Directory_and_Chronicle_1912 — Page 941

.ד.

ANTUNG

東安

An-tung

The treaty port of Antung was opened to international trade by the Commercial Treaty between the United States and China in 1903, but, owing to the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese war, it was not till the Spring of the year 1907 that the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs was established here. A very fine new Custom House and Examina- tion Shed were completed in 1910. Antung is situated on the right or Chinese bank of the Yalu River, 30 miles from its mouth. The Chinese native town has a population of some 40,000 during the winter which is swelled to perhaps twice that number during the busy months when the port is open. The floating Chinese population are chiefly emigrants from Shantung. There is also a Japanese population of some 5,000 occupying a settlement with an area of about a square mile, which is surrounded by aram- part and a moat to keep out the summer floods, and is laid with good roads. Most of the Japanese carry on business in a small way, and very little business is done in their settle- ment. The river is closed to navigation by ice from about the end of November to the end of March. The staple exports of Antung are timber, wild raw silk, wild silk cocoons, beancake and bean products; flour and oil are largely imported. The Yalu battlefield is some 10 miles further up the river and a splendid panorama of the surrounding country, embracing a fine stretch of the Yalu may be obtained from the summit of Tiger Hill, which was the position occupied by the Russians before the battle. Wulungpei, fourteen miles distant from Antung, is a favourite resort on account of its hot springs. Antung is connected by railway with Mukden. The light railway formerly in operation has been succeeded by a standard gauge line which was opened to traffic on 1st November 1911; the former small box cars have been replaced by excellent Pullman Cars and Express Sleepers, and the journey which formerly took two days has been reduced to 64 hours. The splendid steel bridge, 3,097 feet long and consisting of 12 spans including a swivel-span, over the Yalu, from Antung to New Wiju (on the Korean side), connecting the South Manchuria Railway with the Chosen (Korean) Railways, was completed and opened to traffic on 1st November, 1911, having taken three summers to erect, no work being pos- sible during the winter. Through express trains run thrice weekly between Mukden and Seoul connecting with the Trans-Siberian Railway. The International Sleeping Car Co.'s Cars are to be introduced this year. A large station building and up-to-date hotel have been erected at New Wiju, and a new building for the Antung station is now in course of erection. The river at Antung is navigable for steamers drawing 12 feet of water when the tide are favourable, but the channel is a constantly shifting one and erosion and silting often interfere seriously with navigation. There are several small Japanese steamers of 400 tons plying between Antung, Chefoo and Dalny, and astrade with Tientsin has developed considerably a regular and frequent service with that port is carried on by larger vessels of from 700 to 1,200 tons. The larger ships in the China Coast Trade anchor at Santoulanto, nine miles down river, and there are other anchorages at Wentzechin, 14 miles down river, and at Tatungkow. The Osaka Shosen Kaisha main- tain a regular service between Antung and Japan calling at Korean ports. Their ships, however, do not enter at the Chinese Customs; they anchor at the Tasarugi anchorage, in Korean waters, thirty-seven miles from Antung.

The town was submerged by serious floods in July, 1909, and again in July, 1911, causing considerable damage and loss. Prior to the floods in 1909 there had not been one for five years. This gave the inhabitants false confidence and buildings were erected all over the section of the town which was not built on before, due to the fear of becoming submerged. Many buildings have been erected since 1907 and, generally speaking, the little town is prosperous.

During 1911 several industrial enterprises were completed. The old mule-driven stone-crushers in the bean mills for crushing the famous Manchurian bean have all been replaced by steam-driven and oil-driven machinery, which has added considerably to the industries of the place. Five mills were so re-constructed in 1911. The largest steam and suction gas bean mill is operated by Japanese, and can produce in 24 hours, when working at its maximum capacity, 3,000 beancakes and 8 tons of bean oil. This plant was erected at the end of 1909, added to in 1910 and completed in 1911. A very complete and up-to-date saw mill commenced operations, in July, 1911, under the management of Mr. Geo. L. Shaw. The British Consulate which was established in 1907 was withdrawn in 1909, and has not since been re-established, the only foreign Consul being the American.