Directory_and_Chronicle_1934 — Page 841

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

ICHANG

A431

higher grounds, winter wheat, barley, and also the tungtzu trees, from which the ordinary 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 per- simmons 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 transfered to steamers. Steam navigation is now practicable for the lar- ger vessels from the middle of April to the end of November and for the smaller vessels throughout the year. The rates for foreign passengers, 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 thiree River Inspectors functioning between Chungking and Ichang. The up- ward voyage to Chungking_now takes between three and four days, and the return trip just under two days. The survey of the railway to Chengtu has been completed, but construction has been postponed indefinitely. The estimated Chinese population of Ichang is 112,309.

TRADE IN 1932

Conditions on the Yangtze showed marked improvement during 1932. Firing on ships gradually ceased, although communist activities and brigandage continued spasmodically with the result that difficulty was experienced in bringing produce to the cities for export. Lack of money also affected local trade and the nature of the River traffic remains chiefly what it has been in the past, namely transhipment to and from Chungking. Taxation in Szechuan ports remains the chief cause for diversion of trade overland through Kweichow and Yunnan to Canton and Indo- China. As a result, tonnage was in excess of freight and keen competition brought down rates generally. Entrances and clearances at Ichang amounted to 2212 vessels aggregating one million tons. British shipping declined slightly, but Chinese showed improvement owing to the release of ships previously commandeered by the military. The anti-Japanese boycott brought about a diminution of trade in Japanese goods and the almost complete cessation of Japanese shipping for a time. On the whole, however, there was improvement, as is shown by the total value of the Ichang trade for 1932, namely HK Taels 15,674,592 (as compared with HK Taels 11,840,223 in 1931). Blasting operations on the Kunglingtan rocks were carried out during the winter 1931-32 and have since been terminated. The new channel will be tested during the next low water season.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1934 — Page 841

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