Directory_and_Chronicle_1900 — Page 583

TIENTSIN

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success that the line had to be doubled in 1898-9. From Feng-tai, about 7 miles from the capital, the trans-continental line to Hankow branches off. This line has been already made as far as Pao-ting-fu, the provincial capital of Chih-li, and is now open to traffic. Its continuation is in the hands of the Belgians. About 435 miles in all'are open to goods and passenger traffic. As usual, the railway has brought all sorts of foreseen and unforeseen contingencies with it. Farmers up near Shanhaikwan are supplying fruit and vegetables to Tientsin. An enormous trade in pea-nuts (with Canton) has been created. Coal has come extensively into Chinese household use; the foreign residents are developing a first-rate watering place at Pei-tai-ho on the Gulf of Pe-chi-li, and all the various industries of the city have been stimulated. Brick buildings are springing up in all directions and the depressing-looking adobe (mud) huts are diminishing.

The foreigners live in the three concessions, British, French, and German, which fringe the river below the City and cover an area of less than 500 acres. The Japanese are now (1900) taking up a concession in accordance with the terms of the Treaty of Shimonoseki. Very extensive building operations are going on throughout the conces- sions, which have excellent roads, with police, oil, gas lamps, etc., etc. The British Municipality has a handsome Town Hall, completed in 1889 ; adjoining there is a well- kept public garden, opened in the year of Jubilee and styled Victoria Park. An excel- lent recreation ground of ten acres is also being developed, and three miles distant there is a capital race-course. There are two hotels (the Astor House and Globe), two clubs (Tientsin Club and Concordia, the latter chiefly German), a theatre, an excellent library, three churches (Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Union), and no public-houses.

Distilling is one of the largest local industries; it is chiefly from kowliang (sorghum) or millet. Although a spirit, it is called "wine," and is exported to the south in large quantities. The manufacture of coarse unrefined salt by the evaporation of sea water is also carried on near Taku; the produce is stacked along the river bank just below the native city and sometinies gives off very offensive smells, rendering life a burden. The trade in salt is a Government monopoly. Carpets, shoes, glass, coarse earthenware, and fireworks are also made in large quantities in the city, but Tientsin is at present essentially a centre for distribution and collection rather than for manu- facture. The exports include coal, wool (from Kokonor, Kansuh, etc.), bristles, straw braid, goat skins, furs, wine, etc. The export trade is a recent creation, and is largely due to foreign initiative. Wool cleaning and braid and bristle sorting are the chief industries in the foreign hongs except those of the Russians, who are exclusively engaged in the transit of tea. The imports are of the usual miscellaneous nature; tea for the Desert and Siberia, mineral oil, matches, and needles figure next to piece goods. The fine arts are unknown to the Tientsinese except in the shape of cleverly made mud-figures; these are painted and make really admirable statuettes, but are difficult to carry away, being remarkably brittle.

WALS

The export coal trade is rapidly expanding, 218,618 tons having been cleared in 1898, The general trade is increasing by leaps and bounds, and no wonder, as Tientsin is practically the only sea outlet for the entire trade of the provinces of Chihli, Shansi, Shensi, Kansuh, and part of Honan, with a population not far short of 100,000,000. The total net value of the trade in the years 1896-7-8, less re-exports, Tls. 51,316,367; Tls. 55,059,017; and Tls. 63,064,148; the net foreign imports in 1898 being valued at Tls. 32,579,514 and the native imports at Tls. 28,198,595 gross and Tls. 18,390,950 net after deduction of re-exports. The export trade, which twenty years ago was practically nil, was last year, not including re-exports, Tls. 12,093,684. The duty collected was Tls. 1,016,412, an increment of Tls. 43,375 on that of the previous year. Opium tends to a vanishing point, from native competition. The figures for 1896-7-8 are piculs 1,170, 928, and 912.