Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 562

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DAIREN

ber, 1913. It is scientifically designed and equipped on the latest and most approved lines with accommodation for both foreign and Chinese passengers.

An electric tramway, with a length of 67 kilometres, runs along the prin- cipal streets and out by the suburban line to Shahokou (where the South Manchuria Railway workshops are established, over four miles westward from Dairen), and extends two miles farther to Hoshigaura (Star Beach), the finest watering place in Manchuria. There is an excellent hotel here, managed by the South Manchuria Hotel Company and also a number of bungalows which may be hired by visitors. Another suburban line runs to Rokotan, a famous summer resort commanding glorious scenery. A motor-car road, runs to Star Beach, and a tract of land along this, measuring about 85 acres, has been levelled and laid out. The construction of a new road, 44 kilometres in length, connecting Dairen and Port Arthur was commenced in 1921 on three sections simultaneously, and was completed in July, 1924. The motor road between Dairen and Kin Shu was completed in 1929 and motor buses are running regularly. The Japan Aviation Company inaugurated a mail service between Dairen and Japan in April 1, 1929, and from September onwards a passenger service was included.

The town of Dairen, which has been expanding rapidly owing to business prosperity and increase of population, is lighted by electricity and gas and has ample telephone facilities. The electric power-house, when completed in 1911, had a capacity of 4,500 kilowatts. This was increased in 1921 to 6,000 kws., and a second house with 10,000 kws. power was added in June, 1923. The town has macadamized lined roads with rows of shady trees, and is weil equipped with waterworks, drainage and sewage systems. With the growth of trade, more particularly in Manchurian beans, a number of influential business houses, Japanese, Chinese and foreign, have established themselves at the port. The foreign and Japanese communities in April, 1909, organized and opened the Dairen Club. A Gun Club, Golf Club, and Marine Association are among the other institutions of the port. Of places for public amusement, the so-called Electric Park, designed on an up-to-date plan and containing all devices for recreation, forms the chief attraction. The Chinese quarter, situated on the western fringe of the city, has also grown considerably. A new Railway Hospital, deserves special mention owing partly to its size and party to the excellence of its equipment. This hospital affords accommodation foor 590 patients and treats more than 800 out patients of all nationalities

an average every day.

TRADE IN 1930.

The increase in the trade of Dairen, which has been a regular feature of recent years, received a check during 1930, and the gross value of the trade was slightly over 400 million Haikwan taels, a decrease of approximately 17 per cent. as compared with the previous year. The total volume of imports and exports handled during the same period also decreased, while the number of vessels entering and clearing was over a thousand less than in 1929, re- presenting a tonnage of 1.7 million tons. The decline of silver had a marked effect on the movements of staple commodities from North and South Man- churia, and some portion of this traffic has been diverted to Chinese railway lines owing to freight rates on the latter being in silver. At present there are two Chinese lines available for handling this traffic, one starting from Taianchen and running to Tahushan on the Pei-Ning line and thence to Yingkow or Chinwangtao, while the second-comprising the Chi-Hai and the Shên-Hai lines-runs from Kirin through Hailung to Shenyang, where it joins up with the Pei-Ning Railway. Hitherto North Manchurian produce has found its way to the sea by two main routes, either along the Chinese Eastern Rail- way to Vladivostock or else by the South Manchuria Railway to Dairen, but the Chinese lines are now receiving an increasing share of this transportation. As a result of the Tariff Convention concluded between China and Japan, the collection of surtaxes on native goods was enforced at Dairen from the 1st July, but this does not appear so far to have had any direct effect on trade. Imports of cotton piece goods throughout the year were very poor, while