Directory_and_Chronicle_1901 — Page 700

WUHU

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WUHU

湖蕪 Wá-hú

This port was opened to foreign trade, by the Chefoo Convention, on the 1st April, 1877. It is situated on the river Yangtsze, in the province of An-hwei, and is a half-way port between Chinkiang and Kewkiang, though nearer to the former. It has the appearance of a thriving and busy town, and is admirably located for trade. This is mainly owing to the excellence of its water communication with the interior. A large canal, with a depth of five to six feet of water in the winter and ten to twelve feet in the summer, connects the port with the important city of Ning-kuoh-fu, in southern An-hwei, fifty miles distant. Another canal runs inland for over eight miles in a south-westerly direction to Taiping-hsien, an extensive tea district. This canal, which is only navigable in the summer, passes through Nan-ling and King-hsien, where the cultivation of silk is carried on, and may some day be of importance. The silk districts of Nan-ling and King-hsien are situated within fifty miles of Wuhu. Besides the canals leading to Ning-kuoh-fu and Taiping-hsien, there are two others communicating with Su-an and Tung-pó.

It will be seen, from the above enumeration of the facilities for water carriage from Wuhu, that it is calculated to prove an emporium for commerce. The net value of the foreign imports for the year 1899 was Tis. 6,959,124, compared with Tls. 3,921,205 in 1898. Coal may some day become a considerable article of export from Wuhu, both Native and Foreign capital having been directed to the great coal fields of the province. The Commissioner of Customs in his report for 1898 summarised the present position. of the industry as follows:-"The China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company are interested in several coal districts and have expended large sums in the opening of their mining property; the output has thus far been small, owing to the lack of proper machinery and management. The Chin Kang Company, a wealthy native syndicate, have a government permit to open mines in several districts and have been prospecting with a view to developing their property in the near future. A number of smaller companies are operating at present with the sanction of the above corpora- tion, to whom they pay a royalty. Two Companies representing Foreign capital-the Yangtsze Land and Investment Company. Limited, and the I Li Goal and Mining Company, Limited-have purchased a number of the most valuable mining properties in the immediate neighbourhood of Wuhu. Their mines are in some cases situated within short distances of navigable streams." The commissioner in his reports for 1899, however, mentioned that this industry was in a bad way through labour troubles, lack of competent management, and costly transport. There is a large trade in timber in Wuhu, but that, like all other trade, is in the hands of the Chinese. The preservation of egg yolk and albumen is an industry which was started in 1897, and has been carried in with some success by two establishments since 1899. Under favourable conditions, it is thought Wuhu could supply 6,000 piculs of preserved yolk and 800 piculs of albumen, eggs costing from 86 to $8 per 1,000. The net value of the trade of the port for 1899 was Tls. 20,281,849, as against Tls. 10,180,529 in 1898 and Tls. 8,888,361 in 1897.

The town is fairly well built, with rather broader streets than most Chinese cities possess, and is tolerably paved. The tract of land selected for the British Settlement, though admirably suited for the purpose, with good deep water frontage, has not yet been availed of, and there are few foreign houses in the place. The population of Wuhu is estimated at 80,750. This city was the scene of formidable anti-missionary riots in June, 1891.

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