A336
SOOCHOW
many important towns such as Kiating (), Taitsang ( ), Changshiu (✯ ✯), Soochow (H', and Wusil), all of which are densely populated and possess richí 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 ( * ) nained 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. The Soochow Kashing Railway covering a distance of 75 kilometres, was com- pleted and formally opened to traffic in July. The construction of the Chung Shan Memorial Hall (i) was consummated in April, 1934, costing $40,000.00 a sum which was totally contributed by the citizens of the local community. It is a inagnificent 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. The Soochow Domestic Produce Company, situated in the centre of the city was opened in 1935. On New Year's day in 1931, a new city gate named "Chin Mên"), replacing the Isin Chang Mên and a little to the south of it, was opened to traffic. Another new city gate called "Hsiang Mên" () was completed in 1936. The city of Soochow has thus, in addition to the newly built "Ping Mên" (4) "Hsiang Men" (#), nine 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 (*#*#6); The Chinese Manu- facturers' Bank (f); The Peasants Bank (RA); The Oriental Bank (); The National Industrial Bank of China ( @ƒ**); and The China South Sea Bank († 6);
TRADE IN 1936
The trade of Soochow showed a general increase, especially in the case of foreign imports, the advantage of paying import duty at Soochow on goods transhipped at Shanghai, thereby avoiding payment of wharfage and conser- vancy dues at the latter port, being now taken to a greater extent by the local merchants. The valuc statistics, in so far as they are recorded by the Customs, are as follows: direct foreign imports, $4.4 million as against $3 million in the previous year, registering an increase of 47 per cent; coastwise importa- tions of Chinese merchandise, $2.6 million as against $1.3 million, a 100 per cent increase; and coastwise exportations of Chinese produce, $314,000 as against $267,000. The principal imports were, as usual, sugar, artificial silk yarn, and petroleum products. Sugar exhibited a slight decline, the figure being 138,882 quintals in 1936 and 145,919 quintals in 1935, due to heavy importations of native sugar during the year. Artificial silk yarn rose from 203,477 kilogrammes in 1935 to 414,493 kilogrammes, the increase being accounted for by the Government's effective preventive measures and the growing import- ance of the port as a centre of distribution for this article. The increase in the importations of kerosene oil and gasolene is even more striking: the former advanced from 2,346,101 to 9,938,395 litres and the latter from 1,380,383 to 2,222,177 litres. Soochow has become a transportation centre for these articles not only for the neighbouring districts but also for part of Chekiang Province. The tea trade recovered a little from its usual depression, the quantity exported during the year being 2,142 quintals as against 1,894 quintals in 1935, showing an improvement of 13 per cent. This increase, however slight, is nevertheless note worthy for being the first one recorded after years of poor business. Though several factories in the districts were reported closed at the beginning of the year, industry in general thrived, and at Soochow several factories were opened, notable among these being the Tai Ho Flour Mill (AJ), with an output of 2,000 bags per day. The silk weaving industry received an impetus through the disappearance of smuggled artificial silk in the local market. The district's output of cocoons during the year was over five times that of the preceding year, and two filatures at Soochow which had been closed