Directory_and_Chronicle_1937 — Page 741

HANKOW

A361

Heavy increases in the export of wcifram (tungsten) and zinc ores as well as of antimony are attributed to larger amounts of Changsha cargo having been transhipped at Hankow instead of at Shanghai. Demand abroad was, however, greater. The total tonnage entering and clearing under General Kegulations amounted to 7.5 million tons an increase over the previous year of some 500,000 tons, ocean tonnage accounting for 182,500 tons of the increase. River shipping increased by some 295,000 tons. A feature of the year's shipping is that Chinese ocean shipping increased almost tenfold, rising from seventh to third place. During the summer the Yangtze registered the second highest water-mark recorded in the last 72 years (51.3 feet), and the river banks were flooded as far as the dikes. It was then necessary to prohibit night navigation for six weeks! Owing to the precautions taken, no failure of lights attributable to the floods was recorded during their duration. Silt movements which occurred in the Collinson Island Cement Channel during the low-water season necessitated the stationing of the River Inspec- torate district launch at Farichow, and, owing to this precaution and to the laying of buoys, the channel was not allowed to fall below 10 feet even when, in February, the Hankow water-mark fell to 1.7 feet. A new departure was the daily broadcasting, through the Hankow Municipal Broadcasting Station, of water-marks and other notices to mariners. A very profitable year was met with by the Peiping-Hankow Railway, while the Hupeh-Hunan section of the Canton-Hankow line experienced some losses. Extensive repairs to roads damaged by the floods. compelled the Hupeh Reconstruction Bureau to retrench on the ambitious plan of construction of new roads. Even so, 189 kilometres of new road were completed and work considerably advanced on 386 kilometres. Long-distance telephones were greatly extended during the year. The Government's currency reform, which came into effect in Novem- ber, was well received, and if at the outset it resulted in greater land in- vestment, the transfer of some deposits from dollars into sterling or gold dollars, and in a temporary increase of prices, the unquestionable benefits that it would bring to trade were fully realised. The schedule of flights undertaken by the China National Aviation Corporation has been increased considerably during the year, and Hankow is now connected daily with Shanghai, six times a week with Chungking, and twice weekly with Chengtu. The air-mail service operated between Peiping and Canton via Chengchow Hankow and Changsha by the Eurasia Aviation Corporation was suspended in July, but, it is expected, flights will be resumed in the spring of 1936.