Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, May 16, 1909, Page 18

VISCOUNT 1000, nenter.) 1OUL, 1 val Corre- spondence of The Bes)—It was at the residency general, a big trame office bullding that stands on the hill ot far from the south gate, that I met Viscount Arasuke Sone, the man who, in the" ab- sence of Prince Ito, Is acting as the real ruler of this land of Corea. On my way there I passed the palace in which the re- tired emperor is practically imprisoned, and 1 went on through the Japanese quarter and climbed the hill I could see the palaces of the present emmeror over the great plan of tiled roofs composing the city. 1 have already described my audi- ence with him and given you some idea of his mental caliber, He is merely a figure- head, and has no power whatever outside of his tmmediate court. The man I met taday s under the direct control of the emperor of Japan, and he is now exercis- ing supervision over all affairs in Corea, The country Is nominally governed by the local officlals, but they act as the resident general directs, and nefther appointments nor dismissals can be made without his consent. By the agreement between Japan and Corea, when the emperor was deposed and his son put in his place, it was stipulated that the resident general should reform the administration and that the government of Corea should not emact any law or do any important thing without his approval. It was provided that it should appolnt Japaneso to such officlal positions as the resident general recommended, and that no foreigner should be engaged without his consent. In short, it 'meant the turning over of the Corean government almost ab- solutely into the hands of Japan, and this 16 the condition today. FCpy gt Man Who Rules Corea. Viscount Sone is well known as an ad- ministrator. He has been several times in the cabinet of the mikado, and has been a real working force in Corea. He knows all about the country; and, while conserv- atlve In his statements, evidently believes that the Japanese will be able to handle it successfully. During my talk of today 1 asked him whether he thought the Coreans were capable of self-government. He replled: ‘They are not so now. All their tradi. tlor and training have been along the lines of oppression and corruption. They have been unmercifully squeeged by thelr rulers and do not know what good gov- ernment means. It will take some time to educate them to it. We shall have to teach them to crawl before they can walk, and it will be years before they are able 1o govern themselves." Is it the idea of Japan to make the coun- try Independent?” “Yes, when the conditions are such that it can maintain an independence which will be for the good of the people and at the same time not injurious to the interests of Japan." 2 e Aunti-Japancse Sentiment, “What Is the situation today, your ex- oellency? I understand that many of th® Coreans are not in favor of the new re glne?” hat is true,” replled the resident gen- “These people cannot appreclate the that Japan is anxious to benefit tiiem their country They have been op- rressed by forelgngrs through a series of and not f y treated. For a long [} they were under the protection of Chinese government, which largely their affalrs for its own benefit. Then the Japanese, after their war with China, took charge of many things and » Russians did llkewise. The result is people suspect our sincerity. ¢onot belleve that their rights and are not to be taken away from theni, or that their country is not even- tually to be a second Japan. It will take « long time to eradicate these suspicions, and It cannot be done by pronunciamentos and speeches. It will have to be accom- plished by works, and that Is what we propose to do. We shali bulld roads, es- tablish Industries and Introduce improved agricultural methods. We have already wiped out most of the corrupt courts, and are seeing that the people have justice among themselves. We have retormchl the system of taxation, and that In such & way as to materially reduce the burdens imposed by the taxgatherers of the past. *We are starting schools here in Seoul and elsewhere, and we are doing all we can te give the Coreans a square deal.” el e Drigands and Fire Robhers, “But you have not been able to thom peace, your excellency,” sald I “No, there is stili trouble in different parts of the peninsula. This is due some~ what to disaffection as regards the gowe ernment, but more to a system of brige sndage whioh has gone on for years. eral fact and that wive THE OMAHA BE “up new, things. BSONE. Thera arc Coren companies of bandits knows Lbeis because they black- mal ti e vilages and oiten burn them down In order to rob the people. We are more atraid ol this element now than of any other. It rises at certain times of the year, and is at {ts WworSt just after harvest when the rice s gathered and all other work stopped. Then these robberies begin. They are performed by bands of from five to twenty-five or more brigands and they seem to break out simultaneously over the country. During certaln years there are as many as 15,000 of these men, and they have been operating from year to year for almost a century. They are so many that we could not easily control them it they were organized, but we are policing Core: and thus keeping the bands apart. In time we shall wipe them out. You will remem- ber that you had a similar trouble with your people in the Philippines. It has taken us elght years to get the aborigines of Formosa Into satisfactory shape, and I Judge It will take several years before we can bring peace, safety and quiet to every part of this land. “Are the Coreans as easy to govern as the Fllipinos?” “I think not,” replied the resident gen- eral. “The Fillpinos are more simple, leas educated and more easilly handled. The Coreans have had a government and a fair amount of civilization for many, many JAPANBSE OFFICIALS WHO ARE GOVERNING KOREA. years. It is difficult to change them, and the rank and file are not anxious to take As T have said, we can only expect to teach them by works, by giving them a practical and an optical demonstration of our ideas.’ Improved Agriculture. “What do you mean by that, your excel- lency?” “I mean that we shall show the Coreans that we are thelr friends by the develop- ment of thelr country. As it 18 now, the Wwoods have been cut‘from the mountains and many of the peaks are as bare as a desert. This makes it impossible to con- serve the rainfall, and we have not the water needed for irrigation. One of our first works will be along the lines of re- forestation. We are planting trees in many places and have lald out model for- ests near Seoul, Ping Yang and Talku. These forests cover thousands of acres and have cost several hundred thousand yen. ‘We find the trees grow well and hope in time to have the mountains again covered with verdure. ““We are Also establishing experimental farms,” continued his excellency, “and are trying to teach the people to make the most of thelr lands. At present there fs little use of manure, and they know noth- ing of artificlal fertilizers. They do not appreclate the possibilities pf their soll. It will produce elght-tenths of the varieties of things in Japan, and some which we cannot sucoesstully . cultivate. “This is especially so as to cotton. We are experimenting with that at half a dozen different places in southern Corea. We have used the native seed and also the American upland. So far the native seed seems the' better. Our experts estimate that there are 500,000 acres of good cotton land in Corea, and that we can eventually raise all the cotton we need here and have a large amount for shipment abroad.” ——s Room for Twenty Millions More. “Buppose Corea were carefully farmed, how many people could it support?” “That question is difficult to answer,” #aid Viscount Sone. “We have now about 20,000,000 people here. This is above other estimates, but there are parts pt the coun- try which are thickly populated. If all the land avallable could be used and im- proved methods employed on it and on the farms now under cultivation, there is no doubt but what we could produce twice as much as we do now. This means that Corea could then support 40,000,000 without much trouble. It might support more.” “In that case you will have an outlet for the congestion of Japan, will you not?" “To some extent, ves; but, 8o far the Japanese farmers do not seem anxious to come to Corea. Tho methods of cultiva- tion are different here, as are also the soil and conditions of life. We have been encouraging immigration, but as yet have not had many of the farming class. A great deal of the undeveloped land lles in the northern part of the country. The farming there is more like that of the Unlted States and our people do not take to it. Indeed, I expect to see a growth of the Corean population,’rather than an influx from Japa —ie Sanitary Improvements. “We are greatly improving the sani- tary conditions of the country,” coatinued Viscount Sonme. “This will cut down the death rate and, with better times, the birth rate will grow. As it is now the people know almost nothing about taking care of their health. Smallpox oceurs reg- ularly from year to year and little preven- tion Is used to stop it. We have estab- lished vaccine farms and are vaccinating the people as rapidly as possible. We find it very hard to do this, especially in the country districts. ‘The Coreans .do not understand what vaccination means ard they are more afrald of it than of the smallpox. These same conditions pre- vailed at the time vaccination was intro- duced into Japan. It may interest you to know that I was the first baby vaccinated there. That was fifty:elght years ago. The vaccine matter took and I have never had the smallpox. I make it a rule, how- ever, to be revaccinated every five years. “How about your hospitals?" “We have, s you know, Just completed a large one in Seoul. This now hag 100 beds and is thoroughly equipped in every re- spect. There 15 a medical college connected with it, and we expect to educate young doctors who will practice throughout the country. We are improving the chlef cities by cleaning them. You see what is going on in Seoul: Similar work is being done in Fusan, Chemulpo, and elsewhere."” The conversation here turned to mining concessions, and I asked his excellency if forelgners had any chance ‘to make money ‘mining in Corea. He replied: “They have as many opportunities as the Japanese. The mimerals, with the excep- tion of coal, are open to all. As it I8 now, some of the most valuable mines are held by Americans and there are a number of large concessions belonging to foreigners.” “Is the country rich, minerally?" “It has minerals In many parts of it sald the resident