Directory_and_Chronicle_1905 — Page 741

NEWCHWANG

莊牛 Niu-chwang 子營 Ying-tez

Newchwang is the most northerly port in China open to foreign trade. It is situated in the province of Shing-king, in Manchuria. It is called by the natives Ying-tz, and lies about thirteen miles from the mouth of the river Liao, which falls into the Gulf of Liao-tung, a continuation of the Gulf of Pechili.

Before the port was opened, comparatively little was known of this part of the Central Kingdom. Manchuria has since, however, been largely colonised by the Chinese, who now outnumber the natives. The word Ying-tz means military station, and that was the only use formerly made of the port. Between the years 1858 and 1860, the British fleet assembled in Ta-lien-wan Bay, and early in 1861 the foreign settlement was established. The town of Newchwang itself is distant from Ying-tz about thirty miles, and is a sparsely populated and uninteresting place, but the construction of the railways is rapidly increasing its importance. At the end of 1899 the Eastern Chinese Railway line (Russian) between Port Arthur, Dalny (Talienwan), and the junction at Ta-shih- chias, whence a branch runs to this port, was completed as far as Moukden and the Imperial Chinese Railway line from Tientsin to Yingkow was practically accomplished. These lines are now completed and there is a train service through to St. Petersburg. Systematic attack has also at last been made upon the mineral resources of Man- churia, the Eastern Chinese Railway having opened coal mines at Mo-ch'i-shan and Tz'uêrh-shan near Liao-yang, and at Wa-fung-tien in the south of the Liaotung peninsula. The railway line runs close to these valuable properties. The well-known gold-bearing districts of Tung Wha and Tieling are also being worked by foreign companies. An unprecedented expansion in trade has accompanied these developments. The country about the port of Newchwang is bare and desolate, and in sailing up the river a most cheerless prospect greets the traveller's eye. Ying-tz is surrounded by dreary marshes, and the land under cultivation produces principally beans. The river is closed by ice for more than three months every year, during which period the residents are entirely cut off from the outer world. The climate, however, is healthy and bracing. The population of the place is estimated at 60,000.

The chief articles of trade at the port are Beans and Bean-cake; the export being principally to Japan. The share of Japan in the export trade of Newchwang in 1903 was more than 22 per cent. of the total. The net quantity of Opium imported in 1901 was 2,133 lbs. compared with 19,955 lbs. in 1900. In 1902, it amounted to :,533 lbs. The import of Opium has of late years shown an almost continuous decline, the poppy being largely and successfully cultivated in Manchuria. The total net value of the trade of the port in 1903 was Tls. 47,632,059 as against Tls. 42,692,135 in 1902. The port figured conspicuously in the troubles in China in 1900, the Chinese troops who attacked the town being defeated by the Russians, who took possession of the port and the Pro- visional Administration effected considerable improvements at the east end of the town.

Newchwang was occupied by the Japanese without a struggle in July last year.

ADMINISTRATION

MILITARY

IMPERIAL

DIRECTORY

JAPANESE

Administrator-Major K. Yokura Asst. do. --Capt. Y. Satow Chief of Police-Lieut. S. Noda

Supt. of the Yingkow Station Branch

Office-T. Shoji

Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Censor-

Kyoske Uyeda

Secty. of Chinese Affairs-T. Fujino

Inspector of the Public Works-I.

Asahidani

Supt. of the Police Court-K. Matsu-

bayashi

Registration Clerk--K. Kawachi Examiner of the Police Court-K.

Ushijima

Registration Clerk-S. Mikise Communication Clerk-T. Iwaikiri Physician-Dr. Yuge

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