POSTE FRANÇAISE
CHUNGKINGHANGCHOW
Chentu
局報電都成
Chow Pao-Chen, manager
Chên Tzu Sho, clerk-in-charge
875
Postmaster-E. Colin
美泰公
Kung-t'a-mee
SPENCELEY, S. A. (residence in Hankow)
Tsai Tzu Chuen, agent Wang Shing Pai, clerk
SUN LIFE INSURANCE Co. J. H. Keller, agent
TELEGRAPH-CHINESE IMPERIAL ADMINI-
STRATION
Ching Shao Peh, manager L. C. Sun, controller
S. C. Hsu, clerk-in-charge
局報電慶重
Chungking
S. P. Cheng, manager
Shu Yen Chih, clerk-in-charge
處報電署督川
Department in Viceroy's Yamen
K. Y. Whang, clerk-in-charge
4 operators
WILLIAMS, C. E., merchant
HANGCHOW
州杭
h tr Hưng-chau
Hangchow, the capital of the province of Chekiang, is situated 150 miles south west of Shanghai, and 127 miles south of Soochow, on the Chien-tang River, at the apex of a bay which is too shallow for the navigation of steamers. The mouth of the river is, moreover, periodically visited by a bore, or tidal wave, which further endangers the navigation. Haining is the best place for observing this famous bore, which is formed by the north-east trade wind heaping up the water of the Pacific on the China coast and causing enormous tides. Hangchow Bay is shaped like a funnel, and the mass of water rushing up, more and more concentrated as it advances, is sud· denly confronted by the current of the river. The momentary check causes the water to assume a wall-like formation; then, growing to a height of 15ft. at spring tides and gathering momentum with the immense pressure behind, forcing its volume into the comparatively narrow waterway, it tears past the sea-wall with a roar like thunder at a rate sometimes reaching 15 miles an hour. Before the Taiping rebellion Hangchow shared with Soochow the reputation of being one of the finest cities in the Empire on account of its wealth and splendour, but it was almost destroyed by the rebels. It has since rapidly recovered and is once more populous and flourishing, though it has not yet regained its former pitch of prosperity. The population is estimated at 750,000, including suburbs. As a manufacturing centre Hangchow takes place even before Soochow. Its three great trades are silk weaving, including several kinds of crape and gauze, the production of fans of all kinds, and the making of thin tinfoil, from which are formed the imitation ingots of silver, burnt in such iminense quantities by the Chinese. In addition, it sends out thread, string, colours, drugs, lacquer, and many other articles in small quantities. The communication by water with Shanghai is particularly good, and might be inuch improved with very little trouble by a small amount of dredging at a spot in the Grand Canal twenty miles from Hangchow. Ningpo, about 120 miles distant, can also be reached by boat from Hang- chow with several transhipments only: it is quicker to go via Shanghai. Hangchow was declared open to foreign trade on the 26th September, 1896, in accordance with the terms of the Japanese Treaty. Steam launches ply regularly to and from Shanghai and to and from Soochow with passenger boats in tow, making the trip in from 18 to 24 hours. Three companies to Shanghai and two to Soochow carry on a daily service. Of the former two launches convey the passengers and one the cargo turn about. There is hardly any cargo carried by the latter between Hangchow and Soochow. One of these launches goes via Kaching and the other via Huchow and Nanying. The Hangchow- Shanghai companies are Tai Sun Chong (practically Japanese, the China Merchants Inland Steam Navigation Co., (Chinese), and the Taito Steam Navigation Co., (Japanese). The Hangchow-Soochow companies are Tai Sun Chong and China Merchants Inland Steam Navigation Co., on altermate days via Kashing, and Taito
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