Directory_and_Chronicle_1910 — Page 962

974

和怡 E-Wo

JARDINE, MATHESON & Co.

Wu Hung Yuen, agent

Steamer "Kiangwo"

SHASI-CHANGSHA

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY OF JAPAN

Y. Oki

MISSIONS

For Protestant Missions see end of

China Directory

ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION

Rev. Marcel Sterkendries (Kingchow) Rev. Angelus Timmers (Kin-men) Rev. Gratianus Laurent (Kong-ng an)

POST OFFICE, IMPERIAL CHINESE Postmaster-A. S. Deane Postal clerk-in-charge-Sun Kuo-sui

POST OFFICE, Japanese

Postmaster-R. Suzuki Asst. Clerk-F. Itow

CHANGSHA

沙長 Chang-sha

The

Changsha ("Long Sands"), the capital city of Hunan, which stands on the bank of the River Hsiang, 120 miles above Yochow (at the confluence of the Hsiang and Yangtze) became an open port under the China-Japan Commercial Treaty of 1903. A Custom- house was inaugurated on July 1st, 1904, and a British Consulate in 1905. surrounding country is hilly; though to the North there is a long plain varying in width from half a mile to a mile; possibly an ancient watercourse. The river Hsiang is not navigable for steamers in winter time, although its gradual fall and absence of rocks seem to promise a useful waterway. The city itself contains many fine streets, well paved and kept, according to Chinese ideas. There are many handsome buildings, both public and private. A local print describes the Changsha people as being earnest in temple worship and incense burning, which accounts for the careful preservation of all the innumerable temples and shrines. The first Customs Commissioner, writing in February, 1905, reported that the reception accorded to the new status of the port by the people had been quiet but satisfactory, and their behaviour since has been excellent. "Officials and gentry alike have been courteous and civil, and, the right conditions being premised, the future is full of promise." A Mr. H. Bennertz assumed that the walled city itself was open; but the Chinese insisted that open port" was extra-mural. The upshot was a decision against the Chinese, who finally paid Mr. Bennertz to go away. By imposing lekin, by boycotting, and in other ways, however, this open port is kept practically closed. In 1905, the Commissioner stated that the idea of a foreign settlement is "practically dropped," and suggested that foreign merchants may establish themselves on a low-lying sandbank 400 yards out, which they must first raise to a safe level! "Even now it is difficult to get a foothold," he adds, but for those who do get in, and can wait, golden possibilities are promised. Floods in April and May of 1906 covered the Bund to a depth of ten feet. All business was suspended for several weeks. Steamers having no pla into which to discharge, for junks and lighters dared not move in the river which ran in a torrent, carried their cargoes back to Hankow-one vessel making three round trips with the same freight before being able to land it. What with the flood and famine and rebellion in the province the year was not a success fiscally. The met value of the trade for 1908 was Tls. 9,240,292; for 1907 Tls. 7,292,133; for 1903 Ts 5,291,809 and for 1905 Tls. 5,895,830. Direct foreign trade is as yet not worth counting, but there is a steady increase in the trade from Chinese ports. The chief articles of export are rice, of which 911,124 piculs were exported in 1908 as against 353, 208 piculs in 1907, and crude antimony (the product of antimony ore roughly smelted once), the export of which increased from 29,411 piculs in 1907 to 100,000 piculs in 1908. A new refining plant has recently been erected in the antimony works in the southern suburb of the city, and there have been already some shipments pure antimony--Antimony Regulus. A British Consular Report states that

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