410
THE WOOSUNG BAR,
The following memorandum relating to the navigation of the Shanghai River and the Woosung Bar by Mr. E. A. Hewett, Acting agent of the P. & O. Company at Shanghai, is published with the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce :-
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The need of a River Conservancy Board had been fully recognised by the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, who have already addressed two letters on the subject to the doyen. of the Consular Body, and it is unnecessary therefore for me to enlarge on this subject, but I would submit recent events have proved more conclusively than ever how very important it is that full control of the river should be in the hands of a Board, with power to draw up regula tions for its safe navigation, and also enforce upon all vessels an observance of the same without respect to nationality or status.
One point, however, to which I would draw special attention is that all vessels while enter ing or leaving this port should be in charge of daly qualified pilots, holding certificates issued by the Conservancy Board. This I think has been most clearly shown by the collision which re- cently took place at Woosung between the Chin- ese man-of-war Wantai and the steamer Birkhall, by which the latter was sunk. In support of this statement I would refer to the finding of the Naval Court of Enquiry on the above col- lision, which was published in the North China Daily News of the 18th July.
I am aware that most ships visiting this port are in charge of licensed pilots, but a case was recently brought under notice of a commander who left the chief officer to take his steamer over the Bar, while the pilot did not join the vessel till after she was anchored at Woosung. I believe I am right in saying that the chief officer in question had only once previously visited Shanghai.
This is not, I am given to understand, a vessels solitary instance, but that "outside" are not infrequently moved up and down the river without pilots, the result being that we are in constant danger of having the Bar blocked through the navigation being carried on by men not sufficiently familiar with the waters. Although the wrecks of the Noru and Feima have now been removed, and the Feima Channel again declared open to traffic, the Woosung Bar has silted up to such an extent that even in the deepest channel we cannot, during the coming winter, expect more water than was obtained on the old Bar last May after the Nora had been sunk and the Feima Channel blocked.
The Committee of the Chamber will thus readily understand it is most important vessels should be carefully navigated in order to minimise the possibility of accidents, but the very frequent cases of stranding on or near the Bar, which have recently taken place, show that there is still great room for improvement in this respect. If all these cases were carefully enquired into it would probably be found that in the majority the stranding was caused through a small vessel forcing the one of deeper dranght out of the main channel. It was to this cause that the loss of the Nora was at tributed by the Customs authorities.
Although none of the recent strandings on the Bar have led to serious obstruction, still, when ever a vessel takes the ground, a ridge is raised, which at this time of the vear will not wash away. the consequence being that the silt forms and, for a time at all events, appreciably decreases the depth of channel.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
to the present unsatisfactory conditions under which the navigation of these waters is carried
on.
While on the question of the Shanghai river I may perhaps here be allowed to refer to the scheme recently brought forward by M. de Martean for constructing a canal from the Whangpoo to the Yangtsze, noticed in the local press. You will perhaps remember that the matter was briefly referred to between us a few days previous to the last meeting of the Chamber. In the absence of details it is, of course, impossible to satisfactorily discuss the question, but as the improvement of the Shanghai river cannot offer any very great engineering difficulty, it resolves itself purely into a question of dollars and cents, ways and
means.
The present tonnage dues of 40 Haikwan tael cents per ton are already so heavy it is a question whether we are not fully justified in insisting that under no circumstances should we be called upon to pay still further, and also whether the Chinese Government is not by treaty legally bound to keep open the ap- proaches to the port at whatever cost to them. selves, without increasing the charge on the shipping. It is, however, quite certain that unless the foreign trade of Shanghai is prepared to contribute something towards the additional expense of improving the river, the Chinese Government will continue supine as they have been for the last thirty years.
The shipping community is at present put to great additional expense through having to carry on so much of their work at Woosung, and they would therefore probably be quite willing to pay an extra tax for a limited period of years in order to effect a permanent improve- ment upon the present state of affairs, but I think it will be found that we cannot afford so' costly a scheme as that of M. de Marteau is likely to prove, howerer beneficial it may be in other respects.
