@Steven_Z: 在南京长江大桥建成之前，武汉表面上是内陆，其实等同于沿海，英国的一级战列舰光荣号停过汉口港，还有航母，重巡洋舰等。

看到华师一要到光谷开分校，72个班，如果是初高中一起是6级，一级12个班，扩招太多会砸牌子的。中国大学的文凭我现在都不太信了，2000年后扩招太厉害了。

天津已经成为北京的制造业工业区了，雄安是高新区，类似光谷。所以北上武不过是1949-1985的京津沪汉的现代版而已。还没到历史的最高潮呢。后面两步困难最大。不过，对普通老百姓来说，足够生活了。

广州有一点比北上深做的好很多，就是房价控制得好，一直不太高。北上深都因为高房价基本废了，武汉现在还没一鸣惊人，就想靠高房价割韭菜，会死的很惨。可以第3套房每年收20%的房产税。
另外，金融也要防止投机，银行帮忙融资投钱给创新企业就好，别的过头了，会被掏空的。

@biubiubiu1 ：所以要改写历史教科书啊。看看那位在台湾教书的犹太女郭教授的书吧。

盘龙城比汉口更牛，很可能是夏朝大禹的都城，一旦证实，以后整个中国历史的教科书都会因此而改写。

@whsh ：见笑了，纽约，华盛顿，芝加哥，la，sf都去过多少次了。关心一下故乡而已。呵呵。

@jingzl ：其实你这样的态度最好。能东湖跑步，能书店看书，世界上这样的机会并不多。

@SSDLH2009 ：多看看英文历史书吧，中文已经被江浙文人洗脑了，你看不到历史的真像的。

@yoyou 好看有毛用，武汉的地理位置它们抢不走。

@Hankow ：叫武汉市政府把我提到的英文资料收集翻译发表吧。原文在google books可以下载全本扫描电子书。中文媒体世界根本不提武汉在1910年前的中国第一城的地位，复旦大学一些教授发表的历史论文和书籍都是选择性用数据cherry picking，打压武汉抬高上海。还是英文资料客观靠谱得多。张之洞时代的武汉太牛了，是中国的榜样城市，各方面的，比上海最鼎盛的1927-1937还厉害，因为张之洞的武汉除了有轻工业，还有重工业，除了是商贸中心，还是军事，教育，政治，文化中心。

历史还是要重温的，历史的轮回重复太多了。

武汉在1910年前有过近两百年的中国第一城的风光，1911-1949年第二第三的样子，1949-1985年第4第5的地位。武汉地位从辛亥革命后一直下滑，但1985年后最惨。现在慢慢回升而已。这板上外地人太多了。觉得武汉不好就走吧，没必要在这发牢骚又不走，我朋友同学在深圳广州工作的一大堆。

