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“...No. 5035 Annual Series.
DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR REPORTS.
CHINA
COMMERCIAL CONDITIONS IN NORTH MANCHURIA
AND THE TRADE OE HARBIN.
Edited at the Foreign Office and the Board of Trade.
Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of His Majesty,
JANUARY, 1913.
LONDON:
PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE.
To be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from
WYMAN and SONS, Ltd., Fetter Lane, E.C., and 32, Abingdon Street, S.W.,
and 54, St. Maby Stbeet, Cardife ; or
H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE (Scottish Bbanoh), 23, Forth Street, Edinburgh; or
E. PONSONBY, Ltd., 116, G-baeton Stbeet, Dublin ;
or from the Agencies in the British Colonies and Dependencies,
the United States of America, the Continent of Europe and Abroad of
T. FISHER UNWIN, London, W.C.
REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1911
on the
PBINTED BY
HARRISON AND SONS, 45-47, ST. MARTIN'S LANE, W.O.,
PbINTEES IN OltDINABY TO His MAJESTY.
1913.
[Cd. 6005—208.]
Price Eightpence....”
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“...No. 5035.
Annual Series.
Report on the Commercial Conditions in North Manchuria and the
Trade of Harbin for the Year 1911
By Mr. Consul Willis.
The town of Harbin, which is the chief commercial centre in
Northern Manchuria, is situated on the south bank of the Sungari
River at the point where the main line of the Chinese Eastern Railway
crosses that river. A branch line of the railway runs from Harbin
southwards to Changchun, where it connects with the South Manchuria
railway system.
A plan of the town is annexed, from which it will be seen that
the so-called port of Harbin is composed of several disjointed parts,
the largest of which are the Novi Gorod or New Town, the official
and residential quarter; Pristan, the commercial centre ; Old Harbin,
Alexeivka and Gospitalni Gorodok or Hospital Town. Adjacent to
the Pristan, lying along the right bank of the river, there is also the
Chinese town of Fu Chia Tien.
The two most important sections are the New Town and the
Pristan, the combined...”
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“...4
NORTH MANCHURIA.
administration of the Chinese Eastern Railway. Municipal regula-
tions have been published, but have not yet been recognised by various
foreign Governments, including His Majesty's Government, as binding
upon their nationals. Consequently such nationals, who, of course,
are still under the jurisdiction of their own authorities, do not con-
tribute to the municipal taxation ; on the other, hand, as the railway
company refuses to lease land except under the condition of un-
qualified assent to all municipal regulations, such assent to be counter-
signed by the Consular authority of the national concerned, foreigners
whose Government have not recognised the municipal regulations
are debarred from holding land.
The following table shows the revenue and expenditure of the
municipality during 1910-11, together with an estimate for 1912 :—
Revenue and Expenditure of the Municipality of Harbin during
the Year 1911 compared with 1910 and the Estimate for 1912.
Revenue.
...”
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“...NORTH MANCHURIA
The population of the Harbin railway area is approximately as
follows :—
There are also 25,000 Chinese resident in the native town of Fu
Chia Tien.
There are further about 25,000 Russians residing in various settle-
ments along the Chinese Eastern Railway, princpially at Manchuria,
7,500 ; Hailar, 4,000 ; Buhedu, 2,000 ; Tsitsikar, 1,000 ; Handao-
hedzi, 2,000 ; and Pogranitchnaya, 1,000.
The frontier guards, approximately 25,000 in number, are not
reckoned in the above estimate.
During the Russo-Japanese war Harbin served as a base for the
Russian army, and its importance as a commercial and distributing
centre dates from this period. After the war a time of depression
set in, largely due to over-speculation, and during 1907-08 the most
pessimistic views as to its commercial future were prevalent. In
1909 the tide commenced to turn, and the total trade across the Russian
frontiers, which in 1908 only amounted to 15,800,000 Haikuan taels,
has grown in 1911 to a value...”
