Directory_and_Chronicle_1926 — Page 648

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

592

TIENTSIN

description in the Far East, were constructed in 1921. Grand-stands for the members and for the general public are to replace the existing stand, and the course is to be widened and lengthened. It is proposed, also, to lay out a 9-hole golf course.

Distilling is one of the largest local industries; it is chiefly from kowliang (sorghum) or millet. Although a spirit, it is called "wine," and is exported to the south in large quantities. The manufacture of coarse unrefined salt by the evaporation of sea water is also carried on near Taku; the produce is stacked some distance down river at the first cutting, where all the salt junks now go. The trade in salt is a Govern- ment monopoly. It is estimated that 200,000 piculs of raw cotton grown in the neighbourhood are absorbed by the local spinning mills. Of these there were six in Tientsin and vicinity in 1922, with an aggregate capital of $12,000,000 and a total of 190,000 spindles. Five more mills, with 122,000 spindles, were in course of construction.: The yarn produced is of 14, 16, and 20 counts. Carpets, shoes, glass, coarse earthenware, and fireworks are also made in large quantities in the city, but Tientsin is at present essentially a centre for distribution and collection rather than for manufacture. The exports include coal, wool (from Kokonor, Kansuh, etc.), bristles, straw braid, goat skins, furs, wine, and carpets (of which 3,321,541 square feet were exported-chiefly to the U.S.A.-in 1923, valued at Hk. Tls. 2,900,841). The export trade is a creation only some 15 or 20 years old, and is largely due to foreign initiative. Wool cleaning and braid and bristle sorting are the chief industries in the foreign hongs except those of the Russians, who are exclusively engaged in the transit of tea. The imports are of the usual miscellaneous nature: arms, tea for the Desert and Siberia, mineral oil, matches, and needles figure next to piece-goods. The fine arts are unknown to the Tientsinese except in the shape of cleverly-made mud-figures; these are painted and make really admirable statuettes, but are difficult to carry away, being remarkably

brittle.

Tientsin is the principal sea outlet for the entire trade of the provinces of Chihli," Shansi, Shensi, Kansuh, and part of Honan, with a population not far short of 100,000,000. Following are the comparative trade statistics for the years 1922, 1923 and 1924:-

Imports:-

Foreign (net) Native (net)

1922 Hk. Tls.

1923 Hk. Tls.

1924 Hk. Tls.

122,440,039

102,341,339

103,260,453

...

•

47,014,868

49,646,387

60,868,408

•

75,061,425

86,420,212

87,566,738

244,516,332

238,407,938

251,695,599

Exports

...

Value of trade of Port

་

The outbreak of civil war between the Chihli and Fengtien factions in the latter part of 1924 and the subsequent dislocation of railway traffic which continued long after the cessation of hostilities, was a severe handicap to the trade of the port. Gradu- ally, as the victorious Fengtien troops gained control of the railways emanating from Tientsin trade conditions improved only to experience a set-back in the summer of 1925 due to the disturbed conditions and boycott of British and Japanese goods in- stigated by students and strikers throughout China. Tientsin, however, suffered less in this respect than other parts of the country and the tendency of conditions was towards normal during the autumn.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1926 — Page 648

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