves did between 1868 and 1880. The stories that are told of old worn-out steam-ships sold to the Japanese at high figures in those days would fill a small volume. The Korean must also learn by his failures. We believe that in this school he will develop a fair degree of ability to take care of himself. It will take time and there will be many unpleasant experiences in the process, but it is certain that he is now “up against” a genuine business proposition and unless he can bring to bear upon the situation a keenness and an energy proportionate to that of the Japanese he will go to the wall.
All we ask is that the Korean be given a fair chance. If he is given an opportunity to obtain redress in case he is treated in an illegal manner the rest may safely be left to his native genius. But what he surely should receive from the Japanese is a “square deal.” If this is denied him of course he will have nothing left but to succumb or rebel.
In spite of many cases of injustice which have been reported we still believe that as soon as the war is over Japan will put forth strenuous and successful efforts to govern the unruly element among her nationals in Korea. She may proclaim a protectorate over the country and temporarily impair its independence. This will be contrary to her express promises but there will be no one to make a successful protest and it may be that in time events will so shape themselves that Korea may again be given an autonomous position. Meanwhile there are important lessons of industry and thrift for the Korean to learn and upon his success in learning them will depend in large part the recovery of his political autonomy.