| 1 |
 |
“...an
important item of export must be the cocoons of Bombyx Pernyi
(fed on the leaves of the oak tree, known as Quercus Mongolica) of
which the value may, according to a rough-and-ready process of
induction, be computed at 1,000,000 taels.
Incidentally it may be pointed out that by a proper cultivation
of the scrub oak, and by employing a more careful method of packing
the cocoons for their journey across the Gulf to Chefoo, where, up
to the present, the bulk of them have been reeled, the out-turn of
silk would be greatly improved. A certain proportion of cocoons go
on from Chefoo to Japan and Tsingtao, but when the Japanese have
established themselves at the new port, reeling and weaving will no
doubt take place on the spot.
Antung hsien, with its associate, Shahotzu, are situated some
little distance above the mouth of the Yalu on the north bank of
that river, and have been prominently before the public lately in
connection with the military operations which took place in the
immediate n...”
|
|
| 2 |
 |
“...CHINA.
43
The consumption of wild tussah silk in Europe and America is wild silk,
steadily increasing, and the demand promises to be well maintained.
Exports from Shanghai exceeded those of the 1902-03 season by
6,500 bales, and prices rose some 25 per cent. No. 1 tussah native
reel, average price, 280 taels ; No. 1 Chefoo filature tussah, average
price, 395 taels. Chefoo exported to Japan direct 1,410 piculs, and
attention is called to what has been said above (vide pages 20, 21)
regarding the effect which the opening of Antung and Tatungkou
will have on this trade. At Chefoo there are three filatures worked
by steam, and 16 in which the reeling is done by hand, and the annual
production of the port may be put down at 8,250 piculs. Tsingtao
has started a silk reeling establishment at Tsangkou, which hopes to
get to work in the course of this year, and of which great things are
expected. It will have to depend for its supplies mainly on Man-
churian cocoons.
The exports of yellow silk,...”
|
|
| 3 |
 |
“...which capital was raised
for its construction, and the energy with which the work was carried
on, is in striking contrast with the dilatoriness displayed by others,
who obtained concessions about the same time and who have so far
not laid down a single rail.
Its earning capacity is already showing excellent results, both as
regards freight and passengers, and it is estimated that it will shortly
supply Wei hsien Choutsun and Chinan (provided rates are kept
lower than water transport rates from Chefoo), the three largest
trading centres in the province, with 1,500,000Z. worth of foreign
merchandise per annum. The Chinese Government, acting on sound
advice, have opened these three places to international commerce,
and, in the near future, the railway ought to absorb the whole trade
of Central and Northern Shantung. Southern Shantung still draws...”
|
|
| 4 |
 |
“...Yangtzu with Tientsin. Needless to say a
diversion of traffic of this kind will seriously affect Chefoo. although
in 1902, with the railway in full working order up to Wei hsien, the
net value of the trade of that port exceeded the figures of all previous
years, and was higher than that of 1901 by 290,000Z. The trade
carried on under Inland Water Navigation Rules along the shores of
the Gulf of Pechili is at present concentrated at Chefoo, but, with
Antung and Ta-tung-kou open as treaty ports, the struggle to retain
it will be a hard one, and, to protect vested interests, the building of
a railway to Chinan has been suggested. Natural difficulties and cost
of construction are, however, too great, and attention might well be
directed to improving means of competing with the railway by water.
Wheat, grown in the neighbourhood of Chinan, is conveyed by canal
to Yang-chio-kou, and from there to Chefoo by junk. Why should
not imports take the same route if they can be carried for less than
1*13d...”
|
|
