Directory_and_Chronicle_1914 — Page 1055

CHUNGKINGHANGCHOW

1029

司公船輪日

NISSHIN KISEN KAISHA-Tel. Ad: Nissi-

kisen

Y. Nakagawa

局政郵

POST OFFICE, CHINESE (Chengtu)

District Postmaster-J. L. McDowall

Do. Accountant-A. Abron

Postal Officer-P. Manners

Shanghai LIFE INSURANCE Co.

E. V. Cabb, sub.-manager

SUN LIFE Assurance Co. oF CANADA

Mackenzie & Co., Ld., agents

司公限有份股船輪江川 Chuen-kiang-lung-zen-kung-8re

SZECHUEN STEAM NAVIGATION CO., LTD.

Li Chin-feng, manager

S. P. Wang, clerk in charge

s.s. "Shu Hun"--Capt. S. C. Plant s.s. "Shu Tung "-Capt. C. A. G.

Roberts

TELEGRAPH, ADMINISTRATION, CHINESE

Chu Dzong-fong, manager

King Ping Yu, clerk-in-charge

THE DR. Williams Medicine Co.—

Elly Widler

T. M. Robert

4 Chinese assistants

ACTING SUB-DISTRICT

CHUNGKING (Sub-District)

POSTMASTER-E.

Caretti

WANHSIEN (Sub-District)

ACTING SUB-DISTRICT POSTMASTER -T. H.

Gwynne

HANGCHOW

T thì Háng-chau

Hangchow, the capital of the province of Chekiang, is situated 120 miles south west of Shanghai, and 110 miles south of Soochow, on the Chien-tang River, at the apex of a bay which is too shallow for the navigation of steamers. The mouth of the river is, moreover, periodically visited by a bore, or tidal wave, which further endangers navigation. Haining is the best place for observing this famous bore, which is formed by the north-east trade wind heaping up the water of the Pacific on the China coast and causing enormous tides. Hangchow Bay is shaped like a funnel, and the mass of water rushing up, more and more concentrated as it advances, is sud- denly confronted by the current of the river. The momentary check causes the water to assume a wall-like formation; then, growing to a height of 15ft. at spring tides and gathering momentum with the immense pressure behind, forcing its volume into the comparatively narrow waterway, it tears past the sea-wall with a roar like thunder at a rate sometimes reaching 12 miles an hour. Before the Taiping rebellion Hangchow shared with Soochow the reputation of being one of the finest cities in the Empire on account of its wealth and splendour, but it was almost destroyed by the rebels. It has since rapidly recovered and is once more populous and flourishing, though it has not yet regained its former pitch of prosperity. The population is estimated at 600,000, although a census taken lately by the local Government gives a total a little below that figure. As a manufacturing centre Hangchow takes place even before Soochow. Its three great trades are silk weaving, including several kinds of crape and gauze, the production of fans of all kinds, the manufacture of scissors, and the making of thin tinfoil, from which are formed the imitation ingots of silver, burnt in such immense quantities by the Chinese. In addition, it sends out thread, string, colours, drugs, lacquer, and many other articles in small quantities. Coarse paper is also manu- factured. The communication by water with Shanghai is particularly good, and might be much improved with very little trouble by a small amount of dredging at a spot in the Grand Canal twenty miles from Hangchow. Ningpo, about 120 miles distant, can also be reached by boat from Hangchow with several tran- shipments only: it is quicker to go via Shanghai. Hangchow was declared open