NUMBER of passengers carried between Wuchow and up-river ports.
1890 8,104
1900 25,013
1901 58,762
1902 74,359
1903 118,457
The majority of the launches plying above Wuchow now fly the British flag, being owned nominally by certain British subjects resident in Hong Kong and Canton, who are paid a monthly sum for the use of their name by the actual owners, the Po On and Pau Ta Steam Launch Companies--both Chinese, but the former registered as a British Company in Hong Kong. Both Companies confess to having made large profits last year, and I must admit that they display most commendable energy in the management of their business.
I have more than once suggested to the "combined Companies," now styled the British West River Steamboat Company, that they should come to an arrangement with the up-river launch Companies to exchange passengers and quote through rates. Waiting rooms would have to be provided for passengers on the hulks at Wuchow, as is done by the Launch Companies both here and at Konghau. I understand that Captain Dixon, the West River Company's agent in Wuchow, is giving the matter his attention. It would benefit both Companies and incidentally take a good many passengers from the French steamer. I look forward, however, to the day when the páis" of the Canton steamers and the up-river launches will be moored side by side at the corner of the Fu Ho, and passengers will be able to step from one to the other without delay or inconvenience. And then I hope the West River Company will be running its own launches to Nanning.
As touching the question of the best type of vessel for the up-river service, I consider--speaking, of course, as an amateur--screw boats to be preferable to stern-wheelers, at any rate to any type of stern-wheeler that has so far appeared on the river. Extreme shallow draught is not required, but steaming power and narrow beam, the trouble on the upper river being, not so much want of water as the narrowness of the channels between the rocks in many places. The "Moorhen," a vessel 146 feet long and 26 feet in beam, drawing, however, only 2 ft. 10 in., apparently required 8 feet more water to cross the Great Rapid than did the launches, drawing 3.4 feet, but only 75 feet long and 12 feet beam. Of almost equal importance is the question of speed; the river gun-boats "Sandpiper" and "Moorhen," although otherwise well fitted for up-river navigation, are seriously handicapped by their poor steaming power; the "Sandpiper" can with difficulty steam at the rate of 2 knots over the ordinary summer current in the river. Most of the launches at present employed can steam 10 knots--making about 6 over the current--and I should advise, were a boat being specially built for the trade, to make her a knot faster. I think two classes of launches should be employed on the upper river; for the Wuchow-Konghau run, twin screw steel launches, of about 75 tons register, maximum length, 100 feet; beam, 15 feet; speed at least 10 knots; to carry 150 passengers. For the run from Konghau to Kueihsien and Nanning, I would suggest wooden launches--of about 40 tons register; length, 75 feet; beam, 12 feet; draft, 4 feet; speed, 11 knots; to carry 100 passengers. I mention wood as the material for the second-class, as being less liable to damage than iron or steel, should the vessel come in contact with the rocks.
The numerous rapids strewn with rocks on the river between Wuchow and Nanning, undoubtedly form a serious impediment to steam navigation, except during the high-water season. They are, as far as I can learn, on a much smaller scale than those of the Upper Yang-tsze, and they are susceptible, if not of removal, at any rate of considerable improvement. It is perhaps unreasonable to hope that the Chinese Government will, under present circumstances, take any steps themselves to survey the upper river, and remove some of the principal obstacles to navigation. I venture to suggest that one of His Majesty's light draft gun-boats would render valuable service to British shipping on the river, were she to spend the summer months above the Great Rapid. She might go up with the first rise, say about the beginning of May, and make a survey of the rapids as far as Nanning; then at the first opportunity proceed to Lungchow, and afterwards to Posé; on her return she might ascend the Liu River as far as Liuchow. The four summer months of May, June, July and August, would, I think, afford ample time in which to make these journeys.
Under present conditions launches of the type I have described can maintain regular service between Wuchow and Nanning during at least five months in the year, and practically all the year round between Wuchow and Konghau. In winter the Nanning launches can be employed towing on the lower river. That there is money to be made in this trade, if conducted on business lines by a large Company, I have not the slightest doubt whatever.
It has long been the cry of the British shipping Companies in Hong Kong that the restrictions placed on inland water navigation by the Chinese authorities have rendered remunerative trade on the West River impossible. These restrictions have now been to a great extent removed; the river is open to steamers from Hong Kong to Nanning; the trade on the river is increasing every year, and it remains for the shipping Companies to justify their former complaints by showing what they can do when the opportunity is offered them of engaging, on equal terms with the Chinese, in the carrying trade of this great waterway.
Wuchow, August 5, 1904,