CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921 — Page 383

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The prices at which the coal is at present retailed by the railway company at Dairen are as follows:--

Lump coal

Dust coal

Run of the mine coal

Bunker coal, lump...

Bunker coal, dust

Bunker coal, run of mine

Yen.

17.50

13-65

15.65

13'90

10:40

11.90

The price of Fushun coal, however, is much higher than that of most other Chinese coal, e.g., the coal from the Kailan mines is retailed in Tien-tsin for about 8 dollars per ton, and it is difficult to understand why the South Manchuria Railway Company find it necessary to keep their prices so high, as conditious in Fushun must be very similar to those in other parts of China. Moreover, it was only after strenuous agitation in the press that the company reduced their prices, and this in spite of the fact that exports fell off and there was a large accumulation of stocks owing to the trade depression. The company, however, have a virtual monopoly of the coal market throughout Manchuria, or rather of the districts served by the railway line, and the conclusion is almost forced upon one that it is from the profits which they must have made from the Fushun mines during the last two or three years that they have been paying for their somewhat costly experiments in other directions, e.g., the Anshan Iron aud Steel Works, which, as is generally known, have so far proved anything but a

success,

Future of Fushun.

Experts are agreed that the Fushun colliery as it is to-day is one of the most up-to-date mines in the world. The coal resources are vast, and the colliery is well organised and managed by first-class men, who are enthusiastic over the work that is being done. Further developments on a large scale are contemplated, and large sums of money will, it is said, be spent on the mines during the next few years, while it is hoped to increase the output considerably, Mining plant of all kinds will be required and there should be good openings for British manufacturers in this direction. Keen American competition must be expected, however, as there has of late been a tendency on the part of the management of the colliery to favour American plant, and in fact Viscount Inouye, the general superintendent of the colliery, has for some months past been touring in the United States, doubtless with a view to finding out conditions there and possibly to place orders for some of the plant that will be required. He also intende to visit the United Kingdom before his return to Fushun. Recently, too, a party of six American geologists and metallurgists have been visiting the mines at the invitation of the company, and are said to be carrying out exhaustive investigations into the future possibilities of the mines, more especially, it is understood, in connection with the development of the open workings, the direction in which it may be anticipated that the greatest efforts will be made during the course of the next few years. A map of the Fushun mines, published by the South Manchuria Railway Company, is appended to this report (Annex No. 6).*

Dairen, July 92.

Annex No. 1,

Annex No. 2.

TABLE showing Sales of Fushun Coal in Manchuria for the Years 1917-20.

1917.

1918.

1919.

1920.

Tons.

Harbin Changchun

Supingkai

Mukden

Antung

Liaoyang

Yingkow

Dairen

178,087

Tons. 56,246

Tons.

Tons.

06,233

76,726

100,538

£10,184

143,367

99,868

7,249

7,997

11,117

4,898

28,824

31,481

42,690

20,022

60,753

€7,390

104,950

100,190

35,998

48,379

75,829

$7,550

25,269

22.792

38,582

37,026

63,494

67,508

69,510

48,375

211,808

225,151

146,388

218,853

30,919

42,467

44,894

35,959

41,605

219,456

268,796

287,771

Total..

779,544

900,251

1,012,236

989,238

Karin

Booth Manchuria Railway Co.'s servants Other

Annex No. 3.

TABLE showing Quantity of Fushun Coal used by South Manchuria Railway Company for their own purposes during the Years 1917-20.

For railways For workshops For steamere At collieries For offices Other

Total

1917.

1918.

1919.

1920.

Tons.

Tons.

Tons.

197,222

287,616

391,458

Tons. 517,015

146,598

266,994

396,024

292,648

63,143

85,097

32,775

40,818

165,310

238,119

267,997

306,746

41,926

40,896 2,104

47,742

56,484

1,725

5,138

614,194

865,826

1,187,716

1,218,294

Annex No. 4.

TABLE showing Exports of Fushun Coal for the Years 1917-20.

1917.

1918.

1919.

1920.

TABLE showing Output of Fushun Collieries for the Years 1907-20.

Toba

Tons.

Toos.

Tons.

•

Tons,

1907

233,325

Penang Singapore

6,402

19.949

13,299

Manila

$2,678

34,945

45,349

1908

490,720

Banten

10,448

1909

706,042

Hong Kong

44,643

19,084

10,694

18,567

1910

898,482

Shanghai

78,127

54,202

46,216

46,557

{pingtao

17,286

14,487

2.663

410

1911

1,343,198

Chefoo

28,112

20,727

21,417

6,200

1912

1,470,150

sangkow

15,841

3,030

156

1913

2,185,453

Borea

344,139

397,955

358,710

521,920

Formosa

•

11,143

1914

2,147,432

Тарал

182,884

159,296

114,489

63,849

1915

2,169,245

1916

2,050,759

Batavia Soursbaye

19,266

3,715

1917

2,280,938

Other porta

28,080

13,893

1.244

9,978

1918

2,521,164

Total

757,187

797,570

554,001

745,954

1919

!

2,928,186

1920

3,129,835

• Not reproduced.

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