Directory_and_Chronicle_1931 — Page 990

ICHANG

县宜

I-Chang

in

Ichang is one of the four ports opened to foreign trade on the 1st April, 1877, accordance with Clause 1, Section 3, of the Chefoo Convention. It is situated in lat. 30° 43.4′ N., long. 111° 12.8' E., on the north bank of the river Yangtsze, about 363 miles above Hankow, and some five miles below the entrance to the great Ichang Gorge, or just about 1,000 miles from the coast. The navigation of the river to this port is comparatively easy for vessels of light draught and has in recent years been rendered easier by the labours of the Customs River Department, which has marked every crossing and established numerous aids to navigation. The anchorage is off the left bank, opposite the foreign residences, and is good, except in freshets, when the anchors should be sighted every two or three days. The port is the centre of a hilly country, the productions of which are rice in the valleys, cotton on the higher grounds, winter wheat, barley, and also the tungtzu trees, from which the ordi- nary wood oil is obtained by pressing the nuts gathered from the trees. In the sheltered valleys, amongst the mountain ranges west of the city, oranges, lemons, pomeloes, pears, plums, and a very superior quality of persimmons are grown, and find a ready market in the city and at Shasi. The importance of Ichang is chiefly that of an emporium for goods in transit to and from Chungking. Most of the cargo for the latter port is landed here and transferred to steamers (or chartered junks). In the same way cargo brought down in steamers or chartered junks from Chungking and intended for the lower river and coast ports, is transhipped here on steamers, which make regular voyages to and from Hankow. Since the beginning of 1927, when trouble first broke out, the prevalence of bandits and the tendency of the soldiers to cominandeer all available craft, has practically abolished the junk trade, similarly inland water trade has ceased to exist. At the end of 1928 the Italian Consul in Hankow ordered that none of these ships were to be permitted to fly the Italian flag, and there are now no steamers on the Upper River flying that flag.

During the year 1929 the following steamers were running between Ichang and Chungking: British: Pingwo, Wanhsien, Kintang, Kiawo, Tienkwang, Shukwang, Ahkwang, Chinkwang, Wantung, Tungwo, Kangting, Kingwo, Waitai, several tugs and lighters (A.P.C., B. & S., J. M. & Co.); American: Chichuen, Chiping, Iling, Iping, Chinan, Chilai, Meiping, Meihsia, Meiming, Meile, Meikung, several tugs and lighters (S.O.C.); Japanese Changyang-maru, Iyang-maru, Yunyang-maru, Changfoong-maru, Kashiwa-maru, Ekian-maru, Chialing-maru, Finnish: Yungtung; French: Fooktung, Fookyuen; German: Fushun; Swedish: Fuyuen. Steam navigation is now practicable for the larger vessels from the middle of April to the end of November and for the smaller vessels throughout the year. The rates for foreign passengers vary considerably by the different vessels, but all are much higher than on the lower Yangtsze. In view of the enhanced traffic, aids to navigation and rules of the road through the gorges have become urgent, and have been for some years undertaken by the Government, with two River Inspectors functioning between Chungking and Ichang. The upward voyage to Chungking now takes four days, and the return trip about two days. The survey of the railway to Chengtu has been completed, but construction has been delayed. The estimated Chinese population of Ichang, is 112,309.

The net value of the trade of the port in 1929 was Hk. Tls. 12,661,940, as compared with Hk. Tls. 13,533,187 in 1928, Hk. Tls. 7,561,511 in 1927, Hk. Tls. 16,820,980 in 1926, Hk. Tls, 12,809,132 in 1925, and Hk. Tls. 17,655,451 in 1924. With the exception of one or two slight military disturbances in April and December, which were speedily quelled by the Government forces, the port enjoyed on the whole an era of peace and order during the year 1929. The various military commanders who have exercised sway in this region have been uniformly successful in preserving discipline among their troops so that no untoward events occurred as in formal years.

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