Directory_and_Chronicle_1912 — Page 924

TAKU-PEI-TAI-HO-CHINGWANGTAO

POST OFFICE-IMPERIAL CHINESE

Officer in charge-T. A. Collaço

Ta-ku yin shui

PILOT COMPANY, TAKU

J. Taylor, secretary

Ch. Saville, W. P. Chard, S. J. Strong,

J. W. Stavers, A. McTaggart, J. U.

Gordon

司公船駿活大

Tu-ku Po-ch'uan Kung-s8U

TAKU TUG & LIGHTER COMPANY, LIMITED.

Head Office: Tientsin; Tel. Ad: Calendar

-

79:

Directors J. Stewart, W. A. Morling

– R. K. Douglas, C. R. Morling, H. J W. Marshall

W. T. L. Way, secretary

W. S. Johnston, manager

S. H. Dorey, clerk

Capt. W.S. Borrows, supt. of the Ba

W. Brown, asst. supt.

A. B. Gaston, supt. engineer

TAKU HOTEL

利德 Te-le

TIENTSIN LIGhter Co., Ld.

Butterfield & Swire, managers

PEI-TAI-HO AND CHINGWANGTAO

Chinwangtao, which owes its existence as a seaport to the Chinese Engineerin and Mining Company, Ltd., is situated on the western coast of the Gulf of Liao Tung and is distant about 10 miles W.S.W. of Shanhaikwan. It is thus the natural distri buting centre for the north-west part of the great province of Chihli. The breakwate and pier which form the harbour are so constructed that vessels may lie alongside a any state of the tide and in all weathers, and discharge or load direct on to and fror railway cars, so that a minimum of handling, and, consequently, of loss, is ensured There are seven berths-five at the breakwater, and one on each side of the piers, an the railway tracks are so arranged that loading and discharging can be proceeded wit independently at each berth. The main berths have 21 feet of water at the lowes tides, but steamers drawing 23 feet 6 inches can as a general rule discharge with perfec safety. The bottom being soft mud, there is really nothing to prevent vessels with draft of 25 feet from discharging, provided they are prepared to take the mud at lov water. The Company have at present three steam cranes available for weights up t five tons each, und, generally speaking, it may be said that the loading and dischargin facilities are excellent. On one occasion 73,000 bags of flour were taken out of on steamer in 27 consecutive hours, whilst on another 4,000 tons of coal were loaded on t one steamer in 31 consecutive hours. These facilities, resulting from the Company liberal exenditure of capital, have caused Chinwangtao to become a formidable riva for the trade hitherto shipped via Taku to Tientsin. The port is accessible throughou the year, for, though in hard winters there is occasionally a good deal of floating ice i the Gulf, there is no case on record of a steamer having been prevented by ice from making the port. It is, in fact, practically the only port in the Gulfs of Pechili an Liau Tung accessible during the winter, which, on an average, extends from Decembe 10th to March 10th. Good, sheltered anchorage also is to be found in the Roads. Th Company's branch line runs from the pier to Tongho, four miles distant, on the mai trunk line from Newchwang and Mukden to Peking. The Company own the land i the vicinity of the port, and that portion of the property known as the Bluff, con prising the best residential and building sites, has now been laid out as a township, i which plots may be bought or leased on inoderate terms.

As a seaside health resort Chinwangtao is almost without rival in China. It i easily accessible, has a dry and bracing climate, offers safe bathing from a sandy beach and is situated amidst magnificent scenery while a hotel under experienced manage ment affords the visitor every comfort. The great increase of trade year by year ha induced the Imperial Maritime Customis to erect a fine Customs house at Chinwangtac with a deputy commissioner in charge, and to open a Hai Kwan Bank for the con venience of local consignees. Chinwangtao was selected on account of its natura geographical advantages as one of the ports of embarkation for coolies emigrating t South Africa, and during 1904 an extensive depot was established for the accommoda tion of five or six thousand men.