SOOCHOW
A363
many important towns such as Kiating, Taitsang (), Cengshu (#), Soochow (H), and Wusih(), all of which are densely populated and possess rich agricultural products. Construction of this road was. began as early as September 1933, and work was not finished until Au- gust, costing about $1,700,000. A new Ching Fan Highway () named after the local ancient scholar and stateman Fan Chung-yen (1), was constructed in September, 1933, connecting the Tien Ping Hills () with the Lin An Hills (), thus providing much facility to the excursionists to these two famous hills. To the added facilities of transport of this port, a Soochow Kashing railway was under project and scheduled to be finished before the end of 1935. It starts from the railway station and passes six major towns en route. The whole line covering a distance of 80 kilometres, costs approximately $4,000,000. The construction of the Chung Shan Memorial Hall() was con- summated in April, 1934, costing $40,000.00 a sum which was totally contributed by the citizens of the local community. It is a magnificent building and situated in the midst of the Yuan Miao K'uan (), the commercial centre of the city. A new Y.M.C.A. building was opened in December, 1921. The Chinese and missionary schools date back to 1900. With a view to promoting local industries, the plan of a bazaar exhibiting domestic products was contempleted and the new building located in Pei Ch'u), in the city was completed.and opened to business on September 3 1935. On New Year's day in 1931, a new city gate named "Chin Mên" (F), replacing the Hsin Chang Mên and a little to the south of it, was opened to traffic. The city of Soochow has thus, in addition to the newly built "Ping Mên" (4), eight city-gates, instead of six city gates as it had before. Recent years witnessed the growth of a great many modern banking institutions. Branch offices of Chinese modern banks established in this city and opened to business lately were the Ching Ch'eng Bank(); The Shanghai commercial and Savings Bank (L_ ****); The Chinese Manufacturers' Bank (中國國貨銀行);The Peasants Bank(農民銀行):The Oriental Bank(大陸銀行); The National Industrial Bank of China (***); and The China South Sea Bank (#6);
•
:
TRADE IN 1934
?
The year opened with a severe cold spell, causing the freezing up of several parts on the Grand and small streams around this district. Very low temperature prevailed at the end of January and the launch service between this city and some inland places had to be temporarily suspended. With excessive heat and lack of rainfall, a severe drought threatened this district in May and June. Thanks to the kind efforts of the local authorities an Anti-Drought Commission was inaugurated and temporary reliefs were given to cope with the discomfortable phenomenon. The cocoon crop for the spring season was good, yielding 85 per cent. of a normal year's production. The fresh cocoon market opened with prices ranging from $33 to $41 per quintal according to the quality of the product. The prices were unpre- cedentedly low and the farmers usually were not inclined to part with their stocks on account of the unremuneration quotations obtained and the first half-month of February with the result that the cocoon crop one. Its yield was only 50% of a normal year's. Owing to the depression of the silk market, abroad as well as home, a picul of fresh cocoon only fetched from $30.00 to $40.00 according to the quality of the product. The breeders nowadays found that their undertaking had ceased to be a lucrative business as before.
was a poor
It is interesting to note that Soochow, although situated in the hinterland, assumed, in the year 1934, a new status of carrying on direct foreign trade on an large scale (foreign goods arrived from abroad and transhipped to Soochow). This happy incident continued with renewed vigour for the year again. The total value of direct foreign imports was $2,640,824 as against $1,251,844.00 the increase being chiefly due to the increased importation of foreign sugar and to a certain extent to that of artificial silk yarn, liquid fuel and kerosene oil. Turning to the domestic trade of this received a serious set-back as a result of the loss of the Manchurian market during the year. Business with northern ports and Foochow was relegated to insignificance. A total quantity of 2,143 quintals was exported as against 3,704 quintals in the preceding year.
Owing to the drought the rice crop had a lean year, averaging only a little over 50% of a normal year's yield.
3
A23