Directory_and_Chronicle_1904 — Page 1080

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

CANTON

347

Canton altogether. The trade now transacted there by foreigners is limited, though lately increasing. Tea and Silk are the staple exports. The total export of Tea for the year 1902 was 22,935 piculs, for 1901, 6,653 piculs, and 10,713 piculs in 1900. The extent to which the trade has fallen off will be seen on a comparison of the above figures with those for 1888, when the export was 131,141 piculs. The quantity of Raw Silk and Cocoons (exclusive of Refuse and Wild Silk) exported in 1902 was 40,043. piculs; in 1901, 36,553; and in 1900, 29,057 pieuls. These figures, however, which are taken from the Foreign Customs returns, do not. give the total export, but only those in foreign vessels. Both Tea and Silk are carried in large quantities to Hongkong by junk, for transhipment. The export of Sugar in 1902 was 154,512 piculs, against 159,657 piculs in 1901. The net value of the trade of the port coming under the cognisance of the Foreign Customs for 1902 was Tls. 79,744,707; for 1901, Tĺs. 59,990,264, and for 1900 Tls. 52,405,172.

Ample means of communication exist between Canton and Hongkong, a distance of about ninety-five miles, by foreign steamers plying daily, and a large number of native craft. There is daily steam communication with Macao and regular connection with Wuchow and West River ports and with Shanghai, Newchwang, and Kwangchauwan. The total tonnage for 1902 entered was 2,156,994 tons, of which 1,668,894 were British. The steam-launch traffic under the Inland Steam Navigation Regulation has. proved a great success, though since rules were enforced in December 1901 compelling all Chinese launches to undergo inspection at the hands of an engineer appointed by the Customs before obtaining licenses to ply, the number of launches is not so large as previously. There is a safe and commodious anchorage within 150 yards of the river wall at Shameen. Canton was connected by telegraph (an overland line) with Kowloon in 1883, and another overland line was completed from Canton to Lungchau- fu, on the Kwangsi and Tonkin frontier, in June, 1884. The electric light has been introduced into a portion of the city. A projected railway between Canton and Kowloon has received the Imperial sanction and a preliminary survey has been made, but it still remains a project. The survey by an American syndicate of a railway route to connect Canton with Hankow was also made in 1899, and work upon the branch line from Canton to Samshui (about 30 miles) commenced in December 1902, and a length of ten miles, as far as Fatshan, was opened on November 15, 1903 The work on the grand trunk line will be started at both ends early in the present year, A line from Macao to Canton has also received Imperial sanction, but no preparations are at present being made for the building of the line. Extensive wharves and godowns are being erected at Pak Hin Hok on Honam Island, about two miles below Shameen, and these when completed will enable ocean-going vessels of considerable draught to come up to Canton.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1904 — Page 1080

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