Directory_and_Chronicle_1912 — Page 1211

YOCHOW

Yochow, with a population of 15,000 to 20,000, is situated in latitude 29°23′ N., and gitude 113° 8' E. (Greenwich), at the outlet of the Tungting Lake. Past it ebbs and ows practically the whole of the trade of Hunan, which, however, adds nothing to ne prosperity of the place, as it simply passes by after having paid its inward and utward taxes. The city is the gateway of the province and nothing more. Efforts are eing made, by Japanese, to find adequate communication with Changteh, the traile entre, whose opening to foreign trade was talked of in 1906. The opening of Changsha pok away much of Yochow's transit trade, but as the Hunkow-Canton Railway will pass hrough Yochow it may hope to experience better times. While in 1908 the value of the oreign imports fell from Tls. 507,371 in 1907 to Tls. 387,392, the total net value of the rade of the port, through exceptional causes, increased from Tls. 1,354,155 to Tls.

943,917.

The province of Hunan used to be to foreign commerce what Tibet has been to the xplorer -a Forbidden Land--and it is only a few years ago that foreigners were stoned ut of Yochow. In 1904, the people were described as showing a "friendly attitude" › all foreigners. The anti-foot-binding crusade has done well in Hunan, which was nee the most anti-foreign province in all China. They are intensely patriotic, but heir patriotism is rather for Hunan than for the Empire at large.

The province is rich in many forms of wealth, though the inhabitants say it onsists of "three parts mountain, six water, and one arable soil." One of the main aples is rice, of which nearly a million piculs are sent out of the province to Hupeh nd Kueichow in an average year,

The Hunan tea sent to Hankow amounts to bout six hundred thousand half-chests a year. The timber passing down past hangtch is valued officially at six million taels a year, and is probably worth niore. here is also a large production of cotton. The mountain districts contain large elds of coal, both anthracite and bituminous; iron also is known to exist. Sulphur, ntimony, nickel, and other minerals are even now exported, and great possibilities f development are undoubtedly to be found.

Steam launches and steamers run through from Hankow to Changsha with cargo nd passengers, under River passes; and from Yochow to Inland places under Inland team Navigation Rules.

The city of Yochow is perched on a bluff in a very picturesque way. Its site is, owever, not adapted for a transit trade, and it offers no shelter for small craft. The ort has, therefore, been opened at Chenglin, five miles to the north and only a mile om the Yangtsze, where à small creek provides the needed shelter for cargo-boats, nd a good anchorage is found for steamers. Here the Chinese Government has set side a place for a cosmopolitan settlement, for which they themselves will provide pads, police, etc.; the site contains level ground for business purposes, well raised, but ot too high, above flood limits, while higher ground gives good and healthy sites for oreign houses. Work on the formation of the settlement and bunding operations were ɔmmenced in 1900, and a new Custom-house and quarters have been built. Yochow į described by the Customs Commissioner as “doubtless the healthiest town in the angtse Valley, considering the insanitary conditions." In 1900, really the first open ear of the port, the net value of the trade was Tls. 143,827. In 1903 it amounted to Is. 3,473,241, but in 1905 the value was Tls. 490,05% only, and in 1910 the returns show net value of Tls. 1,941,869 as compared with Tls 3,015,913 in 1909. The noticeable ecline since 1904 was the result of the opening of Changsha as a Treaty Port.

The noteworthy feature of 1907 was the connection of Changteh by steamer during he high water season ---June to October-the resulting trade being valued at Tls. 617,000. uoys and lights were established to mark the channel across the lake. The difficulties nd risks of this route are considerable, and it is probable that it will be found advisable ɔ adopt the somewhat longer route via Lolintan, though, on account of the sharp ends of the River Yuan in its lower reaches, specially adapted steamers will probably ave to be used.