general, “but I belleve not In large quantities. Most of the mining properties are small, and so far no great and valuable discoveries outside of the gold and copper mines, have been made. Corea contalns, silver, gold, copper and lron. There is considerable coal, but the supply of fuel out here in the far east is so limited that we have special regulations concerning it.” “Is there enough coal and iron to make Corea an industrial country?" “I think so. We shall eventually have factories and foundries and will make for ourselves many of the things which we buy from abroad. oyt The Open Door. “Does the open door exist in Corea, your excellency?" “Yes, according to the treaties, the goods of all countries come in on the same terms. There are no disoriminations in favor of Japan, and indeed Japan has the worst of it as to some importation. This is 50 with tobacco. That s a monopoly in Japan and the government fixes the prices. Every one knows what the merchants have to pay for the Japanese tobaccos. Therefore the American Tobacco company and others can ship in their wares and undersell the Japanese. 1 belleve they are doing that now. ‘As to our forelgn trade, that will rap- 1dly increase under the new regime, and it is now approximating 3,000,000 gold dol- lars. Beven years ago it was less than 12,000,000 The growth is chiefly in im- ports, although the exports have more than doubled within four years. The imports were over 41,000,000 yen in 1907, “What proportion of your trade comes trom Japan?" “In 1907 our fmports amounted to 27,000,000 yen, or not quite three-fourths of the whole. They are Increasing steadily with the growth of Japanese business houses RESIDENCY GENERAL IN SEOUT. here. It is the same with the exports. Japan Is taking more and more of the products of Corea overy year, and about three-fourths of all the country sells now comes to It. The greater part of this trade consists of agricultural crops and fish, the surplus of which is used in Japan. The biggest export Is that of rice, which in 1907 amounted to In the nelghborhood of $4,000,000. “How about your trade with America?" “Your exports to Corea were over 8,000~ 000 yen last year, and this is just a little under what Corea bought from China and 2,000,000 yen less than what it bought from Great Britain. It is only one-ninth of what was bought from Japan.' Pt Sy \ Tobacco in Coren. On my way back from the residency gon- eral I looked at the tobacco stores and the American goods sold in them. Our to- baccos are far more popular here than those of Japan, and the American clgu- rette promises to drive out the old Corean plpe. _These people are great smokers. I see little boys of 10 and 12 with pipes In their mouths, and one of the most common sights on the streets is a half dozen or more men in long white gowns and big hats, squatting on thelr heels and smoking plpes which have reed stems about four feet in length. Some of these plpes are #0 long that a servafit has to be kept to light them, as a man cannot reach to the bowl with the pipe in his mouth. The bowls of the Corean pipes hold about as much as a thimble. They are usually brass. The mouthpleces are of the same metal, or in the pipes of the rich they may be Pathfinder Dam and Its Relation to Agriculture in the Arid West HE completion of the Pathfinder dam, one of the highest struc- tures of its kind in the world, is an event which the people of Wyoming and Nebraska are celebrating. Resting on a bed of solld granite and hewn from the vertical walls of the same formation through which the North Platte river has cut its channel, a massive masonry monolith cloges the canyon. It rises 215 feet above its founda- tion, and is 600 feet long on top. But the real significance of the event is that it marks the most important step in the reclamation of large tracts of the great plains area in both states, and their trans- formation to thickly settled farming com- munities, with numerous populous and prosperous towns and villages. The North Platte river drains an area of 90,00 square miles, carrying the run-off of a large mountainous territory. Fed by the meltiug snows of spring and early summer its volume swells to large propor- tions, but in the late summer It shrinks to a stream, distributed over a wide stretch of shifting sands. Every drop of the low water flow has long been appropriated, and the conservation of the flood waters of the river was beyond the reach of private capital “ It was for the purpose of storing the flood and winter waters and controlling the flow of this irregular river that the great dam just completed was planned. Dehind the massive wall of masonry & illlon-acre feet of water will be stored cach year, and the destructive floods of the th Platte river, which annually have caused damages far Ii excess of the cost of the dam, will never again visit n PATHFINDER DAM, NEARLY COMPLETED, MARCH z, 198 the valley. The name of the structure is most appropriate, in that it makes of the dam a fitting monument to cammemorate forever the achlevement of the nation's daring ploneer and explorer, Captain John C. Fremont, *The Pathfinder. The North Platte irrigation project is one of tho largest so far undertaken by the government. From the Pathfinder dam, at a point on the North Platte river, about fifty miles southwest from Casper, ‘Wyo., to the farthest limits of the irrigable land In Nebraska, the distance is 600 miles, and It is estimated that 400,00 acres of land in Wyoming and Nebraska, or more than double the total ares of land culti- vated in the entire state of Rhode Island, ‘will be divided in small farms and irrigated. The comparison afforded by the following table showing the dimensions, cost and effectiveness of the Pathfinder and three large eastern dams, is most Interesting: Height in Feet. 25 Length in Feet. 500 m 1,072 4,800 Dam. Pathfinder . ‘Wachusett . New Croton . Ashokan .. Storage Capacity Acre-feet. 1,026,000 162,000 Contents in Cuble Yards. 