258
2
The offices of the Administration, which is still military, are some distance in rear of the town itself.
Throughout the whole town the telephone is installed and there is scarcely a Japanese house unconnected with the Central Exchange.
Theatres and the Yoshiwara, two institutions inseparable from Japanese life, are also installed and from the writer's observation they seemed to be doing a thriving trade.
By far the most important feature is the railway improvement scheme. At present there is a narrow gauge railway to Mukden from Antung, but after this winter a complete change will be made and the gauge is to be widened to the Japanese standard gauge. Not only is this going to be done, but tunnelling to the extent of rather more than a mile is to be taken in hand, and the net result will be to shorten the journey from Antung to Mukden considerably, the whole passage then occupying a few hours only.
Another most important scheme which seems to have been definitely decided upon by the Japanese is the bridging of the river at Antung and thus the Corean and Manchurian Railway systems will be linked up.
At first sight the advantage of this might not be evident, but it means that Mukden will be supplied with goods during the winter by way of Chemulpo, and thus it will also be possible to reach Newchwang, while the latter port is ice-bound.
This illustration shows in a measure the activity of the Japanese from an economic point of view, and it is stated by the local Japanese that the above work is to be put in hand without delay. As soon as the Manchurian and Corean systems are linked up there is to be a very accelerated train service from Chemulpo to Mukden via Antung.
To pass on to the more political side of the question, as every one knows Antung is nominally under Chinese supervision. As a matter of fact, the policing and everything else is done by the Japanese military. The Emperor of China's Representative is a Magistrate who is said to have paid 30,000 taels to obtain his post, but he is practically powerless, as he is controlled by (1) the Japanese, and (2) the Chinese Merchants' Guild; and the latter are very strong in their own part of the town.
This might not appear evident to the average person, but when a foreigner comes to Antung the Chinese authorities don't seem to care, whereas the Japanese in a polite manner request him to produce his passport.
In order to demonstrate the real power of the Japanese, the following incident may be taken as typical of their methods: A certain Chinese known to the writer wished to buy some land from the holders at Tan Tao. They refused to sell. This Chinese, however, was in partnership with a Japanese, who happened to be very friendly with the Administration, and he went to the Military Commissioner and told him of the failure his partner had met with in trying to purchase the land. The Commissioner, in order to help his friend, expropriated the land for the Japanese Government, and shortly after sold it to the two partners.
This land has since proved valuable for brick-making, and the partners have erected a large plant, and, in addition, have secured a contract for the manufacture of 1,500,000 bricks for the Japanese Government.
The native customs seems to be carried on in a somewhat unbusinesslike manner. The writer brought over ten drums of kerosene oil as samples, and when he sent his bill of lading to the shipping office he was informed that there was duty of 10 cents per case to be paid.
He, however, spoke to his Japanese friend and explained the case to him-- namely, that the oil was merely a sample-and a few hours afterwards it was delivered, and no more was heard about duties. This would seem to point to preferential treatment being extended to the Japanese-a matter respecting which so much has been said lately in the foreign papers. There is no objection to a foreigner leasing a house in the Japanese town, and the Japanese Consul has assured the writer that no restrictions would be placed upon a foreigner's movements, and that he might do what he wished to. At the same time, there seems to be only two possible ways for a Britisher (or any other foreigner) to do any good for himself, and they are as follows:-
1. By being backed with considerable capital, and content to wait perhaps for twelve months before turning his capital to account.
2. By going into partnership with a good Japanese.
The latter would be undoubtedly the safer and better course.
3
Business is conducted on entirely different lines to those obtaining in Chinese Treaty ports. Everything is done with hard cargo, and no advance orders are given, or contracts entered into, the stock on the spot being the only thing dealt in.
Any one with a stock of sheetings, shirtings, cheap flour, nails, screws, and oil would possibly pay his expenses. Tinned provisions can be obtained in abundance, and they nearly all come from Japan. The writer, however, saw a good deal of Messrs. Crosse and Blackwell's products in the bazaars and stores.
Houses can be rented from 30 dollars to 200 dollars per mensem, according to size.
The currency is Chinese small money, and also Japanese.
A 1-dollar war note is now worth 105 cents. Lumber for export can be bought, but this should be done through Japanese in order to avoid trouble.
The Japanese levy a toll of so many logs on every raft that comes down the river, and the Chinese dare not object.
In submitting this Report, the writer has tried to show actual conditions, and is in no way prejudiced.
Chefoo, August 18, 1906.
