Directory_and_Chronicle_1940 — Page 746

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CHANGSHA

from Changsha. The Changsha-Kweichow road, which runs via Changtehe T'aoyuan, Shenchow (Yuanling), Ch'enhsi and Yuanchow (Chihkiang), t Hwanghsien on the Kweichow border-a distance of about 835 kilometres- has been completed and opened to traffic. From Hwanghsien it is necessar to travel for two days by chair before the journey can be continued by roas to Kweiyang. The Changsha-Szechwan road, branches off from the Changsha Kweichow road at Shenchow (Yuanling), whence it runs via Luhsi, Ch'iends ch'eng, Yungsui and Ch'at'ung, to Hsiushan-a distance of 220 kilometrese The road-bed has been laid as far as Ch'at'ung. It is hoped that the surfacing with stone and gravel will be completed and the road be opened to through traffic by November this year. The Changsha-Changteh-Lichow-Tungyomiads has been extended and opened to traffic as far as Shasi on the Yangtze. Thi Changsha-Hankow road, via P'ingkiang, T'ungch'eng and Tsungyang i complete except for a distance of 25 kilometres between P'ingkiang andh T'ungch'eng. Progress is being made with this section, however, and througle traffic between Changsha and Hankow is now under discussion. The Changsha Kwangsi road, via Siangtan, Hengchow, Hungch'iao, Ch'iyang and Yungchow (Lingling, to Lishanp'u on the Kwangsi border, has been completed opened to traffic. From the border it is necessary to travel by chair for half a day to Hwangshaho, whence the road has been completed as far as Kweiling The Changsha-Kwantung road, via Siangtan, Hengchow and Leiyang, to Pingshek was completed and opened to traffic two years ago.

TRADE IN 1938

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As recorded by the Customs, the value statistics for the trade of the port of Changsha were as follows: direct foreign imports, $617,000 as compared with $6.7 million in 1937; coastwise imports of Chinese merchandise, $19.7 million as against $25.8 million; direct exports, $5,000 as against $4,000; and coastwise exports of Chinese produce, $11.7 million as compared with $30 million. Much cargo also passed Changsha from Hankow and the Yangtze River regions by rail for Canton, which not being passed under General Regulations, is not recorded by the Customs. The port, therefore, assumed considerable importance until its practically entire destruc- tion by fire in October brought trade to a standstill. Of direct imports, kerosene, gasolene and sugar usually accounted for 90 per cent of the direct import trade imports of gasolene which amounted to 1,922,200 litres in 1937 being, however, reduced to nil for 1938, with sugar also nil as against 75,460 quintals. Importations of kero- sene oil were reduced in quantity from 25,809,316 to 2,846,244 litres. Under coast wise imports, wheat flour declined from 97,099 to 58,608 quintals and cotton yarn from 55,655 to 35,606 quintals, with an increase under cigarettes from 7,103 to 11,875 quintals. The interruption of traffic on the Yangtze River reduced recorded coast wise exports to practically nil; large quantities, however, of the staple exports usually appearing in the Customs returns, such as wood oil, tea oil, etc., were forwarded by rail south. Recorded coastwise exports of wood oil fell from 48,873 to 1,623 quintals, of tea oil from 59,311 to 1,164 quintals, and of fire-crackers from 22,648 to 2,318 quintals. Rice declined from over 1 million to 97,806 quintals. Under shipping, recorded tonnage under General Regulations fell from 574,409 to 277,191 tons.