Directory_and_Chronicle_1923 — Page 697

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RUBBER COMPANIES

TIENTSIN-TAKU

SURVEYORS, MARINE

Burrows & Miller

Dunlop Rubber Co. (Far East), Ld. SHIPPING AGENTS

Butterfield & Swire

China Forwarding & Express Co. China Merchants S. N. Co. Cook & Son. Thos.

Forbes & Co., William Jardine, Matheson & Co. Nippon Yusen Kaisha Osaka Shosen Kaisha Robert Dollar Co. Shewan, Tomes & Co. Taku Pilot Co.

Taku Tug & Lighter Co., Ld. Whitamore & Commons SHIPPING OFFICES

Butterfield & Swire

China Merchants' S N. Co Jardine, Matheson & Co. Nippon Yusen Kaisha Osaka Shosen Kaisha STOREKEEPERS

Edward Evans & Sons, Ld. General Store

Hall & Holtz, Ld.

Hirsbrunner & Co.

Talati Bros. & Co.

Universal Stores

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TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE COMPANIES

Chinese Government Telephone Admn. Chinese Telegraph Administration Eastern Extension, A. & C. Tel. Co. Great Northern Telegraph Co.

TOBACCO, CIGAR & CIGARETTE MERCHANTS

British-American Tobacco Co.

Galati's Tobacco Association Tientsin Tobacco Co. TOURISTS AGENCY

Cook & Son, Thos.

TRAMWAY AND LIGHTING Co.

Compagnie de Tramways et d'Eclairage

de Tientsin

WATCHMAKERS AND JEWELLERS

Ullmann & Co., J. WATER COMPANIES

Tientsin Water Works Co., Ld. WHARF AND GODOWN COMPANIES

Tientsin Wharf and Godown Co. Tongku Land & Wharf Co. WINE AND SPIRIT MERCHANTS

Hall & Holtz, Ld. Hirsbrunner & Co.

Watson & Co., Ld., A. S.

TAKU

沽大 Ta-icu

This village is situated at the mouth of the Pei-ho, on the southern side of the river about 67 miles from Tientsin. The land is so flat at Taku that it is difficult for a stranger to detect the entrance to the river. There are two anchorages, an outer and inner. The former extends from the Customs Junks to three miles outside the Bar, seaward; the latter from Liang-kia-yuan on the south to the Customs Jetty, Tz'chu-lin, on the north. The village is a poor one, and possesses few shops and no buildings of interest except the forts, now demolished. The only foreign residents are the employés of the Lighter Company, the Customs, and the Pilot Corporation. A railway from the adjoining town of Tungku (two miles up the river), to Tientsin was completed in 1888.

Taku is memorable on account of the engagements that have taken place between its forts and the British and French naval forces. The first attack was made on the 20th May, 1858, by the British squadron under Sir Michael Seymour, when the forts were passed and Lord Elgin proceeded to Tientsin, where on the 26th June he signed the famous Treaty of Tientsin. The second attack, which was fatally unsuccessful, was made by the British forces in June, 1859. The third took place on the 21st August, 1860, when the forts were attacked from the land side and captured, the booms placed across the river destroyed, and the British ships sailed triumphantly up to Tientsin. The water on the bar ranges from about two to 14 feet at the Spring tides. At certain states of the tide steamers are obliged to anchor outside until there is sufficient water to cross. An experimental channel over the bar was made in 1906, having a minimum width of 100 feet, with gently sloping banks outside those limits. In October a steamer drawing 8ft. 10in. was able to pass through this channel, while the depth on the Bar was only 7ft. 6inc hes. The existing channel can only, however be maintained by constant raking operations.