Directory_and_Chronicle_1907 — Page 974

POSTE FRANÇAISE

CHUNGKING_HANGCHON

Postmaster-- E. Colin

REYNAND, EUG., Merchant

A Kung-t'a

STEWART, J. W., Merchant

J. W. Stewart (Hankow) Tsai Tzu Chuen, agent

SUN LIFE INSURANCE Co.

Akeller, agent

TELEGRAPH - CHINESE IMPERIAL ADMINI-

STRATION

局報電都成

Chow Pao-Chën, manager

K. Y. Whang, clerk-in-charge

857

CHENTU

局報電慶重

CHENGKING

S. P. Cheng, manager

L. C. Sun, clerk-in-charge

處報電署督川

DEPARTMENT IN VICEROY'S YAMEN

K. Y. Whang, clerk-in-charge

4 operators

HANGCHOW

2 th Hong-chan

州杭

Hangehow, the capital of the province of Chekiang, is situated 150 miles south- west of Shanghai, and 127 miles south of Soochow, on the Chien-tang River, at the apex of a bay which is too shallow for the navigation of steamers. The mouth of the river is, moreover, periodically visited by a bore, or tidal wave, which further endangers the navigation. Haining is the best place for observing this famous bore, which is formed by the north-east trade wind heaping up the water of the Pacific on the China coast and causing enormous tides. Hangchow Bay is shaped like a funnel, and the mass of water rushing up, more and more concentrated as it advances, is sud- denly confronted by the current of the river. The momentary check causes the water to assume a wall-like formation; then, growing to a height of 15ft. at spring tides and gathering momentum with the immense pressure behind, forcing its volume into the comparatively narrow waterway, it tears past the sea-wall with a roar like thunder at a rate sometimes reaching 15 miles an hour. Before the Taiping rebellion Hangehow shared with Soochow the reputation of being one of the finest cities in the Empire on account of its wealth and splendour, but it was almost destroyed by the rebels. It has since rapidly recovered and is once more populous and flourishing, though it has not yet regained its former pitch of prosperity. The population is estimated at 750,000, including suburbs. As a manufacturing centre Hangchow takes place even before Soochow. Its three great trades are silk weaving, including several kinds of crape and gauze, the production of fans of all kinds, and the making of thin tinfoil, from which are formed the imitation ingots of silver, burnt in such immense quantities by the Chinese. In addition, it sends out thread, string, colours, drugs lacquer, and many other articles in small quantities. The communication by water with Shanghai is particularly good, and might be much improved with very little trouble by a small amount of dredging at a spot in the Grand Canal twenty miles from Hangchow. Ningpo, about 120 miles distant, can also be reached by boat from Hang- chow with several transhipments only: it is quicker to go nia Shanghai. Hangehow was declared open to foreign trade on the 26th September, 1896, in accordance with the terms of the Japanese Treaty. Steam launches ply regularly to and from Shanghai and to and from Soochow with passenger boats in tow, making the trip in from 18 to24 hours. These are in Japanese hands, and a Chinese company, which started in 1905, soon failed, prompting the Commissioner of Customs to remark in his report: "This is to some extent a sad feature, showing how little the Chinese are able to do in their own country without foreign help or foreign capital, besides putting the Imperial Chinese Post Office under the necessity of making use of Japanese conveyances for the carriage of mail matter within Chinese territory--a proceeding which would not be tolerated in

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