@JimZHU : 江汉路我比你熟，呵呵。

中国皇家海关报告1909年卷，第17页起。

净出口和净进口是表示本地港口贸易量的真实指标，不包括转口贸易。因为上海是总海
关，所以中国其他港口进出口船只都要到上海登记，不代表真实的上海港的贸易量。

上海港1905-1909年的净出口和净进口总额表格：

1905年
本地出口：72百万香港海关两
外国进口：92百万香港海关两
本国进口：13百万香港海关两
总进出口：177百万香港海关两

1906年
本地出口：79百万香港海关两
外国进口：75百万香港海关两
本国进口：15百万香港海关两
总进出口：169百万香港海关两

1907年
本地出口：74百万香港海关两
外国进口：46百万香港海关两
本国进口：17百万香港海关两
总进出口：137百万香港海关两

1908年
本地出口：78百万香港海关两
外国进口：35百万香港海关两
本国进口：25百万香港海关两
总进出口：138百万香港海关两

1909年
本地出口：93百万香港海关两
外国进口：47百万香港海关两
本国进口：22百万香港海关两
总进出口：161百万香港海关两

中国皇家海关报告1909年卷，第13页起。

净出口和净进口是表示本地港口贸易量的真实指标，不包括转口贸易。因为上海是总海
关，所以中国其他港口进出口船只都要到上海登记，不代表真实的上海港的贸易量。

天津港1907-1909年的净出口和净进口总额表格：

1907年
本地出口：17百万香港海关两
外国进口：61百万香港海关两
本国进口：18百万香港海关两
总进出口：97百万香港海关两

1908年
本地出口：19百万香港海关两
外国进口：36百万香港海关两
本国进口：25百万香港海关两
总进出口：80百万香港海关两

1909年
本地出口：28百万香港海关两
外国进口：44百万香港海关两
本国进口：27百万香港海关两
总进出口：99百万香港海关两

可以看出，天津港进口远远大于出口，可能是满清皇家对欧美产品需求大。

汉口港1907-1909年的净出口和净进口总额表格：

1907年
本地出口：60百万香港海关两
外国进口：45百万香港海关两
本国进口：10百万香港海关两
总进出口：115百万香港海关两

1908年
本地出口：68百万香港海关两
外国进口：42百万香港海关两
本国进口：11百万香港海关两
总进出口：120百万香港海关两

1909年
本地出口：72百万香港海关两
外国进口：38百万香港海关两
本国进口：16百万香港海关两
总进出口：125百万香港海关两

可以看出，汉口港进口略小于出口。

中国皇家海关报告1909年卷，第15页起。

净出口和净进口是表示本地港口贸易量的真实指标，不包括转口贸易。因为上海是总海
关，所以中国其他港口进出口船只都要到上海登记，不代表真实的上海港的贸易量。

广州港1907-1909年的净出口和净进口总额表格：

1907年
本地出口：55百万香港海关两
外国进口：30百万香港海关两
本国进口：19百万香港海关两
总进出口：104百万香港海关两

1908年
本地出口：48百万香港海关两
外国进口：30百万香港海关两
本国进口：26百万香港海关两
总进出口：104百万香港海关两

1909年
本地出口：49百万香港海关两
外国进口：28百万香港海关两
本国进口：30百万香港海关两
总进出口：107百万香港海关两

可以看出，广州港进口略大于出口，可能是鸦片需求大，香港广东垄断鸦片进口100年。

九龙港1907-1909年的净出口和净进口总额表格：

1907年
本地出口：16百万香港海关两
外国进口：30百万香港海关两
本国进口：8百万香港海关两
总进出口：55百万香港海关两

1908年
本地出口：16百万香港海关两
外国进口：31百万香港海关两
本国进口：7百万香港海关两
总进出口：54百万香港海关两

1909年
本地出口：15百万香港海关两
外国进口：27百万香港海关两
本国进口：7百万香港海关两
总进出口：50百万香港海关两

可以看出，九龙港进口远远大于出口。

广州+九龙总量：
1907年
总进出口：159百万香港海关两

1908年
总进出口：158百万香港海关两

1909年
总进出口：157百万香港海关两

中国皇家海关报告1909年卷，第12-18页。

1907-1909年中国港口进出口总额排名（单位：百万香港海关两）：

1907年
1.上海 137, 100%
2.汉口 115, 84%
3.广州 104, 76%
4.天津 97, 71%
5.九龙 55, 40%

1908年
1.上海 138, 100%
2.汉口 120, 87%
3.广州 104, 75%
4.天津 80, 58%
5.九龙 54, 39%

1909年
1.上海 161, 100%
2.汉口 125, 76%
3.广州 107, 66%
4.天津 99, 62%
5.九龙 50, 31%

以上海港100%算，汉口港是上海港的75-90%，广州港是上海港的65-75%，天津港是上海
港的60-70%。

如果考虑广州和九龙在一起，排名：
1.广州+九龙
2.上海
3.汉口
4.天津

1985年前广州就没有工业，深圳就是农村，当时给政策就是看香港近，但香港不是中国发展起来的，是英国的地盘，就像1911-1942的上海租界一样。所以当时的珠三角没啥东西。上海是中国的轻工业中心，武汉是重工业中心，东北是老中心。就这结构布局。一切都是老邓的沿海倾斜政策造成的，就是免税，然后国家投钱，这种政策下还不飞就该自杀了。
武汉现在开始有这种政策了，所以以后发展20-30年内会飞快。30年后就不知道发改委的重点又变到哪儿去了。可能东北吧。

@bbsky：我没有拿武汉和香港比，现在就是上海也不能和香港比。为啥？香港还是国际上认可的英联邦的一部分，还可以互换签证，就这一条，北上广深都矮一大截，更别提发展中的武汉了。我说的是现在的香港没法和1997年前的香港比了，根本比不了。我的同事有一些老香港人澳门人都是这样认为的，和过去比，香港快死了。

这板上土生土长的武汉人可能比较少，外地的来武汉读书的对武汉历史不了解，只是从现在的状况看，这样是看不清楚未来的。
光谷以后是啥前途？5000万武汉城市圈的中心。所以光谷会一直堵下去，因为城规委没那眼光。
举个例子，5000万武汉城市圈的人过年都想来光谷买年货，光谷有这个交通能力和购物环境？
历史的眼光不是那么容易培养起来的，慢慢来吧。外地的，珍惜吧，以后就知道你们的幸运了。
p.s.：我认为武汉要发展就要包容，所以我对外地人没有任何贬义歧视。但是，一个城市土生土长的对这个城市的了解不是外地来读书4年就能了解到。经常去看看汉口的老租界吧，中山大道江汉路沿江大道，别陷在关山一带。想想为啥英国人看上了武汉，为啥1910年前单单汉口一镇就可以和广州天津上海北京抗衡。

