PEI-TAI-HO AND CHINGWANGTAO-NEWCHWANG
665
tides, but steamers drawing 23 feet 6 inches can as a general rule discharge with perfect safety. The bottom being soft mud, there is really nothing to prevent vessels with a draft of 25 feet from discharging, provided they are prepared to take the mud at low water. The Administration has already commenced a dredging scheme which, when completed, will give a depth of water of 25 feet at low tides. The Administration has at present three steam cranes available for weights up to five tons each, and, generally speaking, it may be said that the loading and discharging facilities are excellent. .On one occasion 73,000 bags of flour were taken out of one steamer in 27 consecutive hours, whilst on another 4,000 tons of coal were loaded on to one steamer in 31 consecutive hours. These facilities, resulting from the liberal expenditure of capital, have caused Chinwangtao to become a formidable rival for the trade hitherto shipped via Taku to Tientsin. The port is accessible throughout the year. It is practically the only port in the Gulfs of Pechili and Liau Tung accessible during the winter, which, on an average, cxtends from December 10th to March 10th. Good, sheltered anchorage, also, is to be found in the Roads. So important has the port trade become that it has been found necessary to abandon the Administration's branch railway connecting with the Peking-Mukden Railway at Tongho Junction. On and from 1st August, 1916, the Peking-Mukden Railways made direct connection with the Port by means of a deviation of the main trunk line between Peking and Mukden. The Administration own the land in the vicinity of the port, and that portion of the property known as the Bluff, comprising the best residential and building sites, has now been laid out as a township, in which plots may be leased on moderate terms.
As a seaside health resort Chinwangtao is almost without rival in China. It is easily accessible, has a dry and bracing climate, offers safe bathing from a sandy beach, and is situated amidst magnificent scenery; while a hotel under experienced manage- ment and numerous Summer bungalows afford the visitor every comfort. The great increase of trade year by ycar has induced the Chinese Maritime Customs to erect a fine Customs house at Chinwangtao, with a deputy commissioner in charge, and to open a Hai Kwan Bank for the convenience of local consignees. The total value of the trade for 1916, was Hk. Tls. 9,429,763 as compared with Hk. Tls. 10,609,942 in 1915 and Hk. Tls. 12,447,765 in 1914. The total number of steamers entered and cleared during 1916 was 1024 as compared with 890 in 1915 and 1,008 in 1914. Chingwangtao was selected on account of its natural geographical advantages as one of the ports of em- barkation for coolies emigrating to South Africa, and during 1904 an extensive depôt was established for the accommodation of five or six thousand men.
DIRECTORY
BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE (John Swire &
Sons, Ld.)-Tel. Ad: Swire
(Agent in residence during the Winter
season only); Address: Tientsin
Agencies
China Navigation Co., Ld.
Ocean Steamship Co., Ld.
China Mutual S. N. Co., Ld.
關海島王秦 Hai-kwan
CHINESE MARITIME CUSTOMS
Commissioner-F. W. Maze (stationed
at Tientsin)
Actg. Commr.-E. Le Bas Chinese Assistant-Lo Ch'i-ming Act.Asst.Tidesurveyor-W. McF. Robb Assistant Examiner-A. W. Oliver Tidewaiters--S. Sturton, S. Underhill,
A. E. Cooper
CHINESE POST OFFICE
Ho Hung-Chün, officer in-charge
FORBES & CO., WILLIAM-Tel. Ad: Rinchee,
Chinwangtao
KAILAN MINING ADMINISTRATION
Ad: Maishan
Tel.
R. A. McConaghy, agent and engineer J.W. Nolan, shipping clerk and acct. W. Roberts, harbour master J. Phillips, traffic inspector Dr. D. D. Muir, medical officer J. Rickerby, weighbridge office P. Lemoing, assistant harbour master
REST HOUSE HOTEL- Tel. Ad: Rest House