Directory_and_Chronicle_1940 — Page 753

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

CHUNGKING

A373

valued at $19.4 million in 1937 to 98,285 quintals valued at $15.4 million. Owing to transport difficulties other staple imports also declined: cigarettes from 26,388,to 10,138 quintals and rice from 79,299 to 13,124 quintals. Direct exports abroad, as usual, consisted mainly of musk and expensive medicinal substances, etc., forward- ed to Hongkong by aeroplane or parcel post. Under exports, coastwise, sugar was the only item to show an increase-from 129,687 to 162,741, quintals-owing to the fact that, the supply of foreign sugar being practically cut off, Szechwan sugar more or less dominated the markets in Hupeh and Hunan provinces until the fall of Hankow at the close of October. Other staple exports coastwise registered con- siderable declines, as follows: wood oil from 206,357 to 128,870 quintals; undressed goat skins from 979,231 to 375,267 pieces; sheep's wool from 900,040 to 1,043 kilogram- mes; silk from 531,746 to 29,653 kilogrammes; nutgalls from 14,966 to 5,610 quintals; medicinal substances from $2.5 million in value to $1.3 million; and bristles from 8,454 to 3,389 quintals. Difficulties in transport account generally for the decreases shown, though the decline in the export of bristles was in part due to lower pro- duction as a result of a shortage of foodstuffs during the drought. The output of Szechwan salt was greatly increased during the year owing to additional demand from the provinces of Hunan, Hupeh, Anh wei and Kiangsi, which were cut off from their usual supply of sea salt.

Regarding improvements to waterways on the Upper Yangtze, repairs effected to the first and second courses of the breakwater wall at Chaipantze, the stonework of which was found in November 1937 to have been displaced for lengths of 800 feet and 160 feet respectively. Attempts to further blast the Kunglingtan pinnacles were suspended for military reasons. Owing to transport difficulties the building of the Chungking-Chengtu Railway was temporarily suspended in the autumn, but was resumed again at the close of the year. The building of the Szechwan-Yunnan Railway from Ipin to Kunming, a distance of 691 kilometres, was commenced in August. Highway development proceeded apace, while further development was made in long-distance telephonic service.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1940 — Page 753

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