@Super_IP ：10年肯定没法对抗珠三角长三角，但长远看还是有可能的，历史永远在循环。饭一口口吃，步一步步走。武汉最大的不可取代的优势是中国发达地区的地理中心，随之而来的交通优势是无敌的。清朝苏州最鼎盛的时候拼不过武汉，因为苏州是两江的口岸，武汉是九省（当时湖北加湖南算一个湖广省）的口岸：两湖两广陕西河南江西云贵川。九省通衢不是随便叫的。

@bbsky：1997年左右，香港真正有实力的资本和人才都跑欧美去了，看看李嘉诚就知道了。现在的香港是国内大佬洗钱和办欧美签证的跳板，没多少香港本地精英人才了。这次美国如果因为华为事件开查香港护照，香港以后就彻底完蛋了。

了解了武汉的历史，就知道了武汉的潜力了。有好政策，就会有很多资金进来，人才也跟着高薪工作来了。中国发改委的权力大过普通人的想象。
前面40年国家政府收武汉的税85%，而广东和上苏杭基本免税，加上从武汉东北收的税投进去基建，才有现在这种结果，不是他们自己的本事。
武汉如果有这种政策，一样会有惊人的表现，看看欧美1910年前对武汉的评价吧：潜力无穷。为啥垮了？辛亥革命。

1910年的武汉以一城之力对抗珠三角，长三角，京津冀。当时的武汉就这么牛！

中国皇家海关报告1909年卷，第40页。
当时中国各大城市省区人口估计。

1910年，中国特大城市排名（超过50万人口）：
单位：万人

1.武汉（115）=汉口（82）+武昌（25）+汉阳（8）
2.广州（90）
3.汉口（82）
4.天津（80）
5.北京（70）
6.上海（65）
7.福州（62）
8.重庆（59）

数据来源：

1. 中国皇家海关报告1909年卷，第40页。
   china
   imperial maritime customs
   returns of trade
   trade report
   1909
   part 1
   page 40

2. Journal of the American Asiatic Association, 1914 december page 335-

1910年辛亥革命前的汉口：中国的工商之都

Journal of the American Asiatic Association, 1915 january

THE RECONSTRUCTION OF HANKOW
China's Commercial And Industrial Capital.
From The Far Eastern Review.