258
2
The offices of the Administration, which is still military, are some distance in rear of the town itself.
Throughout the whole town the telephone is installed and there is scarcely a Japanese house unconnected with the Central Exchange.
Theatres and the Yoshiwara, two institutions inseparable from Japanese life, are also installed and from the writer's observation they seemed to be doing a thriving trade.
By far the most important feature is the railway improvement scheme. At present there is a narrow gauge railway to Mukden from Antung, but after this winter a complete change will be made and the gauge is to be widened to the Japanese standard gauge. Not only is this going to be done, but tunnelling to the extent of rather more than a mile is to be taken in hand, and the net result will be to shorten the journey from Antung to Mukden considerably, the whole passage then occupying a few hours only.
Another most important scheme which seems to have been definitely decided upon by the Japanese is the bridging of the river at Antung and thus the Corean and Manchurian Railway systems will be linked up.
At first sight the advantage of this might not be evident, but it means that Mukden will be supplied with goods during the winter by way of Chemulpo, and thus it will also be possible to reach Newchwang, while the latter port is ice-bound.
This illustration shows in a measure the activity of the Japanese from an economic point of view, and it is stated by the local Japanese that the above work is to be put in hand without delay. As soon as the Manchurian and Corean systems are linked up there is to be a very accelerated train service from Chemulpo to Mukden via Antung.
To pass on to the more political side of the question, as every one knows Antung is nominally under Chinese supervision. As a matter of fact, the policing and every- thing else is done by the Japanese military. The Emperor of China's Representative is a Magistrate who is said to have paid 30,000 taels to obtain his post, but he is practically powerless, as he is controlled by (1) the Japanese, and (2) the Chinese Merchants' Guild; and the latter are very strong in their own part of the town.
This might not appear evident to the average person, but when a foreigner comes to Antung the Chinese authorities don't seem to care, whereas the Japanese in a polite manner request him to produce his passport.
In order to demonstrate the real power of the Japanese, the following incident may be taken as typical of their methods: A certain Chinese known to the writer wished to buy some land from the holders at Tan Tao. They refused to sell. This Chinese, however, was in partnership with a Japanese, who happened to be very friendly with the Administration, and he went to the Military Commissioner and told him of the failure his partner had met with in trying to purchase the land. The Commissioner, in order to help his friend, expropriated the land for the Japanese Government, and shortly after sold it to the two partners.
This land has since proved valuable for brick-making, and the partners have erected a large plant, and, in addition, have secured a contract for the manufacture of 1,500,000 bricks for the Japanese Government.
The native customs seems to be carried on in a somewhat unbusinesslike manner. The writer brought over ten drums of kerosene oil as samples, and when he sent his bill of lading to the shipping office he was informed that there was duty of 10 cents per case to be paid.
He, however, spoke to his Japanese friend and explained the case to him-- namely, that the oil was merely a sample-and a few hours afterwards it was delivered, and no more was heard about duties. This would seem to point to preferential treatment being extended to the Japanese-a matter respecting which so much has been said lately in the foreign papers. There is no objection to a foreigner leasing a house in the Japanese town, and the Japanese Consul has assured the writer that no restrictions would be placed upon a foreigner's movements, and that he might do what he wished to. At the same time, there seems to be only two possible ways for a Britisher (or any other foreigner) to do any good for himself, and they are as follows:-
1. By being backed with considerable capital, and content to wait perhaps for
twelve months before turning his capital to account.
2. By going into partnership with a good Japanese.
The latter would be undoubtedly the safer and better course.
3
Business is conducted on entirely different lines to those obtaining in Chinese Treaty ports. Everything is done with hard cargo, and no advance orders are given, or contracts entered into, the stock on the spot being the only thing dealt in.
Any one with a stock of sheetings, shirtings, cheap flour, nails, screws, and oil would possibly pay his expenses. Tinned provisions can be obtained in abundance, and they nearly all come from Japan. The writer, however, saw a good deal of Messrs. Crosse and Blackwell's products in the bazaars and stores.
size.
Houses can be rented from 30 dollars to 200 dollars per mensem, according to
The currency is Chinese small money, and also Japanese.
A 1-dollar war note is now worth 105 cents. Lumber for export can be bought, but this should be done through Japanese in order to avoid trouble.
The Japanese levy a toll of so many logs on every raft that comes down the river, and the Chinese dare not object.
In submitting this Report, the writer has tried to show actual conditions, and is
in no way prejudiced.
Chefoo, August 18, 1906.
..
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