Directory_and_Chronicle_1931 — Page 993

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CHUNGKING

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July, 1920, to 95 ft. 2 in., and on 14th July, 1921, to 100 ft. In 1908 it only attained a height of 52 feet 4 inches. According to a Chinese report, the river rose 120 feet in 1878. On the left bank of the Kialing and facing Chungking, extending below the junction of the two rivers, is the walled city of Kiang-Peh-ting, formerly within the district of Li Min Fu, but now incorporated in Chungking Fu. These two cities and the large villages in their inmediate neighbourhood are estimated to contain a popula- tion of about 700,000.

TRADE IN 1929

The port was declared open to foreign trade in 1891, since which date a large trade has been done both in imports and exports, carried in foreign chartered junks.

The net total value of the trade of Chungking in 1929 was the highest on record, showing an increase of 4 million taels as compared with the previous highest record of 1926, but it should be explaned that, in view of the enhanced prices of all commodities, this increase in value does not necessarily indicate a corresponding increase in the volume of trade. The year opened amidst military operations between the Chungking and Wanhsien factions. In March the boycott against British shipping was reinstated, but the movement lacked official support and was never absolute at any time. On the 1st August merchants closed down all business in protest against the reimposition of the 21 per cent. surtax on both imports and exports by the local Surtax Bureau, and during the following 25 days trade was at a standstill. The construction by a certain shipping firm of vessels specially designed for the Shanghai-Chungking direct run so alarmed the commission houses and labourers at Ichang that a concerted and successful movement was made by them in September against through shipments both up and down. The natural development of the through bill of lading undoubtedly inflicts an increasing loss on transhipment houses at Ichang, but it is a beneficial innovation to this port inasmuch as it reduces the overhead expenses as well as the risk of damage and pilferage, and it is a matter of regret that vested interests in Ichang are able to put a virtual einbargo on through traffic. Freight rates were high in January, but after the Spring Festival there was a surfeit of tonnage available, and freight rates were depressed to a level affording scanty profit. The s.s. Pingfu on her up-bound voyage struck a rock at Kunglingtan on the 17th February, and the wreck remained a danger to navigation until it was blown up on the 15th March. A project is under consideration to remove certain dangerous rocks at this point which constitute the principal obstacles to navigation on the Upper Yangtsze, and should this project be realised, it will be possible for the summer fleet to run nearly all the year round. The net value of the import trade was the highest on record, and most headings share in the increase. A decrease of 13,422 piculs in copper ingots and slabs is explained by the closing down of the local copper mint in the latter part of the year. Cigarette-smoking is the fashion of the day, and, in spite of the establishment locally of a cigarette factory, the products of which are of a very inferior quality, the importation of foreign cigarettes expanded eightfold. In this mountainous province, where transportation is difficult and expensive, artificial indigo in grains is preferred to the liquid form because of its higher strength, resulting in an increase from some 9,000 to 16,000 piculs. As the prosperity of the populace depends largely on a good export trade, it is gratifying to note an unprecedented expansion in the value of exports, repre- senting an increase of 5 million taels over the previous highest record of 1926. In the category of staple articles, wood oil had a most encouraging season, and the quantity exported was nearly three times that of the preceding year. As adulteration is a common practice, collecting agents in the hinterland have now been provided with refractometers by their firms in Chungking, so that they may test the quality of the oil while making purchases, and good results have been attained. The trade in steam filature yellow silk received considerable stimulus through the generous prices offered in Shanghai, which were maintained to the end of August, but from that date prices gradually dropped.

In 1929 the net value of trade was Hk. Tls. 78,256,468, as compared with Hk. Tls. 72,236,585 in 1928, Hk. Tls. 66,029,929 in 1927, Hk. Tls. 73,757,098 in 1926, Hk. Tls. 65,706,036 in 1925, and Hk. Tls. 65,575,042 in 1924. Trade, since the revolution, has been affected by brigandage in the interior and civil war. Bands of robbers haunt the roads throughout the province, especially in the mountainous regions, and merchants fear to transport cargo.