Directory_and_Chronicle_1915 — Page 1008

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Post Office, Japanese

Postmaster- M. Miyasita Clerk-M. Komo

SCHWARZ, GAUMER & Co.

Rudolf Schnabel

STANDARD OIL CO.

J. H. Morgan, manager

A. C, Cornish

A. C. B. Merrilees

CHANGSHA-ICHANG

J. W. Laidlaw, installation supt.

YALE COLLEGE IN CHINA

Brownell Gage, B.D., M.A., dean W. J. Hail, M.A., B.D.

E. D. Harvey, M.A., B.D. K. S. Latourette, гH.D. (absent) Oliver C. Morse, B.A. P. S. Achilles, B.A.

S. E. Grumman, D.A.

YALE HOSPITAL

E. H. Hume, M.D., physician in charge A. C. Reed, M.D.

F. C. Yen, M.D.

ICHANG

昌宜 I-Chang

Ichang is one of the four ports opened to foreign trade on the 1st April, 1877, in accordance with Clause 1, Section 3, of the Chefoo Convention. It is situated in lat. 30° 44′ 25′′ N., long. 111° 18′ 34′′ E., on the north bank of the river Yangtze, about 393 miles above Hankow, and some ten miles below the entrance to the great Ichang Gorge, or just about a thousand miles from the coast. The navigation of the river to this port is comparatively easy for vessels of light draught, but great care is necessary for all vessels when in the neighbourhood of Sunday Island, owing to the shiftings and banks. The anchorage is off the left bank, opposite the foreign residences, and is good, except in freshets, when the anchors should be sighted every two or three days. The port is the centre of a hilly country, the productions of which are rice in the valleys, cotton on the higher grounds, winter wheat, barley, and also the tungtzu trees, from which the ordi- nary wood oil is obtained by pressing the nuts gathered from the trees. In the sheltered valleys, amongst the mountain ranges west of the city, oranges, lemons, pomeloes, pears, plums, and a very superior quality of persimmons are grown, and find a ready market in the city and at Shasi. The importance of Ichang is chiefly that of an emporium for goods in transit to and from Chungking. All cargo for the latter port is landed here and transferred to steamers or chartered junks. In the same way cargo brought down in steamers or chartered junks from Chungking and intended for the lower river and coast ports, is transhipped here on steamers, which make regular voyages to and from Hankow. During the year 1914, the number of steamers plying between Ichang and Chungking was increased from one to five, viz., the Shu-tung and Shu-hun of the Szechuan Steam Navigation Co., the Tah-chuen and Lee-chuen of the Szechuan Railway Steam Navigation Co., and the Ching-yue of the Cha-I-Jui- Ching S. S. Co. In view of the enhanced traffic, aids to navigation and rules of the road through the gorges have become urgent. The upward voyage to Chungking now takes about 5 day, and the returm trip about 23 days. The survey of the railway to Chengtu has been completed, but construction has been delayed consequence of the great European war. The foreign passenger fare is from $100 to $75 to Chungking. This does not include meals, for which a charge of $3 per diem extra is made. The steamers do not run when the River is down to 6 feet on the Ichang Water Gauge, owing to the difficulty in negotiating the rapids between Ichang and Chungking, but a scheme for portage is under consideration.

The climate of Ichang is drier than that of the lower river ports-summers very warm, winters dry and pleasant. The native population is estimated at some 40,000. The net value of the trade of the port in 1913 was Tls. 5,719,556 as against Tls. 5,552,895 in 1912, Tls. 4,805,787 in 1911, Tls. 13,385,356 in 1910, Tls. 14,847,495 in 1909 Tls. 7,613,218 in 1908 and Tls. 6,557,173 in 1907.