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“...6
NORTH MANCHURIA
but in all probability only after a long period of years, render it
independent of Manchurian import. Still the timber and mining
resources of the Harbin district have as yet barely been touched,
and there are enormous possibilities of further agricultural develop-
ment, more especially if the Chinese can be induced to employ modern
methods, the success of which they can see for themselves on the
Russian bank of the Amur. The sales of American machinery, for
example, at Blagovestchensk exceed in value 100,000?. annually,
whereas sales in Manchuria are as yet practically nil.
Consequently I am inclined to prophecy a still brighter future
for Harbin. Its situation on the railway is within comparatively
easy land communication with large grain producing districts as
yet but sparsely populated and far from fully cultivated. It is on
the banks of a river navigable for large, though only shallow draught
steamers, for six months in the year, during which it is in communica-...”
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“...consideration, the total value
of the trade of North Manchuria works out as follows:—•
£
Net foreign imports 2,009,664
„ native imports 282,240
Exports 3,988,443
Imports from south (railway figures) ... 600,000
Exports to south (railway figures) 350,000
Proportion of goods landed at Chang-
chun distributed in Harbin district
(estimate) 950,000
Further goods exported vi,1 Changchun
(estimate) 400,000
Total 8,580,347
Note.—Above figures from Harbin customs.
Imports. Cotton piece-goods.—The value of the total import shown
in the customs figures is roughly 150,000Z., of which a value of 80,0001.
was imported via Manchuria Station, and would consist of Russian
or Continental fabrics, the remaining 70,0001, imported via Vladi-
vostok and Pogranitchnaya would be mainly of Japanese origin.
In addition, the South Manchuria Railway statistics show that a
value of about 100,000Z. of through shipments were delivered by
the South Manchuria Railway to the Chinese Eastern Railway at
Changchun,...”
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“...8
NORTH MANCHURIA
Sugar.—The import shown by the customs figures is 3,285 tons,
but the total consumption in the district must be at leasfr twice the
amount. The following figures show the sales at Harbin (the Chinese
town at Fu Chia Tien) during 1910-11 :—
There is a beet factory established at Asiho, about 25 miles east
of Harbin, which has a capacity of about 7,000 tons ; the total amount
produced in 1911, however, was only 2,200 tons. The Chinese farmers
are supplied with seeds free and are paid about 8s. 6d. per acre for
labour. The beets are purchased at roughly 9s. per ton. It is
estimated that 13,500 acres will be planted in 1912. Recently the
Chinese Eastern Railway and South Manchuria Railway have come
to an arrangement by which more favourable through rates than
before are given to sugar exported from Harbin to points on
the South Manchuria Railway south of Changchun, and there is
evidently an intention to push the sale of this commodity in South
Manchuria.
Cigarettes.—At...”
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“...NORTH MANCHURIA
9
driven from the market. The principal buying centres for wheat
are Hulan, Pinchou, Peilintze, Shuangchengpu, Bodune, Bayansusu
and Hsintien, whilst the most important markets for the flour
are Harbin, the railway stations on the Chinese Eastern Rail-
way, Blagovestchensk, Habarovsk, Iman and other points in the free
zone.
The following table, for which I am indebted to the courtesy of
my American colleague, Mr. L. Maynard, shows the principal com-
panies engaged in milling at Harbin, with the capacity in tons per
24 hours, the amount of wheat consumed in 1911 and the resulting
output of flour :—•
Ha.rbin Flour Milling Companies.
[Capacity, Amount Esti- mated Output of Flour.
Tons of of Wheat
Name of Company. Location. Wheat per 24 Hours. Con- sumed, 1911.
Tons* Tons.* Tons/*
Russian Milling Co., Ltd. Harbin Mill No. 1 ... 110 27,000 18,360
j) JJ 2 ... 150 23,400 15,912
,, ,, 3+ ... 100
)j tj 4 ... 65 3,600 2,448
Shuangclienpu No. 1+ 45
» 2+ 65
...”
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“...10
NORTH MANCHURIA
About 600,000 gallons are distributed along the Chinese Eastern
Railway stations and 670,000 gallons are sent either to the Amur
province or to small places on the Chinese side of the Amur.
Other local industries include brickworks, candle manufactories
(four), glassworks, oil mills, saw mills (ten) and soap manufactories.
