Directory_and_Chronicle_1915 — Page 975

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

CHINKIANG

江鎮 Chin-kiảng

The port of Chinkiang, which was opened to trade by the Treaty of Tientsin, is situated on the south bank of the Yangtze, about 150 miles from its mouth, and near the entrances of the southern and northern sections of the Grand Canal. This position gave it formerly great importance and it was at one time believed that the port must eventually become a serious rival to Shanghai. But the neglect of the inland waterways, and especially of the Grand Canal, which is closed to steam traffic for some months during each year, either because the water is too shallow or because it has risen so much that the wash from launches would injure the embank- ments, is causing the trade to be gradually diverted to Hankow and Tsingtao. Now that the Tientsin-Pukow Railway is completed more of the trade will be diverted to Nanking. A railway from Kwachow, at the mouth of the Grand Canal on the north bank of the river, along the Canal to Tsingkiangp'u, is projected and may do something to save the situation, but there are fourteen tax barriers along this route and it remains to be seen whether this railway, if built, wil not have the same difficulty with the Likin officials as is now experienced by the Shanghai- Nanking Railway. The north bank opposite the Concession is being eroded rapidly, and a spit from the island of Chêng Jen Chou, to the west of the Concession, is extending eastwards, and threatens to become a grave inconvenience to shipping. The future prospects of the port are, therefore, not so bright as they appeared a few years ago.

Chinkiang is one of the pleasantest ports on the river. It is now within a few hours' railway journey of Shanghai, which enables ice and other necessaries to be delivered promptly, while the Shanghai morning paper is received the same evening. The surrounding country is very pretty, and there is fair shooting, wild pig being plentiful within a few miles of the Concession. Electric lighting was installed in 1908, but a scheme for waterworks fell through. The water question is particularly important, as the bund in summer is lined with hundreds of native boats, and water for all purposes has to be obtained from the river. This is probably why the port is not as healthy as it should be.

The population of the Native City is estimated at about 150,000. To the west of the Concession is a handsome temple adorned with a pagoda standing on a con- spicuous elevation, and known as Golden Island. It is interesting to record that in the time of Marco Polo this hill was on the north bank of the river. In 1842 it was an island near the middle of the river, and the British fleet anchored where the railway station now stands.

The net value of the trade of the port for 1913 was Hk. Tls. 24,547,946. There are no local industries of importance, and the trade of the port is with the districts to the north of the river. The Commissioner of Customs in a recent trade report opines that it is probable that the port will gradually sink into insignificance and decay, owing to the railway facilities which are diverting its trade to Hankow, Kiaochow and Nanking.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1915 — Page 975

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