Directory_and_Chronicle_1917 — Page 1047

SHASI-CHANGSHA

ASIATIC PETROLEUM CO., LTD., THE

CONSULATES

DIRECTORY

GERMANY-Tel. Ad: Germania

Consul-Dr. R. Walter (residing at

Ichang) (absent)

Acting Consul-Dr. E. Bracklo

GREAT BRITAIN

945'

Acting Tidesurveyor-W. E. Clark Tidewaiters-E. A. Cull, A. Hutchinson

MISSIONS

(For Protestant Missionaries see separate "Directory")

ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION

Consul-B. G. Tours, C.M.G.

(residing at Ichang)

JAPAN

POST OFFICE, CHINESE

POST OFFICE, JAPANESE

關市沙 Shasi Kwan

Postmaster-M. Tejima

CUSTOMS, CHINESE MARITIME

Commissioner-J. L. Rémusat

Assistant-M. Miyoshi

STANDARD OIL Co. OF NEW YORK

G. B. Ott, manager

CHANGSHA

Chang-sha

Changsha ("Long Sands"), the capital city of Hunan, situated on the right bank of the Hsiang River about 100 iniles South of Yochow, became a Treaty port under the China-Japan Commercial Treaty of 1903, a Customs House being established on 1st July, 1904. The surrounding country is hilly and very picturesque, affording delightful walks and picnics. Opposite to the city_rises Yolushan hill to the height of about 800 feet. On it is a large stone tablet (Yu Pei) recounting the mastery of the floods that once covered an enormous tract of Central China. It was placed there by order of the Great Yü, founder of the Hsia Dynasty, B.C. 2205. (See Williams' Middle Kingdom, Vol. II., pp. 149-151.) The magnificent timber on the South of the hill, extending from the Yolushan High School, enclosing the Confucian and the Buddhist temples, and extend- ing to the Taoist temple at the top-whence a beautiful view to the South can be obtained—is well worth a visit from travellers. The school dates back many hundred years and was once one of the most famous in this land of scholars, and under its present excellent management it promises once more to do splendid work for the province. Among the cities of China, Changsha ranks only second to Chengtu; the fine buildings, well laid-out gardens, the wide and clean streets, the good shops, render a walk a pleasant experience.

An up-to-date electric light plant has been installed and is working under the management of a foreign engineer, the Chinese, especially shops, availing themselves more and more of this method of lighting. There is an ice factory, with a capacity for turning out some 3,600 pounds of ice daily, and a fine hospital, the gift of a Yale Un- iversity graduate, with accommodation for 120 beds. The value of the trade for 1915 was Hk. Tls. 26,589,334, as compared with Hk. Tls. 24,570,562 in 1914 and Hk. Tls. 23,719,762 in 1913. These figures show a steady though gratifying increase which augurs well for the future prosperity of the port. Owing to its comparatively close vicinity to Wuchang, the cradle of the revolution, the city of Changsha quickly passed over into the hands of the New Party. This change was effected without practically any bloodshed, only the heads of the more important officials, refusing to join the republicans,