HARBIN
Harbin is the principal commercial centre of North Manchuria. Its rise to importance dates from the construction, with Russian capital, of the Chinese Eastern Railway in 1897. It is situated on the right bank of the Sungari, an affluent of the Amur, and consists of Fu Chia Tien, a Chinese quarter (the original settlement on the site), "Pristan" the principal business quarter (originally so called from its proximity to the "landing stage" for Sungari river steamers), and New Town which is a residential quarter containing most of the administrative offices and foreign consulates. The total population at the last census was 458,519, of which figure White Russians number 26,000, Japanese 26,347.
After a chequered history of Tsarist Russian and, from 1924 onwards, joint Sino- Soviet administration, the Chinese Eastern Railway finally passed into Manchou- kuo ownership in 1935, the U.S.S.R. Government having sold their share, and was re-named the North Manchurian Railway. During 1936 the line was converted from the old Russian 5' gauge to standard gauge. It connects Harbin with Man- chouli (935 km.) on the north-west frontier where connection is made with the Trans-Siberian Railway, and with Suifenho (547 km.) on the south east. To the south the North Manchuria Railway connects at Hsinking, the capital of Man- choukuo, with the South Manchuria Railway line to Dairen (944 km.) which until recently was almost the sole outlet for the export of North Manchurian produce. With the rapid construction of railways following the Japanese occupation in the 1931-1932, the growing ports of Rashin and Seishin on the north east coast of Korea, which are connected with Harbin by the Harbin-Lafa and Mutanchiang- Tumen lines, have taken an increasing share in exports: The areas to the north of Harbin are now tapped by the Harbin-Heiho line (638 km.) and the Mutan- chiang-Chiamussu line (331 km.).
By far the most important product of North Manchuria is the soya bean, vast quantities of which are exported annually. Other products of the district are kaoliang, maize, millet, wheat, and animal products such as hides, bristles, furs, wool, frozen game birds, etc.
As regards administration, Harbin is an ordinary municipality subject to the Pinchiang Provincial Government, having lost the status of "Special Municipality" which it had enjoyed from 1933 to 1937. The municipal services are fairly efficient. Roads outside the city however are impassable except in the winter, which is long and severe. The summer is short and comparatively humid. The Sungari river is ice-free from April to October and carries fairly heavy traffic between Harbin and down-river towns.
DIRECTORY
ALEXEIEFF, DONOTELLO & Co., Cinema Films Enterprise-36-44, Corner of Kitaiskaya and Birjevaya Streets; Telephs. 45-62; P.O. Box 357; Cable Ad: Aledon co
AMERICAN INDUSTRIES, FED. INC., U.S.A. -48, Mostovaya Street; P. O. Box 201
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ANGLO ASIATIC TELEGRAPH (ANGASTA)-P. O. Box 241
B. Hayton Fleet, proprietor
AGENCY
ANGLO-CHINESE EASTERN TRADING Co., LTD., Soya Beans Cakes and Oil Ex- ports-1, Pekarnaya Street, Telephs. 22-83, 43-87, 25-84 and 25-65: Cable Ad: Soya
Sh. Kabalkin, manager
ARCUS, S. G., Chemist and Druggist -23, Kataiskaya Street; Teleph. 28- 12; Cable Ad: Arcus
S. G. Arcus, proprietor