Directory_and_Chronicle_1936 — Page 763

WUHU

燕

Wú-hú

This port (the name of which signifies "grass and lakes," .e., swamps) was opened to foreign trade by the "Chefoo Convention" on the 1st April, 1877. It is situated on the Yangtsze, in the province of Anhwei, between Nanking, the National capital city, and Kiukiang, though considerably nearer to the former. It is well located for trade, mainly owing to the excellence of its water communication with the interior. A large canal, with a depth of five to six feet of water in the win- ter and more than double that in the summer, connects the port with the important city of Hsuancheng (recently known as Ning-kuoh-fu) 80 km. distant. Another canal runs inland for over 170 km, in a south-westerly direction to Taiping-hsien an extensive tea district. This canal, which is only navigable in the summer, passes through Nanling and King-hsien, where the cultivation of silk is carried on, and may some day be of importance. These silk districts are situated within 80 km. of Wuhu.. Besides the canals leading to Hsuancheng and Taiping, there are two others communi- cating with Ssu-an in Chekiang and Tung-po.

Coal may some day become a considerable article of export from Wuhu, both Government and private interests having been directed to the great coalfields of the province. The most important mines now under operation are in Lohochen on the right bank of the Huai river, near Pengpu, managed by the National Reconstruction Commission. A railway right from the colliery to Yuchikou, on the left bank of the Yangtze opposite Wuhu, has been built by the Commission and recently opened to passenger as well as to cargo traffic. Another important mine in Shuitung in south Anhwei is now operated with private capital. This mine possesses a light railway connecting the coalfields with the Wuhu Sunchiapu railway at the latter terminus. The Mantoushan coal mines, also a private concern, occupy a better geographical position in that the mines are on the brink of the Yangtze a few km. above Tatung. Shipments are frequently made by specially chartered steamers to Shanghai for tran- shipment there.

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The export of iron ore, which constitutes the most important direct trade of the port with foreign countries, increase yearly. Three private concerns are now engaged in opening these mines, namely, the Yu Fan Co. of Tichiang, the Pao Hsing Co. of Manganshan and the Fu Li Min Co. of Chenciayu. This mineral, so richly produced in Anhwei, is all shipped to Japan.

Motor roads exist between Wuliu, Nanking, Tunchi and Wuwei.

The tract of land selected 30 years ago for the Foreign Settlement was definitely ceded in 1906, and sites were allotted to the then Anhwei Railway Company and to various shipping companies, each lot having a river frontage of 600 to 1,100 feet. In 1914 the Ministry of Communications took over the Anhwei Railway Company with its entire assets and liabilities, the property being transferred to the Kiangnan Rail- way Company in 1933. Large godowns were built by Messrs. Butterfield & Swire on their ground in the Settlement for storing rice, and Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. Ltd., and the Chinese Government Salt Administration is said to be on the point of acquiring property in the vicinity. The Customs House and buildings on the bund near the Settlement were completed and occupied in 1919. The Chinese population of Wuhu and its suburbs was estimated at 328,803 in 1934. A railway has been con- structed by the Kiangnan Railway Company connecting this port with Nanking and Sunchiapu. The former line was opened to passenger and goods traffic in May 1935.

TRADE IN 1934

The following are the statistics for the value of trade of Wuhu, in so far as they are now recorded by the Customs: direct foreign imports, 2.4 million dollars as against 1.9 million in 1933; coastwise importations of Chinese produce, 12.4 million dollars as against 16.4 million; direct exports to foreign countries, 1.9 million dollars as