80, 400 273,000 883,000 93,000 17,900,000 868,000 900,00 oublc yards masonry and 7,000,000 of earth. *Masonry, 1,000 feet, 'and earthwork, 8,800 feot. It will be seen that the Pathfinder dam, which cost only $,200000, has a storage capacity more than ten times that of the New Croton, which cost six times as much, One hundred mfles from the storage dam a low diversion dam has been thrown across the river, which turns the waters into the interstate canal, to supply lands in Wyoming and Nebraska. This canal, when completed, will be 160 miles long, but at present only ninety-five miles have been excavated. It has a capacity at the head- gates of 1400 second feet, Hundreds of miles of laterals have been constructed to distributé the water over the lands. One of the most attractive features of the valley Is its sunny, invigorating cll- mate. The summers are always comfort- able and the winters are relatively mild The general elevation is about 4,000 fect above sea level. The soll is a rich, sandy loam, with a crop producing capacity that to the farmer of the humid region seems incredible. Oats ylelding 120 bushels per acre and welghing forty-five pounds to the bushel have been grown, and the average yield for the valley probably will exceed sixty-five bushels. Three crops of alfalfa are cut during the year, often yielding five tons to the acre, and fifty bushels of corn per acre is a low yleld. The region is par- ticularly adapted to the culture of sugar beots. As ligh as twenty-elght tons per acre have been produced per acre with a sugar content of 16 per cent. Apples, plums, small fruit and berries are grown for home consumption. Vegetables bring €00d prices, and the potatoes especially are of superior quality. Hog and poultry ralsing and bee culture have proved very profitable. Back of the valley and extending for hundreds of miles 1s the vast public range, upon which graze many thousands of cattle and sheep. There Js & heavy demand for forage crops for winter feeding, and a large part of the irrigable lands will be profitably devoted to these crops for many years. Under the terms of the reclamation act all of the land under this project which bolongs to the public domain is open to entry under the homestead law in farms of about eighty acres. Each settler 18 re- quired to pay his share of the cost of bulld- ing the Irrigation works. This amounts to $45 per acre, payable in ten annual instal- ments without Interest. Among all the great irrigation works now under construction by the government, none is richer In historical associations than the North Platte project. It occuples more than 20 miles of the old overland trail which was followed by the California gold seekers and by the Mormons in thelr migration westward. The old highway 1s distinguishable in scores of places. With an average width of more than 100 feet it stretches on mile after mile, now over- grown and only distingulshable from the general surroundings by the difference In vegetation. Its great width is principally due to the fact that the Mormons traweled in great companies, their wagons often moving in a solid phalanx five or more abreast. Besides the trall at numerous points lonely headstones mark the graves of those who perished on that western journey. To those who have read “The Adventures of Captain Bonneville,” “Astoria,” the discoveries of Captain Fre- mont, histories of Mormon emigrations and of the Forty-niners, such fiction as “The Virginien,” and the adventures of Buffala Bill, this valley will be familiar and full of interesting assoclations. But the greatest change in all the history of the valley has been brought about by the construction of the great firrigation sys- tem now well on its way to completion. Already the dreary monotony of plain and sky has been broken, and thousands of homes and fields of green dot the land- scape. Lands which a few years ago were valued at from $1 to $5 per acre are increas- ing rapidly in value and now sell readily at from $2 to $0. Most of the land for which water 1s now available is in private ownership, but many of the farmers who have holdings in excess of that for which the government will furnish a water right must dispose of part of their land at rea- sonable prices. To subdue the land one has but to turn the sod. The soll is fertile, the water sup- ply practically unlimited, and the climate delightful. All these combine to make the life of the new comer a pleasant one. A raliroad extends the entire length of the project, and the numerous towns along this line have more than doubled in popu- lation since the initiation of the govern- ment irrigation project. The influx of thou- nds of farmers to the valley has created & demand for all classes of labor. Mechan- ics are scarce, carpenters in demand, and brick masons, plasterers, plumbers, black- smiths, and, In