14
which can be ground in twenty-four hours, 64,900 pouds.* The average cost of grinding is 75 kopecks a-poud.
The following table shows the component parts of flour (Class 1) produced by the ordinary Chinese country mill and the Russian :-
15
In 1906 the
there remains, however, now only a section 143 miles in length. Ussuri Railway was combined with the Chinese Eastern Railway, so that the present length of the whole line, divided as shown below, is 2,724 versts (1,816 miles)-
Water,
Nitrogen. Fat,
Sugar. Dextrine.
Glutin.
Cell Matter.
Ash,
Versts.
Miles (approximate).
W. Section.-Harbiu-Manchuria
876
684
Chinese.. Russian..
11.74
13.28
11.95
10.11
1.45
2.20
0.90 2.40
4.12
3.24
66.74
69-22
0.82 0.98
0.29
E.
71
0.50 [39]
8.
-Harbin-Nikolaiesk -Harbin Changchun
626
417
222
148
Ussuri line (Vladivostock-Khabarovsk)
715
473
Mine lines
50
33
Lumbor lines
235
156
The following is a table showing the prices of wheat during recent years :-----
Total
2,724
1900
1901 and 1902 1903
1904 and 1905
1906 1907
Per Poud.
kopecks.
25
30 50
60 kopeeks to
2 r. 50 c.
65 60
During this period the price of flour has varied from 1 r. 23 k. per poud to
1 r. 60 k. per poud. At the present moment it is 1 r. 56 k. per poud.
Next to the manufacture of flour the chief Russian industry is the distilling of "vodka" and spirits and the manufacture of beer. It is calculated that about 370,000 gallons of spirits are distilled annually in Manchuria. The consumption on the other hand is over 670,000 gallons. The deficiency is made good by imports from European Russia and Germany. In the meanwhile with such a promising market the industry is rapidly expanding, Most of the materials used in the distilling of spirits come from Manchuria, To further encourage Russian distilleries in these regions and also as a set-off against the law which forbids the importation into Russia proper of Manchuria-made spirits, the manufacturers have petitioned the Russian Government to impose a tax on the German article coming through Vladivostock. They also ask for a relaxation of the prohibitory regulations in favour of the Manchurian spirit, which complies in composition with the home requirements and pays the home consumption tax.
There are about ten breweries in North Manchuria. The difficulty so far has been to procure locally good barley, but steps are being taken to encourage its cultivation by the Chinese farmers.
The sugar-beet having been found suitable for cultivation in these territories, steps are being made to introduce it. Prospects in this direction are said to be very promising.
Communications: Means of Communication.
In addition to the high roads, of which mention has already been made, the most important channels of communication in North Manchuria are the Chinese Eastern Railway and the Sungari River. Both tap the most fertile districts of the country, and one is in direct communication with the solitary Russian port in the Far East, Vladivostock. The duties, too, on the Chinese and Russian frontiers are lower than those levied in the south on sea-borne produce. This is a factor which is not without influence on the trade of these regions. The one obstacle of importance is the fact that the railway is not run to the best advantage.
The Chinese Eastern Railway.
The Chinese Eastern Railway is 1,401 versts (936 miles) long east and west, and was 938 versts (625 miles) long north and south. Of the latter part of the line
* Producing 45,430 pouds of flour.
The total number of locomotives possessed by the Company is 786, of passenger cars 1,225, and of goods cars 19,285.
In 1906 the weight of the privately-owned goods carried on the line was About half 25,330,000 pouds. In the following year it was virtually the same.
of this was represented by cereals, for the most part going to or coming from Harbin and its neighbourhood.
A noticeable feature in the traffic returns of the railway is the great increase of late in the imports through Togranitehiya and Manchuria. In 1906 these amounted to 5,597,000 pouds; in 1907 to 11,897,000 pouds.
The passengers carried along the line number, it is estimated, about 2,000,000 annually, and the amount received in fares is about 4,000,000.
The great drawback to the satisfactory working of the railway is undoubtedly the high freight charged on goods. Time and again has this been lowered, but the results are not yet satisfactory because the rates were fixed originally on far too exorbitant a scale. It should, however, be remembered that rebates are allowed when big consiguments of goods are transported.
River Transport.
Of the river routes the Sungari, as already stated, is with its tributaries the most important. From Kilin to its mouth this river is 900 miles long, and, notwithstanding certain difficulties here and there, it is practically navigable for steamers of very light draught all along its route. It has the further advantage of passing through a very fertile country, containing many thriving towns and villages, and with a population which is continually increasing.
This river is at its best for navigation from April to October. In spring the thaw sets in, and this is followed in June and July by the summer rains. During this period then there is always a good volume of water. Towards the end of August the river begins to drop, and in October and November the water is at its lowest. There are five sections of the river along which steamers ply
1. Kilin-Petune
2. Petune-Sanshan
8. Sanshan-river's mouth
4. Tonchang River (off Tsitsihar station to river's mouth)
5. Hulan River (Hulan-river's mouth)
The water varies in depth from 2 feet to 5 feet in the shallows.
Miles.
218
386
169
266
16
In addition to the Sungari there are also the Amur River and the Ussuri River. The former from the junction of the Shilka and Argun Rivers to Nikolarevsk is over 1,700 miles long. Its general depth from the point just mentioned, as far as Khabarovsk, is from 3 feet to 5 feet. The Chinese side is, however, sparsely populated, being as yet undeveloped, and traffic is therefore more or less limited to the Russian side.
The Ussuri, 500 miles long, is also navigable, especially from the station of Iman downwards. In the dry season steamers with a draught of 2 feet or 3 feet only are used on this river. For reasons similar to those mentioned in the case of the Amur, traffic on the Ussuri also is confined to the Russian settlements.
[2116 b-8]
F
295