Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-05
fDESCR|BES PER|LS
OF YANGTH RIVER
U. S. Trade Envoy Reports
Shipping Situation on
Chinese Waterway.
BY HAROLD ID. Robson,
Trade Commissioner of Tientsin, China
Department OF Commerce


The Yanetze River is one of the great
rivers Of the world. rising in North Gen.
trail Tibet and flowing into the ocean
near Shanghai. some 5000 miles from
its sources. The river and its tribu-
taries drain approximately 756. 600
square miles. From its mouth 1t Is
navigable 800 miles inland to Suifu
during eight months OF the year, but
Chungking, some 1900 miles west OF
Shanghai. is considered the head Of
navigation for steam and motor vessels
The currents of the river are strong
through the gcrges from Chungking 10
Ichang, averaging four to f1ve knots per
hour at low water and between hve and
six knots at high water.
The river is divided into three sec
tions--the lower river. from Shanghai
to Hankow: the middle river, from
Hankow to Ichang. and the upper river,
from Ichang to Chungking and from
Chngking to Suifu.
Navigabllity Is Limited.
ocean going deep-draft vessels may
safely navigate the lower river during
high water. July to September, and
may also proceed safely in the middle
river as far west as Cheng Lin XII.
Draft is unlimited from May to October
as far as Marking, where there Is "a
feet of water during low-water season.
There Is large decrease in depth be-
tween Marking and Hankow during
Winter months.
River steamers drawing 10 feet may
navigate the lower river at all seasons,
though during low water there are ire
quent groundings, especially between
Kiukiang and Hankow; they may nayi-
gate the middle river during most OF the
wear. but at extreme low water drafts
exceeding feet are not permissible.
Even then there are frequent strand
ings; though most ships are able to free
themselves, occasionally they remain
until the river rises During high-water
season, owing to the greater breadth OF
the lower and middle rivers and the abb
sence Of shore marks, steamers often
lose their course and strike banks or
gandbags. where sometimes they have
= to remain until the next high-water
season.
Course Is winding.
The meandering course of the river
causes channels to follow the out
side turn of the bends during Winter
low water, thus necessitating frequent
crossings from one side Of the river to
the other and greatly increasing the
danger of grounding. Careful pilotage
Is necessary at all times. At present
ali ships carry armed guards between
Hankow and .Ichang.
The dangers of upper-river naviga-
ton cannot be stressed too greatly. 1t
Is doubtful whether there are any more.
or even as many, perils TO be encoun-
tered In any other river or body OF
water in the world where steam and
motor vessels ply.
A huh insurance rate Of IA per cent
indicates underwriters appreciation of
the danger An idea Of operating ex-
penses can be obtained from the fact
that fixed overhead charges amount TO
80 per cent, Of which insurance consti-
taites IA per cent, depreciation 10 per
cent and interest per cent.
Navigation Hazardous.
Navigation is extremely hazardous In
the series of gorges of the upper river.
Strong currents. frequent rapids, narrow
channels, whirlpools, backwashes and
wrecked hulks of ships are listed among
the periIs to be safely passed. Further
more, IS the river bed is cut out OF solid
rock, there are many large boulders and
rock lodges to be cleared. Junks are
continuously In the course and must be
avoided. and all ships must slow down
to avoid sinking junks with their wash.
Rapids that are present during low
water disappear at high water and
others appear In other sections Of the
river. A low-water pilot knows the river
W
not familiar with low-water piiotage.
Except In gorges, where cliffs rise al
most vertically 1900 feet from the
waters edge. there are many places
where beachings can be effected in case
of necessity.
Going down the river. ships are run
ut full speed ahead in order to get the
maximum steerage power, but this nat
urally is attended with great hazards.
ships do not run at night in the upper
river and it Is necessary to reach q safe
5 anchorage each night. The distance
between Ichang and Chungking is COW
cred by upbound boats in about so
hours and downstream in rs hours.
4. Cargoes Limited.
At extreme low-water level draft Of
feet 8 inches would be too deep and
full cargo cannot be carried The most
successful ships operating on the upper
river have three rudderS and twin
screws, In order to obtain the greatest
steerage efficiency. steerage engine
As necessary. Until recently most ships
have had high-speed reciprocating en-
gines OF about $500 block horsepower.
Some are oil-fired and others burn coal.
4, During high water vessels OF the fol-
lowing specifications are most suitable
to operate on the upper river run:
Length. zoo feet minimum; beam, 80
maximum; draft, feet maximum;
speed, is knots per hour: registered
tonnage. $50 to 600 Specifications for
vessels suitable during low water are
as follows: Length, 1853 feet; beam. 29
feet; depth, feet inches: draft Z
feet inches speed. IS knots, and reg
1stered tonnage, 500.
Prices Of Coal Given
The price of coal per ton is about $50
Mexican lone Chiense Mexican dollar
Is equivalent TO approximately $02l97l.
and an average Of los tons is used for
round trip between Ichang and
Chungking. The price OF fuel oil
bunker b during January. 1881. was
&e2 Mexican per ton at Iehang and
el35 Mexican per ton at Chunking.
About so tons are consumed on a round
trip. 1t is necessary for coal burners TO
pick up coal at WanheTien on the up
river trip in order TO permit total cargo
space TO be utilized, though there Is
plenty OF good coal available at all
anehorages on the upper-river run
Recently fun Diesel ships have been
tried out successfully The consumption
of l ,400-block- horsepower motors for
round trip between Tchang and Chung
king Is about Fl tons Of oil between $40
Mexican and $50 Mexican a ton at
Shanghai.
Plans for upper-river vessels can be
secured from any Of the large dry-dock
yards in Shanghai. which are familiar
with the construction.
Pilots An Chinese.
Usually the upper river crafts carry
two senior pilots, two assistant pilots
and two quartermasters. Because of
the severe strain, watches are one hour