A complete list of manufacturers in North Manchuria employing
machinery, and also a list of the principal commercial enterprises
established in Harbin, was forwarded to the Board of Trade in July
last.
Chinese Eastern Railway.—The Chinese Eastern Railway is the
most important trade artery in North Manchuria, and the develop-
ment of the district is mainly due to the construction of this line.
The distance from Manchuria, the western frontier station to Pogranit-
chnaya, where the line connects with the Ussuri Railway, is 1,388
versts (925 miles); the length of the southern section from
Harbin to Changchun is 148 miles ; from Harbin to Vladivostok...”
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“...NORTH MANCHURIA;
11
Revenue of the Chinese Eastern Railway during the Year 1911—
continued.
Revenue.
Tons. £
Freight, fast and slow...... 1,215,202 1,283,757
Baggage............ 2,909 12,210
Military freight......... 59,781 42,169
Eailway freight......... 1,094,127 128,794
Express freight......... 372 2,894
Mails ... .......... ... 2,270
Emigrants' freight ...... 451 475
Additional transport charges ... ... 70,247
Other charges ......... ... 65,669
„ revenue ......... ... 8,849
Total ... ... 2,372,842 1,617,334
Grand total revenue ... ... 1,972,944
The estimated revenue for 1912 is as follows :— "
£
Passenger traffic ... ... 367,449
Baggage, parcels and fast freight 40,000
Slow freight ..................1,122,450
Additional charges ............51,020
Other revenue..................151,225
Total 1,732,144
Banking.—Up to the end of 1911 almost all the foreign exchange
banking was in the hands of the Russo-Asiatic Bank ; two other
Russian banks, the First and Second...”
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“...12
NORTH MANCHURIA
The following table shows the number and tonnage of vessels
entered and cleared at the maritime customs at Harbin, 1909-11:—
Entered.
Year. Steam. j Sailing. i Total.
Vessels. Tonnage. Vessels. Tonnage. Vessels. Tonnage.
1909* ......... 1910 ......... 1911 ......... 204 293 258 102,912 149,872 117,047 1,831 2,541 2,951 18,310 50,067 56,519 2,035 2,834 3,209 121,222 199,939 173,566
* Six months ended December 31.
Cleared.
Year. Steam. Sailing. i Total.
Vessels. Tonnage. Vessels. Tonnage, j Vessels. i Tonnage. 103,374 193,543 182,816
1909+ ... ...! 176 1910 ... ...! 290 1911 ... ...j 266 i 85,444 144,893 126,786 1,793 2,454 2,914 17,930 ! 1,969 48,650 , 2,744 56,030 : 3,180 i
+ Six months ended December 31.
These vessels are practically all Russian owned, there being at
present only two steamers on the river flying the Chinese flag.
The principal town on the river is Sansing, which has an estimated
population of 12,000 and is a great fur market...”
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“...north manchuria.
13
from their work in Russian territory. There is at present little real
trade, the principal item in the customs returns being cattle from
Mongolia, which pass through on their way to the Blagovestchensk
market. Blagovestchensk, which is a mining and agricultural centre,
has already a population of over 60,000, and with the completion
of the Amur Railway it will doubtless increase in importance. The
Amur River is joined at this point by the Zeia River.
A map of North Manchuria is annexed.
In concluding this report I would express my thanks to Mr. W. C.
Haines Watson for his courtesy in granting me access to the customs
returns, and also to my American colleague Mr. Lester Maynard, to
whom I am indebted for much valuable information....”
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“...Value of the Net Imports of Foreign Goods from Foreign Countries into the Harbin Consular District through the Harbin,
Monchouli, Suifenho, Aigun and Sansing Custom-houses, with a Total showing the 1911 Imports into North Manchuria
compared with the Total Imports of 1910.
Articles. Harbin. Manchouli. Suifenho. Aigun. Sansing. To 1911. tal. 1910.
Animals, live— £ £ ~........r' £ £ £ £
Cattle ...... ... ' 16 5,819 141 5,976
Horses ...: 337 6,223 3,517 10,077
Other ...... ...: 1 395 80 476 ...
