Directory_and_Chronicle_1916 — Page 1040

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

944

YOCHOW

set aside a place for a cosmopolitan settlement, for which they themselves will provide roads, police, etc.; the site contains level ground for business/purposes, well raised, but not too high above flood limits, while higher ground gives good and healthy sites for foreign houses. Work on the formation of the settlement and bunding operations were commenced in 1900, and a new Custom-house and quarters have been built. Since the Rebellion in the Yangtsze Valley in 1913 a garrison of northern troops under Field- Marshal Tsao Kun has been stationed in Yochow, which has also been made one of the stations of General Chang Hsün, High Inspector of the Yangtze. Yochow is described by the Customs Commissioner as "doubtless the healthiest town in the Yangtsze Valley, considering the insanitary conditions." In 1900, really the first open year of the port, the net value of the trade was Tls. 143,827, In 1903 it amounted to Tls. 3,473,241, but in 1905 the value was Tls. 490,058 only, and in 1910 the returns show a net value of Tls. 1,941,869, as compared with Tls. 3,015,913 in 1909. The noticeable decline since 1904 was the result of the opening of Changsha as a Treaty Port. In the meantime, however, the trade of the province has increased enormously, and its distribution between the ports of Changsha and Yochow is determined principally by the state of the river. The value of Yochow's share of the trade in the year 1914 was Tls. 5,612,360.

The noteworthy feature of 1907 was the connection of Changtel by steamer during the high-water season--June to October-the resulting trade being valued at Tls. 617,000, Connection with Changteh is now maintained practically throughout the year by special tugs and lighters, and the value of the trade amounted to over Tls, 4,128,000 in the year 1914, of which amount over Tls. 1,800,000 represented the value of native exports. These figures, however, represent only the trade for about 8 months, as the exports from Changteh, being mostly destined for export to Germany, ceased abruptly soon after the outbreak of the War in Europe. Buoys and lights were established in 1907 to mark the channel across the lake. The difficulties and risks of this route are consider- able, and it is probable that it will be found advisable to adopt the somewhat longer route via Lulintan, though, on account of the sharp bends of the River Yuan in its lower reaches, specially adapted steamers will probably have to be used. The question of making Changteh an "Open Port" was again taken up in the spring of 1915 and Chinese officials visited the place to enquire into the conditions, but the result of their investigations is not yet known. The principal products exported from Changteh are native cloth, ramie, wood oil, vegetable tallow, lotus nuts, broad beans and hides.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1916 — Page 1040

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