KIUKIANG
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A35E.
coastwise importatious of Chinese produce $24.8 million as against $39.2 million; direct exports to foreign countries, $79,530 as compared with $915; and coastwise exportations of Chinese produce, $32 million as compared with $20 million only. The total amount of kerosene oil, imported during the year increased from 13,936,257 litres in, 1935 to 20,273,419 litres. Improved financial conditions among the peasantry and the removal of the embargo on shipment to districts formerly infested by communists were the prime causes of this au vance in the consumption of kerosene oil. Total imports of gasolene ainounted to no less than 7,060,031 litres as against 213,382 litres in 1935. Constant de- mands frein Nanchang in connection with motor transport and aerial/naviga- tion and the fact that the requirements of both Nanking and Wulu were supplied from Kiukiang account for the increase.
account for the increase. A decline was registered under the heading of lubricating oil, but this commodity was shipped mainly duty-paid from Shanghai and did not appear in the Kinkiang returns. A sharp decline was shown by sugar, 45,190 quintals only being imported-of which 19,593 quintals came from Java, while the balance was almost equally distributed between Hong Kong and Japan-as compared with 81,026 quintals during 1935. The reasous for this decline were twofold: firstly, the rise in the exchange value of gold increased the cost of sugar; and secondly, as the market was saturated with smuggled sugar, its importation through legal chaunels declined, although a recovery was made during the latter half of the year owing to the effectiveness of preventive measures. The export of rice and beans amounted to 1,837,154 and 285,289 quintals respectively as com- pared with 324,097 and 28,072. quintals during 1935. Exports of melon seeds, seasamum seed, and wheat also benefited from the improved conditions. Tea of all kinds, one of the important staples of the port, noticeably declined: black tea, from 19,166 to 3,714 quintals; tea leaf, black, unfired, from 3,259 to 1,632 quintals; green tea, from 6,882 to 3,412 quintals; and tea, other kinds, from 7,644 to 6,239 quintals. This may be explained by the fact that Keemun tea, which is usually transported by junk through the Poyang Lake to Kinkiang for export, found its outlet recently through Wuhu. Wolfram ore (tungsten), mined on the border of Kiangsi and Kwangtung, formerly came. from Kanchow to: Kinkiang by junk for export, but as a result of the com- pletion of the Chiang-Kiangsi Railway much if this ore is now transported by rail to Shanghai. The value of chinaware produced by the province as a whole was estimated at $6 million. But as Kiukiang is, gradually losing its importance as the only outlet for this and other provincial products, such as tea, paper, grasscloth, etc. owing to the completion of highways which now serve the surrounding districts, only 20,706 quintals, or about $1 million worth, of chinaware was shipped from Kiukiang. With the completion of the Nanchang-Yushan section of the Chekiang-Kiangsi Railway in January, 1936, the whole line from Hangchow to Nanchang was opened to traffic. This railway providing as it does a speedy and economic means of communication with the interior of Kiaugsi, will assist in a great measure the development of industrial, commercial, and economic conditions in the interior of Kiangsi. Throughout the year the Nanchang-Kiukiang Railway functioned without interruption, the opening of the Chung Cleng Bridge over the Kan River at Nanchang obviating the inconvenience of transport across the river by ferry. The nine-province long-distance telephone was completed and made available to the public in September, 1936. In Kiukiang itself the local electric-figlit service was greatly improved by the installation of new generating plant.
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