Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 832

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NANKING

British and American Consulates were opened in 1900, and since then a Japanese Consulate has also been established. A grand industrial exhibition --the first of its kind in China-was held in 1910, the principal buildings being devoted to liberal arts, foreign exhibits, agriculture, fine arts, education, Chinese exhibits from foreign countries, a model hospital and an arsenai. A second industrial exhibition was held in October, 1921, containing over 10,000 exhibits classified in 10 departments. The most remarkable exhibits were those displayed in the Agricultural and Forestry Section. It was a graphic demonstration and at the same time an object--lesson to the Chinese visitors the results that can be obtained when farming and afforestation are conducted on scientific lines. In another section the great variety of well-imitated foreign articles marked the growing desire of the Chinesc for the development of modern industrialism in their country. The local authorities, realising the far-reaching educational value of such an institution to both producers and consumers, decided to transform it into a permanent Industrial Museum.

Nanking was the scene of much fighting in the revolutionary compaign during October and November, 1911. The whole city was occupied by the revolutionaries in the early days of December, the Tartar City was sacked and burnt, and Nanking became the seat of the Provisional Government with Dr. Sun Yat-sen as President. Here the Republican Constitution was drawn up and promualgted, and the Revolutionary leaders sought to make Nanking the capital of the Republic. In July, 1913, a military outbreak occurred which rapidly developed into an armed rebellion against the Central Government, and from the 15th August until the 1st September the city until it capitulated to the Government troops, was under a severe bombardment. All of Hsia-kuan was burnt, and Nanking was looted. The city was made the seat of government by the Nationalists in 1927. The great event of 1929 was the burial of Dr. Sun Yat Sen in a magnificent mausoleum, specially con- structed for the body of the great leader on a slope of the Purple Mountain.

TRADE IN 1930

As the port of Nanking depends largely for its trade on the vast territory bordering on the Tientsin-Pukow and Lung-Hai Railways, peaceful conditions in that rich area are of paramount importance. The dislocation of railway traffic during the greater part of the year, therefore, caused a serious set-back to trade, and merchandise was either held up en route or only brought down to Pukow at enormous expense, and coal for the railway had to be transported by sea from Shantung. Vessels flying the Chinese flag were requisitioned for military purposes, and it was a frequent occurrence that all wharves at Pukow were occupied by military transports, leaving no available space for merchant- men to load or discharge their cargo. Towards the end of the year strenuous efforts were made to effect the release of locomotives and wagons, and high hopes were entertained for the gradual restoration of passenger and goods traffic to normalcy. Among imports, unprecedentedly large quantities of rice arrived from Rangoon and Saigon, due partly to a shortage in supplies from the usua! rice-producing districts and partly to the large quantities required to feed the huge armies at the front. Of other cereals, mention may be made of maize, which appears in the table of Direct Imports for the first time and is used as a substitute for rice by the poorer classes. Eggs and egg products were shipped abroad in unusually heavy quantities during the first half of the year. Labour strikes, however, broke out in the autumn and assumed such proportions that the local packing companies decided to curtail operations by withdrawing all agents from the interior until the situation clarified. The once famous satin trade has been relegated to an inferior position owing to keen competition with the Soochow and Hangchow manufacturers and to the curtailment of demand from the northern districts due to constant warfare. A National Silk Products Exposition, held under the auspices of the Ministry of industry and Commerce for the promotion of the native silk industry, was