Directory_and_Chronicle_1905 — Page 701

TIENTSIN

157

Li Hung-chang authorised Mr. Tong Kin-seng to sink a coal shaft at Tong Shan (60 miles N.E. of Tientsin) in the seventies; this was done and proved the precursor of a railway, which has since been extended to Shanhaikwan for military purposes, and from thence round the Gulf of Liau Tung to Kinchow; 1900 saw this line pushed on to Newchwang. In 1897 the line to Peking was opened, and proved such a 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 l'ao-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. In 1900 the violence of the Boxers was chiefly directed against the railways, all of which were more or less destroyed, but under British, French, and Russian military administration they have almost all been restored to their former efficiency. 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.

Foreigners formerly lived in three concessions, British, French, and German, which fringed the river below the City and covered an area of less than 500 acres. The Japanese have taken up a concession in accordance with the terms of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, and have made excellent progress in the filling of land and laying out of new streets. They propose to build 350 houses in foreign style. During 1901 Russia, Belgium, Italy, and Austro-Hungary all appropriated large areas on the left bank of the Hai-ho as future Settlements, while the existing concessions have all extended their boundaries very considerably. These developments have thrown all present and future landing facilities for direct sea-going traffic into Foreign hands. Very extensive building operations are going on throughout the concessions, which have excellent roads, with police, oil and 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 excellent recreation ground of ten acres is also being developed, and three miles distant there is a capital race-course. There are many hotels, two clubs (Tientsin Club and Concordia, the latter chiefly German), a theatre, two excellent libraries and three churches (Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Union).

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: arms, 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.

The export coal trade may be expected to develop rapidly, as the Chinese Corporation has been replaced by a strong combination of British and Belgian capitalists registered as an English limited liability company. The output and sale of the Kaiping collieries in 1903 exceeded 700,000, of which about 27,000 tons was ship- ped from Tientsin, and over 20,000 tons from Chinwantao, which may be regarded as one of the auxiliary ports of Tientsin. The general trade is increasing, 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 1903, less re-exports, was Tls. 68,729,061 as compared with Tls. 89,478,464 in 1902. The corresponding figures for the years 1889, 1900

Google

Original from

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN