Directory_and_Chronicle_1909 — Page 1095

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HANGCHOW

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, the manufacture of scissors, 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 via Shanghai. Hangchow 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 to 24 hours. Three companies to Shanghai and two to Soochow carry on a daily service. Of the former two launches convey the passengers and one the cargo turn about. There is hardly any cargo carried by the latter between Hangchow and Soochow. One of these launches goes via Kaching and the other via Huchow and Nanying. The Hangchow- Shanghai companies are Tai Sun Chong (practically Japanese), the China Merchants Inland Steam Navigation Co., (Chinese), and the Taito Steam Navigation Co., (Japanese). The Hangchow-Soochow companies are Tai Sun Chong and China Merchants Inland Steam Navigation Co., on altermate days via Kashing, and Taito Steam Navigation Co., daily, via Huchow; these three companies formed a combination some years ago and have the monopoly of the trade. Several attempt of outsiders to come in have always failed after a few trips.

One of the sights of Hangchow is the famous western lake, dotted with islets crowned with shrines and memorial temples, and spanned by causeways joining island to island. The general picturesque effect is heightened by temples, pagodas, and similar monuments judiciously placed in effective spots, while the slopes of the hills bordering the lake on the west are bright with azaleas, honey-suckle, and peach-bloom, and clusters of bamboos, several kinds of conifers, the stillignia, camphor tree, and maple in rich profusion, all help to make the scene very pretty.

The site selected for the Foreign Settlements extends for half a mile along the east bank of the Grand Canal; it covers over half a square mile and is about four miles from the city wall. The Japanese concession adjoins it on the North and is about the same size. The Custom-house and Commissioner's and assistants' residences are built on the Customs Lot, and an imposing Police Station has also been put up. A British Consulate has been built on the opposite side of the Japanese Concession, not in the settlement. On the west side, opposite the settlement, a cotton mill, owned by Chinese and built and worked on western lines, is in operation. The company has also a large factory for pressing oil out of cotton seed and they are now making Cigarettes and Ice by foreign machinery. A small flour mill has been put up and is working intermittently. The commodities chiefly dealt in are opium, tin, Japanese copper, kerosene oil, soap, sugar, prepared tobacco, varnish, paper fans, silk piece goods, raw silk and tea. The principal article of export is tea, 114,911 piculs (including re-export) in 1907. The tea comes from Anhwei and Pingsuey near Shaohs- ing and from the neighbourhood of Hangchow, where the valuable Lungching tea is grown. Silk, paper fans, raw cotton, medicines and tinfoil are also exported. The import of foreign goods from Chinese ports amounted to Tls. 4.789,000 in 1907 against Tls. 4,354,880 in 1906, and the exports to Tls. 10,301,995. The net value of the trade of the port was Tls. 19,687,735. In 1900 it was Tls. 9,433,771. Trade is improving generally.

Halfway between Hangchow and Shanghai is Kashing, where the Grand Canal joins the Whangpoo River on which Shanghai is situated. Kashing is a Customs Sta- tion under Hangchow and was first opened in 1898 for collecting duties on Foreign opium owing to fiscal arrangements being against the collection at Hangchow. It now collects duties both on imports and exports and has become quite an important factor.

Cholera in 1902 killed 10,000 people. A railway to the further end of Hangchow City near the Chien Tang river was completed in Sept. 1907. It was built solely by Chinese and with Chinese capital. An extension to Shanghai via Kashing is partly open. Trains run to a place nearly halfway between Hangchow and Kashing.

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