Directory_and_Chronicle_1939 — Page 472

MUKDEN-HARBIN

A94

司公油火古士德

Teh shih ku huo yu kung sze

TEXAS CO. (CHINA), LTD., THE, Texaco Petroleum Products--Tijiko. Dai-

ren; Telephs. 2-3404, 2-1351; Cable Ad: Texaco

B. E. Butland, manager

S. E. Cull, terminal supt. J. J. Ruane

J. A. Liberman

N. Fuji

H. Yonekura

TOPPER BROS., Merchants-40-15. Naniwa-

dori; Cable Ad; Topper

記和

Ho Kee

WINNING & Co., W. H.,Lloyd's Agents-141, Ta Hsi Pien Men We; Cable Ad: Cornabe

W. H. Winning. proprietor

WOLTER & CO., CARL, Import, Export and Commission Agents-Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Building; Telephs. (Chinese) 4695, (Japanese) 3989; Cable Ad: Barbarossa: Codes: Acme, A.B.C. 6th, Bentley's, Western Union, Marconi, Mosse and Private

J. Wolter, managing partner

G. A. Bouroff

B. F. Savin

YAMATO HOTEL (Owned and Operated by the South Manchuria Railway Co.) --Cable Ad: Yamato

1. Kogure, manager

HARBIN

Harbin is the principal business centre of North Manchuria. Before the Chinese Eastern Railway was built it consisted of a Chinese village, Fu Chia Tien (*), with neighbouring landing-stage (in Russian, "Pristan'), at which steamers from the Amur used to call

The business and chief residential quarters of Harbin are situated on the right bank of the river Sungari, on the Chinese Eastern Railway, the Soviet Russian share of which was sold to Manchoukuc on 23rd March, 1935, the railway lines becoming part of the general system of State Railways in Manchuria. The main line connects Hsinking (Changchun) with Manchuli, on the Soviet frontier, whence the trans-Siberian railway runs to Moscow. From Harbin a branch line runs south-eastwards to Suifenho (Pogranichaya). Harbin is also the terminus of the Lafa) Harbin railway (formally opened to restricted traffic in December 1933), which links North Manchuria with Korea. The line is carried across the river by a railway bridge, completed in December 1933, and joins the railway running northwards from Ma Ch'uan K'ou ( MⱭ ) on the left bank of the river to Hailun (), and thence to Peian-chen (). From Peian-chen the line has now been completed to Taheiho on the Amur River. On 31st August the line from Harbin to Hsinking was converted to Standard gauge and linked up with the Lafa-Harbin-Taheiho line by a standard gauge loop. On August 2, 1936 the line from Harbin to Manchuli was also converted to standard gauge.

Harbin is the natural outlet for the vast bean and grain producing dis- tricts to the North, which are being gradually opened up and developed.

According to census statistics, the population of Greater Harbin at the end of December, 1934 was approximately 500,526 of whom 21,008 were Jap- anese, 20,824 Soviet citizens, 34,169 "White" Russians, and

Russians, and 15,000 other nationalities. These figures have altered however, owing to the departure of Soviet Railway employees, the influx of Japanese owing to the sale of the C. E Railway.

February 5, 1932 marks an epoch in the history of Harbin. On that day the town was occupied by Japanese troops, and the Chinese troops withdrew. The new State of "Manchukuo" was created on the March 1, 1932.