Directory_and_Chronicle_1896 — Page 592

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E. Dupont, first roller L. Graindorge, do.

WUCHANG-ICHANG

A. Lempereur, head puddler Th. Chavagne, puddler A. Forthomme, do. J. Graindorge,

do.

Siemens-Martin Department

N. Merlan, foreman J. Merlan, first smelter Bessemer Department

Ch. Boniver, foreman M. Lemoine, engineer

D. Mathy, ladle and converter man J. Münster, cupola man

A. Delloye, tuyères and firebricks

maker

Rail Mill Department

F. Job, foreman

M. Polard, head roller

J. Wilkin, first heater

J. Goossens,

do.

J. Degotte, engineer

H. Fourneau, head roller turner E. Cuypers, M.D.

Hanyang Arsenal

A. Goebel, C.E., chief artillery en-

gineer, manager

W. Stangenberg, foreman

Coal and Ores Mines

W. Marx, C.E., M.E., chief mining

engineer, Hanyang

Li Shih Ton Colliery

W. Pattberg, mining engineer

Ma Ngan Shan Colliery

H. Koehne, mining engineer W. Strenger, coke burner

D. Schlinkmann, foreman erector Tieh Shan Ore Mines

Gust. Leinung, mining engineer S. Derda, boring engineer

Tayeh Railway

O. Richter, manager

Wuchang Cotton Mill Alfred Shaw, manager James Binks, engineer

Peter McCann, spinning master

Wuchang College

Prof. H. H. Robinson, M.A., F.C.I.

ICHANG

Is one of the four ports opened to foreign trade on the 1st April, 1877, in accordance with clause 1, section 3, of the Chefoo Convention,

Ichang is situated in lat. 30° 44′ 25′′ N., long, 111° 18′ 34′′ E., on the left bank of the river Yangstze, about 393 miles above Hankow, and some ten miles below the entrance to the great Ichang gorge. The navigation of the river to this port is com- paratively easy for vessels of light draught, but great care is necessary for all vessels when in the neighbourhood of Sunday Island, owing to the shifting sand banks.. The anchorage is off the left bank, opposite the foreign residences, and is good, except in freshets, when the anchors should be sighted every two or three days. The port is the centre of a hilly country, the productions of which are rice in the valleys, cotton on the higher grounds, winter wheat, barley, and also the tungtzu trees, from which the ordinary wood oil is obtained by pressing the nuts gathered from the trees. In the sheltered valleys, amongst the mountain ranges west of the city, oranges, lemons, pomelos, pears, plums, and a very superior quality of persimmons are grown and find a ready market in the city and at Shasi; the latter a large town 88 iniles below Ichang and the port of Kin-chow-foo. An immense junk trade centres at Shasi, both for up and down river junks, which here tranship their cargo intended for distribution at the various ports on the great Tung Ting lake. Steamers stop at Shasi to embark and disembark passengers. Ichang continues to increase in importance since the opening of Chungking. All cargo for the latter port is landed here and transferred to chartered junks. In the same way cargo brought down in chartered junks from Chungking and intended for the lower river and coast ports is shipped here on river steamers, which make regular voyages to and from Hankow.

Native opium is largely grown from here westwards, and is increasing in quantity and improving in quality. The climate of Ichang is drier than that of the lower river ports-summers very warm, winters dry and pleasant. The native population is estimated at about 35,000. The foreign residents are few in number, educated native agents representing the four or five foreign hongs doing business here. Fine new Consular and Customs buildings have recently been erected and have improved the appearance of he setttlement very much.

The net value of the trade of the port, excluding transhipment cargo, was in 1894 Tls. 1,263,624, and in 1893 Tls. 1,301,099. The foreign imports amounted to Tls. 572,603,