Directory_and_Chronicle_1911 — Page 1033

1004

和怡 E-Wo

JARDINE, MATHESON & Co.

Wu Hung Yuen, agent

Steamer "Kiangwo"

SHASI-CHANGSHA

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY OF JAPAN

Y. Oki

POST OFFICE, IMPERIAL CHINESE Postmaster-A. S. Deane

Postal clerk-in-charge—Sun Kuo-sui

POST OFFICE, JAPANESE

Postmaster-S. Kubota Clerk-K. Abe

Asst. Clerk-C. T. Chao

ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION

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

44

CHANGSHA

沙長 Chang-sha

Changsha ("Long Sands"), the capital city of Hunan, situated on the right bank of the Hsiang River about 100 miles South of Yochow, became a Treaty port under the China-Japan Commercial Treaty of 1903, a Customs House being established on 1st July, 1904. The surrounding country is hilly and very picturesque, affording delightful walks and picnics. Opposite to the city rises Yolushan hill to the height of about 800 feet. On it is a large stone tablet (Yu Pei) recounting the mastery of the floods that once covered an enormous tract of Central China. It was placed there by order of the Great Yü, founder of the Hsia Dynasty, B. c. 2205. (See Williams' Middle Kingdom, Vol. II., pp. 149-151). The magnificent timber on the South of the hill, extending from the Yolushan High School, enclosing the Confucian and the Buddhist temples, and extend- ing to the Taoist temple at the top-whence a beautiful view to the South can be obtained—is well worth a visit from travellers. The school dates back many hundred years and was once one of the most famous in this land of scholars, and under its present excellent management it promises once more to do excellent work for the province, Among the cities of China, Changsha ranks only second to Chengtu; the fine buildings, well laid-out gardens, the wide and clean streets, the good shops, render a walk a pleasant experience. The stone bunding work, extending from the West Gate to the New River," beyond the North extremity of the city, a distance of about 3 miles, is making good progress: it is expected that the 50-foot-wide carriage road will be com- pleted within two years. An up-to date electric light plant is being installed and the posts are being erected in the city. The trade for 190) made a record in every branch, the total value of it being Tls. 10, 00,000, against Tls. 9,200,000 for 1908, Tls, 7,300, 00 for 1907, and Tls. 5,300,000 for 1906. These satisfactory figures were a reflex of the abundant crops yielded in 1908, the yield during 1909 being poor; towards the end of the year rice became short and the price doubled, leading to much hardship. Advantage of this was taken by a party inimical to the Governor, and perhaps by emissaries of an anti-dynastic party, to raise a riot during which the Governor's Yamen was partly destroyed, and the Custom House, most of the foreigners' houses, and Government schools were either burnt or pulled down. The sight for twenty-four hours of the bursting out of one fire after another was a memorable one. It was pleasing to note that no ill-feeling against foreigners was manifested when once the officials had the situation in hand; the foreigners who had temporarily left the city were able to return without hearing even one rude word. Fortunately 1910 made up for the previous poor year in being blessed with abundant crops, which led to the fall in the price of rice to its normal price of about $2 for 100 catties. Though the prohibition to export, imposed in April, has not been removed, thus depriving the port of its most valuable export, yet the trade has been good, and, for various reasons, the shipment of minerals has been stimulated, the principal figures for the first nine months of this year being as follows: Antimony regulus, Tons 650, Antimony crude, Tons 6,162, Antimony ore, Tons 933, Lead in pigs, Tons, 105, Lead ore, Tons 4,331, Manganese ore Tons 3,549, Spelter Tons 298, The regulus, of an excellent quality, is turned out by a Chinese manufactory operating a French plant. A lead refining plant with American machinery was installed in the Spring, but has since closed down.