WUCHOW
州梧
Trẻ chau
Wuchow, opened to foreign trade on June 4th, 1897, by the Special Article of the Burmah Convention, is situated on the Sikiang or West River at its junction with the Fu or Kuei (Cassia) River. By the steamer routes at present authorised it is distant about 220 miles from Hongkong and Canton. Wuchow is the limit of navigation for ocean-going steamers; but, during eight months in the year, vessels drawing not more than 3 feet can reach Kueihsien (150 miles beyond Wuchow), and Nanning (360 miles from here) can be reached almost all the year round by boats drawing 2 ft. The population of the city and suburbs is estimated at about 65,000; it is slowly increas- ing, more especially in the riverine suburbs, which comprise the business quarter. The annual inundations caused by the rise in the river-there is an average difference of 60 feet between the winter and summer levels-are a source of great inconvenience to the inhabitants and at times bring about a total cessation of business. To obviate this, the principal steamship offices, the Custom House and other Tax Offices are located on pais (houses built on pontoons), moored alongside the river bank. July, 1924, Wuchow was visited by a very high flood-73 feet 9 inches-which is the second highest on record. The highest record-79 feet 6 inches-occurred in 1915. In winter the only local industry worthy of mention is boat building; when the river falls the foreshore is lined with matsheds, where native craft of all descriptions are constructed. The situation of Wuchow makes it the natural distributing centre for the trade between Kweichow, Eastern Yunnan, Kwangsi, and Hongkong and Canton. The future is full of promise, and Wuchow is sure to make a bold bid for second place as the largest trade mart in the south of China. Local merchants are making strenuous efforts to divert to Wuchow, vid the Liuchow and West Rivers, the trade of south-eastern Kweichow, which is principally supplied via the Yangtsze. Attempts are being made to work the manganese, antimony, copper, and tin mines which abound in the Kwangsi Province.
TRADE IN 1932
In
In spite of the fact that this province remained at peace throughout the year and banditry was held well in check, the trade of this port during 1932 marked a serious decline. This was principally accounted for by the following factors:- (1) Anti- Japanese boycott (2) unfavourable rate of exchange (3) local taxation and (4) depression. in the shipping trade. How great was the trade depression may be judged by the fact that about twenty shops were reported bankrupt towards the end of 1932. The total value of Direct Foreign Imports in 1932 was Gold Units 4,222,546. The value of Direct Exports of Chinese produce was Hk. Tls. 5,216,857, showing a decrease of Hk. Tls. 1,128,640 below the 1931 figures.
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The total mileage of motor roads in Kwangsi is estimated at about 1,800 miles. Owing to a shortage of funds to meet the cost of upkeep, most of the highways, unfortunately, are in a bad state of repair, causing a rapid deterioration of the cars aud lorries in use.
There is a motor car service operating daily between Nanning and Yunghui which is about one hour distant by motor boat from Wuchow. Travelling full speed, it is just possible to accomplish the journey by motor car from Wuchow to Nanning in one day and from Nanning to Lungchow in another. Another motor road runs from Kweilin to Ping Lok, two days' trip from Wuchow. Kwangsi now possesses an air force of her own. It is composed of a fleet of some 30 aeroplanes, chiefly of British make. The construction of the Wuchow Municipal waterworks was completed in May 1933, and the local community now enjoys the advantage of a regular supply of good water from the reservoirs. Rickshas appeared for the first time in Wuchow in the middle of December 1931, prior to which date this method of locomotion was local- ly prohibited. At present there are approximately fifty rickshas plying. The Wuchow Electric Light Company installed a new electric plant in February 1933 and the present supply of current is very satisfactory.