562
TIENTSIN
Distilling is one of the largest local industries; it is chiefly from kowliang (sorghum) or millet. Although a spirit, it is called "wine," and is exported to the south in large quantities. The manufacture of coarse unrefined salt by the evaporation of sea water is also carried on near Taku; the produce is stacked some distance down river at the first cutting, where all the salt junks now go. The trade in salt is a Govern- ment monopoly. There are a number of cotton mills in the vicinity of Tientsin. The yarn produced is of 14, 16, and 20 counts. Carpets, shoes, glass, coarse earthen- ware, and fireworks are also made in large quantities in the city, but Tientsin is at present essentially a centre for distribution and collection rather than for manu- facture. The exports include coal, wool (from Kokonor, Kansuh, etc.), bristles, straw braid, goat skins, furs, wine, and carpets. The export trade is a creation only some 15 or 20 years old, and is largely due to foreign initiative. Wool cleaning and braid and bristle sorting are the chief industries in the foreign hongs except those of the Russians, who are exclusively engaged in the transit of tea. The imports are of the usual miscellaneous nature: arms, tea for the Desert and Siberia, mineral oil, matches, and needles figure next to piece-goods. The fine arts are unknown to the Tientsinese except in the shape of cleverly-made mud-figures; these are painted and make really admirable statuettes, but are difficult to carry away, being remarkably brittle.
Tientsin is the principal sea outlet for the entire trade of the provinces of Chihli, Shansi, Shensi, Kansuh, and part of Honan, with a population not far short of 100,000,000. Following are the comparative trade statistics for the years 1925, 1926 and 1927:-
Imports:-
Foreign (net) Native (net)
Exports
Value of trade of Port
...
...
1925 Hk. Tls. 107,709,088
1926 Hk. Tls. 105,841,839
80,057,725
76,103,282
99,937,953
95,629,632
287,704,766
277,574,753
1927 Hk. Tls.
128,492,918
76,849,196
119,997,109
325,339,223
The outbreak of civil war between the Chihli and Fengtien factions in the latter part of 1921 and the subsequent dislocation of railway traffic which continued long after the cessation of hostilities, was a severe handicap to the trade of the port. Gradually, as the victorious Fengtien troops gained control of the railways emanating fron Tientsin trade conditions improved only to experience a set-back in the sunimer of 1925 due to the disturbed conditions and boycott of British and Japanese goods instigated by students and strikers throughout China. Tientsin, however, has suffered less than other parts of the country from the general disorders and the fighting between North and South which still continues.
DIRECTORY
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