Directory_and_Chronicle_1929 — Page 909

KIUKIANG-HANKOW

KIUKIANG CLUB & RECREATION GROUND

(Company Limited by Guarantee)

Chairman J. P. McDermott Committee-G. F. C. Corfield, A. J.

Hope, B. Monpeny and P. J. Macdermott

Hon. Secy. and Treas.-J. R. Allan

Office Assistant-L. F. Chung

社會船汽清日

Jih ching hie zuen way sha

NISSHIN KISEN KAISHA

S. Satoh

T. Murakami

T. Takasu (hulk master)

堂主天

Tien chu t'ang

ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION (Lazarists)

831

Rt. Rev. L. Fatiguet, Bishop of

Aspendus, apost. vicar

Rev. Louis Morel, proc.

* *

Mei foo

STANDARD OIL Co. OF NEW YORK-Tel.

Ad: Socony

L. J. Mead, manager

A. T. Parker

E. M. Green

A. D. Murphy, installation supt.

K. Y. John, stenographer

TEXAS Co., THE, Petroleum Products-

Tel. Ad: Texaco

T. C. Wong

HANKOW

口漢

Han-kau

Hankow, as its name implies, is located at the mouth of the Han River-the longest tributary of the Yangtsze-in latitude 30 deg. 32 min. N., and longitude 114 deg. 19 min. E. Its central position, standing as it does like a half-way house between North and South China, has led to its being called the "Chicago of China." It was formerly regarded merely as a suburb of Hanyang, which it immediately adjoins, but it has since far outstripped the older city in commerce, wealth and influence. It is, of course, the principal port on the Yangtsze, which drains about 750,000 square miles of territory and waters a hinterland with a population of close upon 200,000,000 people. Thus situated and environed, it is natural to expect that it will ultimately become the chief emporium in central China. Hankow is 600 miles distant from Shanghai, and, in normal times there are over 40 steamers, with excellent passenger accommodation on the Shanghai-Hankow run; 10 steamers on the Hankow-Ichang run; and 5 steamers on the Hankow-Changsha run.

Attention was first drawn to Hankow as a place of trade by Huc, the French missionary. Captain Blakiston, in his work "The Yangtsze," gives the following correct description of the place and its surroundings:- Hankow is situated just where an irregular range of semi-detached low hills crosses a particularly level country on both sides of the main river in an east and west direction. Stationed on Pagoda Hill, Hanyang, a spectator looks down on almost as much water as land even when the rivers are low. At his feet sweeps the magnificent Yangtsze, nearly a mile in width; from the west and skirting the northern edge of the range of hills already mentioned comes the river Han, narrow and canal-like, to add its quota, and serving as one of the highways of the country; and to the north-west and north is an extensive treeless flat, so little elevated above the river that the scattered hamlets which dot its surface are, without exception, raised on mounds, probably artificial works of a now distant age. A stream or two traverse its farther part and flow into the main river. Carrying his eye to the right bank of the Yangtsze one sees enormous lakes and lagoons both to the north-west and south-east sides of the hills beyond the provincial city.

"

The port was opened to foreign trade in 1861, and was visited by Mr. (afterwards Sir) Robert Hart in that year in connection with opening a branch of the Imperial Customs. The British and other Bunds lave many imposing buildings on the water- front. There is a five-storey building of the International Banking Corporation on the