fact, all men with trades, will find good openings in these rapldly growing communities. The manufacturer, the banker and the merchant are also in demand. That these opportunities are not being overlooked 1s evidenced by the hundreds of letters of inquiry which are belng received by the statisticlan of the reclamation ser- vice at Washington. To meet the de- mands of the homeseckers requiring infor- mation the reclamation service has also established offices at Denver and at Chl- cago. CENTRAL GATE ON THE INTERSTATE CANAL. made of amber or jade. The commor peo- ple use shorter pipes while working, as the long pipe can be smoked safely only when sitting down. The man who at- tempts to smoke one while walking or run- ning is llable to stumble and drive the stem down his throat. The use of clgarettes is now common even among the working classes, and the women are beginning to fancy them. Many of the clgarcttes are of native tobacco, which sells at from 3 to § cents a package. Next to these comes the Japanese ciga- rettes, which are partially made of Amer- fean tobacco, and then the wares of the Amerfcan Tobacco company, which are the best and most popular of all. New Government Hospital. During my talk with the resident gen- eral he referred to the new hospital here, which has just been completed. A big garden party was given at the dedication of the institution, at which more than 1,600 of the high-class Coreans, the Japanese officlals and a few of the forelgn residents were present. I was fortunate onough to have an invitation. The hospital is sit- uated under the mountains, some distance from the east gate and just next the east palace. Its grounds contaln many acres of rolling land, spotted with beautiful pine trees, knotted and gnarled. The hospital itself, which stands high up on a hill and overlooks Seoul, is a big red brick bullding covering more than an acre of ground. It conslsts of a main building, which contalns parlors, laboratories and operating and back of these are long wings, which form the wards. The laboratories are large and well equipped with all sorts of electrical instruments and the tools for bacterlological investigation. The wards already have 100 beds, and they are so arranged that more can be accom- modated. The medical college connected with the Institution has Japanese and for- elgn professors. The head of the hospital is Baron Sato, who was president of the chief miljtary hospital of Japan during the Chinese and Russlan wars, and who cut the bullet out of Li Hung Chang's face when he was shot by the Japanese fanatio at the peace conference. The vice director 1s Dr. Takashina, who for years was physi- clan to the emperor of Japan; and among the professors of the medical college is Dr. W. B. Scranton, who came to Corea more than twenty years ago as a medical mis- slonary and who s one of the best'known physicians in this part of the world. —— Corean Garden Party. Among the many guests present at the garden party not one was dressed in the big horsehalr hat and long gown of silk or linen which & few years agn was the badge of the Corean nobility. All wore foreign clothes, the men having tall bats and long frock coats. Not a few were in military uniforms, and among these were the uncle and cousin of the present emperor. His imperial majesty was expected, but at the last moment gave up coming. Had he been present he would have been In the uniform of a Corean general, which is practically the same as that of the Japanese military officers. As to the latter, they were out In force, On horseback and in carriages, with coach- men and footmen In livery, the principal officlals of the government came to the hospital; and altogether there was 8o much military display that the party would not have seemed out of place at an army and navy reception at the White House. We first went through the buflding and after this were given & luncheon In tents outside the tents covered more than an acre. They were decorated with red and white bunting and hundreds of flags of all nations hung down over the guests a8 they The meal was served in Buro- pean style, at long tables beautifully dec- orated with flowers and frult. Beside each plate were glasses for champagne and other wines, a coplous supply of which was served. The menu included roast beet, chicken, duck, pate de fol gras and all the other accompaniments of & first class Buropean lunch, with persime mons, bananas, aj other Corean fruits for desert furnishing of & dinner lke this to people, seating them all and serving every one without triction, would be aifficult In any American city, but Is was accomplished here without trouble. Quite & number of such garden parties are ing held, and the Jap- anese belleve that In 0 bringing the peo- ple together they are materially advancing the new civilization Betare the dinner was served there were & number of speeches by Coreans and Jap- anese. Thete began With a message from This was reverently handled, the parchment containing it being wrapped in yellow silk, the imperial color. An of- ticer of t ial household, a fine looking Corean, read it in a sing-song tone. As he began the audience rose and all re- mained standing untll It was completed. After this the Japanese resident general wmade a speech and Haron Bato responded. FRANK G. CARPENTER. rooms, ate s and The 1,600 now 1 the emperor. y