The proposed canal, it is reported, will be from three to four miles in length, the cost of which, together with all necessary bunding, jetties, plant, etc., etc., may reasonably be expected to amount to at least three or three and a half million taels, interest on which if calculated at 6 per cent. would amount to Tls. 180,000 or Tls. 210,000.
sum
The total tonnage entered at the Shanghai foreign Customs during the twelve months ending 30th June last was 3,446,000 tons. Even should so high a charge as 5 candareens per ton (each way)] be levied on vessels using the canal, this would only bring in a revenus of about Tls. 345,000, of which some Tls.
be 200,000 would absorbed in interest, leaving barely Tls. 150,000 for working expenses, up-keep, and sinking fund, a which would seem inadequate. The result would be that the community would be saddled for an indefinite number of years with what would appear on the face of it to be an unnecessarily expensive scheme. It is safe to assume that an equally effective remedy might be found in dredging (or otherwise) at a much less sum; Messrs. Escher and de Ryke brought forward a plan for improving the Shanghai river which was described in their report dated Osaka, 28th February, 1876; this is believed to be feasible, though they appear to have considerably under-estimated the cost, which they put between Tls. 254,000 and Tis. 272,000. I would remind you that should the canal dues both ways amount to one mace per ton this means an increase of nearly 25 per cent. on our present port dues.
In spite of the heavy expenses now entailed on shipowners through having to work their vessels at Woosung, they would probably strongly object to being called upon to pay so much for overcoming the present trouble.
[November 27, 1895.
There is another point which may have to be considered in connection with this proposed canal, which is that in the event of the canal being constructed the lower reach may become a back-water and silt up to such an extent as to render it impassable except at high tide for any-... thing except small boats. Even at present at low tide it is not always possible to take tugs drawing 9 feet 6 inches or 10 feet over the Bar.
It is to be hoped that even should M. de Martean's scheme prove acceptable to the authorities, fall opportunity will be given to the Chamber of Commerce to consider the details in all their bearings before anything definite is decided upon.
E. A. H.
The covering letter was as follows :-
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. Shanghai, 22nd October, 1895. Dear Sir,-Referring to our conversation of yesterday morning with reference to the naviga- tion of the Shanghai river, I vonture to place before you, in the accompanying memorandum, a few points in connection with this matter which I am of opinion might, with advantage, be considered by the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce at their next meeting.
I should be glad therefore if you would kindly give this your consideration.-I am, dear sir, yours faithfully,
A. P. McEwen, Esq.,
Chairman,
E. A. HEWETT, -
Acting Agent.
Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce.
མ་
The minute on the subject in the Committee's proceedings was as follows:
Navigation and Conservancy of the Whang- poo :-A letter on this subject from Mr. E. Å. Hewett, the Acting Agent of the P. & 0. Company, was laid before the meeting and duly considered, and it was determined that the Chamber would in due time deal with the several points brought forward.
FOOTBALL.
HONGKONG FOOTBALL CLUB v. H.M.S. ÆOLUS.
Although at the commencement of this match the Club were playing only nine men it soon became evident that one team was considerably the stronger. The Club kicked off and at once began to press, but the ball going behind gave the Navy a little breathing time. A good run by Townend brought the ball to the goal line and it was then directed towards the goal, and Mackay receiving it on his head directed it under the posts. The Club now playing ten men began to press the Eolus very severely, but an excellent shot by Oliver was well fisted by the naval onstodian, and their forwards run- ning up made their first attack on the Club citadel and a corner was conceded. Nothing came of this, but a few minutes afterwards a corner was obtained by the Club. The ball went about twenty yards from goal, but it was well shot in, and several kicks were interchanged. Finally the goalkeeper fisted it, but only on to Mackay's head, which again effectually disposed the obstacle. Changing over, the Club playing a full team had the game entirely in their hands. The Naval stronghold tinually besieged, and although its de- fender did his best, his post proved to be of a most onerous description. The excellent centring by Townend enabled the Club forwards to put in several well-directed shots and shortly after the restart Lammert successfully overcame the defence. A run out of goal proved fatal to the Navy and again their colours were lowered by Deacon. The Club's rear division had until now shared but little in the game, but the Navy, with four points to the bad, put on a spurt and enabled the Club's backs to get rid of a little of
was-con-
With reference to your letter of the 14th of August addressed to the doyen of the Consular Body on the subject of the Conservancy of the river, I understand that up to the present no answer has been received; should the auhorities, The burden of making the canal would fall however, still maintain they are unable to carry chiefly on the shipping, for although a certain out the wish of the Committee of the Chamber, proportion would no doubt be paid by the Chi- I would suggest that letters on the subject be nese Government this would not presumably sent to the Chambers of Commerce of London, be a very high percentage of the yearly sum Liverpool, and other cities interested in the required. The total foreign tonnage dues trade of this port, and further that the agents dollected in Shanghai are under Tls. 300,000 of the various shipping companies should be per annum, and in their present financial condi- asked to bring the matter before their prin- tion it is improbable that the Chinese Govern- cipals, so that they can, if they think fit, callment could afford to contribute any very consi-their chilliness. The efforts, however, proved un- the attention of their respective Governments derable sum towards the cost of the canal.
availing, as the passing was wild and the shooting