Directory_and_Chronicle_1937 — Page 498

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CHEFOO

之

Chi-fu

臺烟 Yen-tai

Chefoo, the Province of Shantung, is the name used by foreigners to denote this Treaty Port; the Chinese name of the place is Yentai, and Chefoo proper is on the opposite side of the harbour. Chefoo is situated in latitude 37° 33′ 20′′ N. and longi- tude 121° 25′ 20′′ E. The port was opened to foreign trade in 1863. In 1876 the Chefoo Convention was concluded at Chefoo by the late Sir Thomas Wade and the former Viceroy of Chihli, Li Hung-chang. The normal foreign population of Chefoo is about 1,000, while the Chinese population is about 100,000. Chefoo has no Settlement, or Concessions, but a recognized Foreign Quarter, which is well kept and has good clean roads, and is well lighted. From the early days of the port a foreign "Road Committee" administered the Municipal affairs of the Foreign Quarter being succeeded in 1910 by an International Committee of six foreigners and six Chinese. The Interna- tional Committee was however wound up in 1910 and the Foreign Quarter is now administered by the Chinese Authorities in the same way as the rest of the town. There is a good club. There are two good hotels and several excellent boarding houses, all of which are full of visitors from July to the end of September. The climate is bracing. The winter, which is severe, lasts from the beginning of December to the end of March; April, May and June are lovely months and not hot; July and August are hot and rainy months; and September, October and November form a most perfect autumn with warm days, cool winds and cold nights. Strong northerly gales are experienced in the late autumn and through the winter, and the roadstead gives but an uncomfort- able, though safe anchorage for steamers. In 1909 nearly two months were lost to trade through stress of weather. The Netherlands Harbour Works Co. started the construction of a breakwater in 1915. Further harbour improvement works were completed in 1921, the new breakwater, mole and quay being formally inaugurated on September 14th, 1921. The breakwater is 2,600 feet long, the height from the base of the foundation mound to the top of the parapet is 513 feet, and the width of the base of the foundation mound ranges from 117 feet to 133 feet. A railway track has been laid over the mole. In 1933 Chefoo was made a Special Area by the Provincial authorities, and the City limits now include a number of surrounding towns and villages. The population of this Special Area is estimated at 230,000.

The Chefoo-Wehsien motor Road was opened to traffic in 1933 and a regular and express service of cars operate daily between Chefoo and Wehsien, connecting at the latter port with the Kiao-tsi Railway. During the past several years, additional motor roads have been opened throughout the province and practically all important towns are now connected by road with Chefoo, including Tsingtao and Weihaiwei. None of the roads are metalled, as it has been found impracticable to adopt this surfacing but, gnerally speaking, they are kept in first class condition, and due to the long periods of dry weather in Chefoo the earth surfacing thereof has proved eminently satisfactory for conditions in Shantung. However, after heavy rains the roads are unusable for a period of from twenty-four to forty-eight hours.

Amongst the main exports of Chefoo are Pongee Silks, Silk Waste, Vermicelli, Ground Nuts, Fruit, Hair Nets, Handmade Laces and Embroideries, and there are also considerable exports of locally distilled wine. Amongst other industries is the Chefoo Brewery and several Clock factories which enjoy a brisk business with all China ports, as well as with the Straits and Java. The port was connected in 1900 by telegraph cables with Tientsin, Port Arthur, Weihaiwei, Tsingtao, and Shanghai, in addition to telegraph land lines with all large interior cities.

TRADE IN 1935

The trade statistics recorded for Chefoo were as follows, according to value: direct imports from abroad amounted to 6.7 million dollars as against 9.7 million dollars in the preceding year (a 21 per cent. decrease); coastwise importations of