Anti-friction metals... ... 9,887
Asbestos 173 909 1,082 1,818
Bags of all kinds ... j ... 177 44,983 1,454 46,614 38,932
Belting, machine ! 900 370 1,270 2,014
Books and charts 8,742 3,853 12,595 5,685
Boots and shoes—
Leather, &c. 55,096 6,832 61,928 61,209
Rubber ... | 5,673
Brass and yellow metal 612 612 6,031
Bread-stuffs— !
Rico... ..J 8,942 8,942 14,399
Flour ...j 2,816 2,816 40,905
Other ...... ... | 1,430 1,430
Building materials, &c...”
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“...931,399 245,381
42,323* 1,166,988 838,137 . i 35,260* 4,539 1,932,081 77,583 1,686,018 65,983
! i 2,009,664 1,752,001
* Excess of re-exports over imports (minus quantities). Note.—Sterling values converted from customs figures at 1 Haikuan tael = 2s. 8^>ed. • Quantity of the Net Imports of Foreign Goods from Foreign Countries into the Harbin Consular District through the Harbin, Manchouli, Suifenho, Aigun and Sansing Custom-houses, with a Total showing the 1911 Imports into North Manchuria compared with the Total Imports of 1910.
Articles. Harbin. Manchouli. Suifenho. Aigun. Sansing. Total.
1911. 1910.
Animals, live— Cattle ...... Number Horses ... ... „ Other ...... „ Anti-friction metals... ...Cwts. Bags of all kinds ... Number 3 18 1 1,440 1,540 9,774 27,924 35 300 643 2,848^94 106jl85 1,478 1,858 10,418 2,982,883 " 1,229 2,383,854...”
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“...Value of the Exports of Native Goods to Foreign Countries from the Harbin Consular District through the Harbin,
Manchouli, Suifenho, Aigun and Sansing Custom-houses, with a Total showing the 1911 Exports from North Manchuria
compared with the Total Exports of 1910.
Total.
Articles. Harbin. Manchouli. Suifenho. Aigun. Sansing.
1911. 1910.
Animals, live— £ £ £ £ £ £ £
Cattle, sheep, goats and pigs 38,133 384 20,681 96,153 30 155,381 131,185
Horses, mules, &c. Poultry 3,717 121 396 2,052 16 6,302 10,277
170 234 1,774 1,433 356 3,967 17,516
Bean cake 1,384 67 23,975 18 25,444 29,859
Beans ... 15,304 612 1,813,585 233 1,829,734 806,367
Bread-stuffs—
Bran 9,481 346 16,539 ... 26,366 15,626
Flour ......... 228,511 26,990 70,352 ... 325,853 463,158
Grain of all kinds... 75,633 83,579 371,499 1,276 191,599 723,586 611,412
Vermicelli and macaroni... 9,357 147 10 9 9,523 9,335
China and earthenware 1,670 1,670 2,277
Clothincr, all kinds ... ...... 59,714 99 . , ,...”
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“...o
00
Quantity of the Exports of Native Goods to Foreign Countries from the Harbin Consular District through the Harbin,
Manchouli, Suifenho, Aigun and Sansing Custom-houses, with a Total showing the 1911 Exports from North Manchuria
compared with the Total Exports of 1910.
Total.
Articles. Harbin. 1 i Manchouli. Suifenho. Aigun. Sansing. — - -
i 1911. 1910.
Animals, live—
Cattle, sheep, goats and pigs Number 9,071 193 20,829 27,218 7 57,318 63,610
Horses, mules, &c. JJ 670 23 209 381 1 1,284 2,366
Poultry ......... » 5,993 9,123 68,433 35,489 10,130 129,168 574,087
Bean cake ... Tons 510 15 13,760 8 14,293 11,186
Beans ... ... jj 4,669 90 348,460 107 353,326 268,333
Bread-stuffs—
Bran ... ,, 4,596 153 8,126 , . . 12,875 9,307
Flour ......... ... j j 28,051 2,385 8,096 38,532 52,292
Grain of all kinds...... • . . 21,641 15,763 71,277 226 54,896 163,803 175,161
Vermicelli and macaroni... ...Cwts. 11,814 162 14 11 12,001 12,143
China and earthenware...”
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