Directory_and_Chronicle_1939 — Page 459

TIENTSIN-TAKU

YUNG HSING STATIONERY CO., LTD., Stationers, Drawing and Survey Sup- plies, Office Equipment, and Artist's Requisites-Head Office: Tung Ma Loo, Tientsin: Teleph. 22909. Bran- ches: 87, Meadows Road, British Con., Tientsin; Teleph. 32072; 103, Hatamen Street, Peiping; Teleph. 1453 E.O.; 924, Second Main Street, Commercial Port, Tsinanfų; 171, Tai Ping Road (Hua Pailou), Nan king; Teleph. 21723; 70, Nan Ta Chieh, Hsian; Teleph. 212

D. C. Mow, general manager

F. C. Wei, manager

C. C. Chiao, assistant manager

司公業工學化利永

A81.

YUNGLI CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD., Manufacturers of Refined Soda Ash, Caustic Soda and Sodium Bicarbonate

---, Rue Fontanier; Telephs. 30129 and 31532; Cable Ad: Paco; Codes Used: Acme, Bentley's and Private

ZNANIE PUBLIC LIBRARY, Booksellers, and Stationers, Printers and Book- binders-Corner of Wilson Street & Wusih Road

TAKU

沽大

Ta-ku

The village of Taku is of inconsiderable size and contains few shops and no buildings of interest. About a mile below the village in a direct line lie the Old Southern and Central Fort, while on the northern bank of the river lies the Northern Fort. All are completely demolished and now present the appearance of mounds of earth, though periodical whitewashing of the surface facing seaward makes them serve a useful modern purpose-an aid to navigation. The railway from the neighbouring town of Tangku, on the Northern Bank of the river, to Tientsin was. eompleted in 1888.

Between the signal-station and Messrs. Butterfield & Swire wharf on the northern bank is situated "Cockle Village" so called because of the comparatively large industry for the boiling and drying of shellfish such as cockles, crabs, clams, etc., that is carried on there. When dried, these shellfish are exported by steamer to Shanghai and Canton principally, whence they are sent inland for consumption. This is Taku's greatest asset, as the country round about for some distance is covered with salt-pans and salt heaps, which render the country unfit for cultivation.

The lights and aids to navigation are under the control of the Maritime Customs as well as the up-to-date signal station, completed in 1920, to use 8' symbols by day and electric light by night whereby depths in the bar-channel are recorded from 8 feet up to 25 feet. The Hai-Ho Conservancy Commission maintain the navigable depth of the bar by means of a suction dredger with a self-contained hopper of 500 c.m. capacity. The navigable depth of the bar varies in accordance with the extent of the silt evacuated by the river after the freshet seasons. The existing channel has been greatly improved in recent years; but, as it was decided that it would never prove entirely successful owing to the set of the current, the Hai-Ho Conservancy Commission constructed a new bar channel in the direction of the set of the tide. The completion of this work in 1929, restored the Hai-Ho to a depth admitting the passage of coasting steamers from Tientsin, though unfortunately the construction of the new channel caused serious loss of life in the province.

There are no clearly defined anchorages but steamers arriving off the bar at low tide must anchor outside the bar while steamers from Tientsin proceeding to sea may anchor anywhere in the river clear of the shipping channel.

Taku is memorable on account of the engagements that have taken place between its forts and the British and French naval forces. The first attack was made on the 20th May, 1858, by the British squadron under Sir Michael Seymour, when the forts were passed and Lord Elgin proceeded to Tientsin, where on the 26th June he signed the fainous Treaty of Tientsin. The second attack, which was fatally unsuccessful, was made by the British forces in June, 1859. The third took place on the 21st August, 1860, when the forts were attacked from the land side and captured, and the British ships sailed triumphantly up to Tientsin.