SHASI
A 425
in January, 1899, British interests being placed under the care of the Consul at Ichang, Calling steamers anchor in the river, which is very swift during the summer, and discharge and load at pontoons, but some bunding work, commenced in December, 1904, and finished in April, 1905, provided berths for three hulks, with jetties. Un- fortunately, in 1908 this bund for over two-thirds of its length went bodily into the river owing to the action of the water coming from inland carrying away sand from beneath the stone work. The net value of the trade of the port coming under the cognizance of the Chinese Maritime Customs during 1932 amounted to Hk. Tls. 13,504,..., 642 as compared with Hk. Tls. 18,651,178 in 1931, Hk. Tls. 21,486,783 in 1930 and Hk. Tls. 34,355,862 in 1929. The bulk of the carrying trade was, until the 30th of May, 1931, carried on by junks, under the control of the Native Customs under the Foreign Customs supervision. These Native Customs, however, were abolished on the 1st June, 1931. In December, 1913, a contract was entered into between the Chinese Govern- ment and the British firm of Pauling & Co. for the construction of a railway from a point opposite Shasi to Singyifu in the province of Kweichow vid Changteh and Kwei- yang, with a branch from Changteh to Changsha. Good progress was made in the. survey of this projected railway until the outbreak of the European war and conse- quent necessity for a temporary cessation of operations led to the recall of the en- gineers. It is reported that so many lakes and morasses lie in the directsurvey of the Shasi-Changteh section that a détour to the west, through more productiv ecoun- try, may be necessary. A telephone service was introduced in March, 1921. A motor bus service between Shasi-Hsiangyang was started in 1924. The road has been con- tinued to Hankow, but no regular motor service is inaintained from Hsiangyang to Hankow. A new macadamized road through the city of Shasi is under construction and other roads are contemplated. A private company supplies the Shasi public with electricity. The Hankow Press-packing Co. (Shasi Branch) started operations in September 1929, while the Shasi Cotton Testing Department of Hankow Bureau of Inspection and Testing for Commercial Commodities, a governmental organ, com- menced work in October 1929. The SHASI Cotton Weaving and Spinning Factory was informally opened in May 1931 with a capital of $1,000,000. The Air-mail and passen- ger service between Shanghai and Ichang via Shasi was commenced in April 1931. Flights are inade three times a week. The river rose to 35.3 feet on 9th August, 1931 (the highest water mark on record), but no damage was done to lives and property in Shasi. The Bank of China, Shanghai Commercial & Savings Bank and Bank of Com- munications have branch offices at Shasi.
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TRADE IN 1932
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The total net value of trade for the year amounted to Hk. Tls. 13,504,652, showing a considerable decrease in comparison with the figures of previous years. However, large quantities of goods were carried by junks, which since the abolition of the Native Customs, do not come under the cognizance of the Chinese Maritime Customs. The unprecedented flood of 1931, coupled with communistic and bandit activities greatly reduced the prosperity of Shasi and its surroundings. Early in 1932 the protection of Shasi was placed in the hands of the Szechuanese, who made good pro- gress in bandit suppression. This was the second time that Shasi had been garrisoned by Szechuan troops. During the month of July communists, 7,000 strong, headed by the notorious Ho Lung made a swift advance on Shasi and occupied Chang Hua Ssu, a point one or two li from the port. The garrison was taken by surprise and only after severe fighting did the government forces succeed in beating off the communists.. Several cases of a less grave nature occurred during the year, but thanks to the efforts of the Szechuan troops the bandit attacks came to nothing. During November, 1932, the 48th Division under General Hsu Yuan Chuan replaced the Szechuanese at Shasi. Availing themselves of the opportunity offered by the change of garrison, small groups of bandits were again active in the surrounding districts. Cases of launches being pirated were common and trade was consequently inuch interfered with. When the 48th Division had consolidated their position strenuous efforts were made to combat the bandit menace which met with success. By December the majority of bandits had been driven from the district and trade regained its former prosperity. Of the many different commodities exported from Shasi, Raw Cotton is by far the most important and the main stay of Shasi's prosperity. Practically 60% of the export trade of Shasi is accounted for by cotton. 209,881 piculs were exported during 1932, mainly to- Shanghai in press packed bales.