The International Development of ChinaSun, Yat-sen
History
The International Development of China
Sun, Yat-sen
China -- Economic conditions -- 1912-1949; Railroads -- China
I propose that a new port should be constructed at the lower part of
Nantai Island. For here land is cheap and there will be plenty of
room for modern improvement. A locked basin for shipping could be
constructed at the lower point of Nantai Island, just above Pagoda
Anchorage. The left branch of the Min River above Foochow City should
be blocked up so as to concentrate the current to flush the harbor at
the south side of Nantai. The blocked-up channel on the north side of
that island should be left to be reclaimed by natural process or may
be used as a tidal basin to flush the channel below Pagoda Anchorage,
if it is found necessary. The upper Min River must be improved as far
as possible for inland water traffic. Its lower reach from Pagoda
Anchorage to the sea must be trained and regulated to secure a through
channel of 30 feet or more to the open sea. Thus Foochow could also be
made a calling port for ocean liners that ply between the world ports.
d. Yamchow
Yamchow is situated at the head of Tongking Gulf in the extreme south
of the China Coast. This city is about 400 miles west of Canton--the
Great Southern Port. All the districts lying west of Yamchow will
find their way to the sea by this port 400 miles shorter than by
Canton. As sea transportation is commonly known to be twenty times
cheaper than rail transportation, the shortening of a distance of 400
miles to the sea means a great deal economically to the provinces of
Szechuan, Yunnan, Kweichow, and a part of Kwangsi. Although Nanning, an
inland water port, lying northwest of Yamchow, is much nearer to the
hinterland than Yamchow, yet it could not serve this hinterland as a
seaport. So all the direct import and export trade will find Yamchow
the cheapest shipping stage.
To improve Yamchow as a seaport the Lungmen River should be regulated
in order to secure a deep channel to the city, and the estuary should
be deepened by dredging and training to provide a good approach to
the port. This port has been selected as the terminus of the Chuchow
Yamchow Railway (Chu-Kin line) which will run from Hunan through
Kwangsi into Kwangtung. Although the hinterland of this port is
much larger than that of Foochow, yet I still rank it after that
city because the area commanded by it is also commanded by Canton,
the southern world port, and by Nanning, the river port, and so
all internal as well as indirect import and export trade must go
to the other two ports. It is only the direct foreign trade that
will use Yamchow. Thus, in spite of its extensive hinterland it is
very improbable that it could outmatch Foochow in the future as a
second-class port.
Besides the three great world ports, and the four second-class ports, I
propose to construct nine third-class ports along the China coast, from
north to south, as follows:
a. Hulutao.
b. Hoangho Port.
c. Chefoo.
d. Ningpo.
e. Wenchow.
f. Amoy.
g. Swatow.
h. Tienpak.
i. Hoihou.
a. Hulutao
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