Directory_and_Chronicle_1927 — Page 899

YOCHOW

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of development are undoubtedly to be found. Tungsten ore was lately added to the list of exports, but it is now largely shipped from Changsha rather than from Yochow.

Steam launches and steamers run through from Hankow to Changsha with cargo and passengers, under river passes; and from Yochow to inland places under Inland Steam Navigation Rules principally to Changteh, Yiyang and Chinshih. The business is increasing, more particularly with the last-named place. The Canton-Hankow Railway has endeavoured to maintain regular daily train service, but the conduct of the military has been a great hindrance.

The city of Yochow is perched on a bluff in a very picturesque way. Its site is, however, not adapted for a transit trade, and it offers no shelter for small craft. The port has, therefore, been opened at Chengling, five miles to the north and only a mile from the Yangtsze, where a small creek provides the needed shelter for cargo-boats, though the steamer anchorage is bad, being fully exposed to the frequent northerly gales, while the bottom affords bad holding ground. Here the Chinese Government has set aside a place for a cosmopolitan settlement, for which they themselves 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 Custom-house and quarters have been built. After the rebellion in the Yangtsze Valley in 1913 a garrison of Northern troops was permanently stationed in Yochow, but on several occasions since the beginning of 1918 the city has changed hands and suffered very severely in the process. The pillaging by the Northern troops when they retreated before the Southern forces (Hunanese) in June, 1920, reduced the people to such extremity, and plunged them into such despondency, that they have neither the means nor the heart to attempt the rehabilitation of the place. Yochow is described by the Customs Commissioner "doubtless the most healthful town in the Yangtsze Valley." 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 showed 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 net value of Yochow's share of the trade in 1925 was Hk. Tls. 22,615,345, as compared with Hk. Tls. 22,917,989 in 1924, and Hk. Tls. 26,963,658 in 1923. The Chinese Maritime Customs revenue for the year 1925-Hk. Tls. 218,700-shows an increase over the figure for the preceding year of Hk. Tls. 17,718.

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A noteworthy feature of 1907 was the connection of Changteh 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 steamers of the river type, tugs and lighters. Buoys and lights were established in 1907 to mark the channel across the lake. The difficulties and risks of this route are considerable, 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. question of making Changteh an

66 open port" was considered in 1906 and again taken up in the spring of 1915, and Chinese officials visited the place to enquire into the conditions, but it still remains open only to vessels under I.W.S.N. rules. principal products exported from Changteh through Yochow are native cloth, ramie, wood oil, vegetable tallow, lotus nuts, broad beans and hides.

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The Standard Oil Company of New York has recently established an oil installa- tion at a point about 2 miles below the Settlement. It has erected two tanks and contemplates erecting four more. The first oil tanker direct from California arrived here during the high water season. This installation will be the centre of distribution for the upper Yangtze and the Lake Ports, such as Changteh, Yiyang and Tsingshih.