Ever since the fateful fire which destroyed the Chinese city of Hankow
during the Revolution of 1911-12 it has been generally known that the
Chinese Government has been desirous of rebuilding the city upon modern
lines and making other improvements in the vicinity compatible with the
importance of such a flourishing commercial and industrial center. It was,
therefore, not surprising when it became known that an agreement had been
signed between the Central Government and Messrs. Samuel and Company, of
London, on September 17th, for a loan for this purpose. The agreement
provides that the loan, which is to be known as "The Hankow Improvement Loan
," shall be for ￡1o,ooo,ooo at five per cent, interest, and shall be issued
in one or more series at a rate to be determined upon by the parties after
the conclusion of hostilities in Europe.
The object of the loan is to develop and improve the city of Hankow, and, in
particular, to purchase and reclaim the necessary land for new roads and to
construct roads; to construct a bridge or tunnel to connect the north bank
of the Yangtze River with Wuchang; to construct a bridge, or bridges, to
connect the cities of Hankow and Hanyang; to provide a tramway system; to
construct a canal with the necessary bridges at the back of Hankow city
between the Han and Yangtze rivers; to build wharves; to provide funds for
the purchase by the Government of the existing Electric Light and Waterworks
Company's undertakings at Hankow; to provide such further improvements as
may be found necessary to improve the city of Hankow, in accordance with
modern practice (e. g., the construction of embankments, drainage schemes,
etc.); to provide funds for the establishment and maintenance of the Hankow
Improvement Bureau to be established by the Government for the
administration of the Hankow Improvement Scheme, and for the purchase of all
necessary equipment required by the same, also to provide for the
establishment and maintenance of the necessary police force re
quired owing to the extension of the city; and to furnish an adequate margin
of funds to insure the maintenance of interest payments, pending the
completion of the works.
The loan is to be guaranteed by the Central Government and in addition is to
be secured by a first mortgage on the property purchased and created with
the proceeds of the loan funds, and the revenues of undertakings initiated
under the scheme. The period of the loan is to be fortyfive years; the
interest to be paid half-yearly. The Government will guarantee that the loan
shall be free from all present and future Chinese taxes and imposts.
In order to insure judicious expenditure of the funds devoted to the
purchase of land the Government and Messrs. Samuel and Company, Limited,
will by mutual agreement appoint a commission under the presidency of the
High Commissioner, and composed of two Chinese and two foreign members, to
undertake the work, no purchases to be effected without the approval of a
majority of the Commission.
The engineering work will be supervised by an engineer who shall be an
acknowledged expert in town planning, his appointment to be made by the
Government with the approval of Messrs. Samuel and Co., Ltd. He will act as
engineer-in-chief to the Hankow Improvement Bureau, and will make plans,
estimates, and specifications; and generally advise the Bureau regarding the
most suitable and economical methods of carrying out the work of
remodelling the city of Hankow, building bridges, reclaiming land,
installing a tramway system, etc.
The agreement provides that in the purchase of materials Chinese materials
shall, where possible, be specified, and, when materials of foreign
manufacture are purchased British materials shall have the preference with
due regard to quality and price.
How important it is that the Central Government should take advantage of the
destruction wrought by the Revolu
tion to make of Hankow an up-to-date and efficiently equipped city can be
gauged by a study of its location in relation to the rest of China and of
the natural resources which are within reach for great industrial
development. A glance at a map of China will show that it is placed in an
extraordinarily favorable situation to command the trade of a vast portion
of the Chinese Republic. It is situated on the great Yangtze River roughly
at an equal distance from the north and south, and forms, or will form, the
point of junction of the Peking-Hankow and Canton-Hankow railways and will
be the point of radiation of other lines running into the province of
Szechuan, and eastwards to the sea.
On the opposite side of the Yangtze River is the Chinese city of Wuchang,
famous as the starting point of the Revolution which resulted in the
overthrow of the Manchus and the inauguration of the Republic, and on the
opposite side of the Han River, which flows into the Yangtze River at this
point, is the city of Hanyang, where is situated the Arsenal and Iron
Foundry.
On the down-river side of Hankow native city, the one to be rebuilt, are the
foreign concessions. They stretch along the left bank of the Yangtze and
give an air of solid prosperity to the locality.
Wuchang is actually the capital of the province, and is a walled and
fortified city with a population estimated at about 25o,ooo. Though not
officially opened to foreign trade, its very propinquity to the open port of
Hankow is bringing it into more intimate relations with foreign trade. It
is the site, too, of some of the recent industrial undertakings of the
Chinese, among which are the Wuchang woolen mill, the cotton mill, and
Diederichsen's albumen factory.
Wuchang is situated at the narrowest point of the Yangtze River, the stream
being narrowed between two opposite heights, with Snake Hill on the Wuchang
side and Tortoise Hill on the Hanyang side. The current of the river is
restricted between these two low bluffs to a breadth of 3,ooo feet, and it
is at this point that it is proposed to bridge the stream and by this means
to bring the railways to the north and south into direct connection and thus
to form an easy means of communication for the thousands of passengers who
daily pass to and fro between the cities on the north and south banks of the
river.
Slightly northeast of Wuchang, in the obtuse angle formed by the junction of
the Yangtze and Han rivers is situated the port or "mart" of Hankow. The
Chinese city is at the actual junction of the two rivers. Adjoining the
Chinese city on the east we have the British, French, German and Japanese
settlements, each facing the Yangtze River front, which is bunded for a
distance of some three and a half miles.
Immediately opposite Wuchang, and in the acute angle formed by the junction
of the Han River and the Yangtze, is situated the city of Hanyang, which
takes its name from the two rivers. Its population may be estimated at
approximately 7o,ooo, and it owes its existence as a city to the location in
this place of the Hanyang Iron Works, founded by the late Chang Chih-tung.
These iron works obtain their ore from the Tayeh mines, seven and a half
miles south of the Yangtze, at a point seventy miles below Hankow, while
coal comes from the Pinghsiang collieries in the province of Kiangsi, the
three industries being combined in one joint stock company, the Hanyehping
Coal and Iron Company. The company's exports abroad in 19o9 amounted to 37,
6oo tons and in 191o to 63,7oo tons. New machinery was installed to bring
the output to 8oo to 0oo tons per day. The iron works have supplied many of
the railways in China with rails, etc. The employees number some forty
Europeans and several thousand Chinese. In Hanyang there is also situated
the Government Arsenal, where various types of arms are manufactured.
For all practical purposes Hanyang may be considered
as forming merely a suburb of Hankow. The construction of a fixed bridge
across the Han River will probably not be practicable, owing to the sudden
and great changes in the height of the water level. It is therefore proposed
to facilitate the communication between the two cities of Hanyang and
Hankow by means of a transporter. When this is completed the three cities
will practically be welded in one.
Even before the revolution it had long been apparent to the Chinese
Government that the condition of the city of Hankow was unworthy of the
premier industrial and trading center of China, and still more so of the
future development of Hankow as the strategic center of the Chinese system
of railways and waterways. The Han River was. and is, always choked by the
enormous numbers of native craft plying upon it. Excepting for the wharves
of the China Merchants Navigation Company, and those of Messrs. Butterfield
and Swire, there are no facilities for loading and unloading goods from
steamers in the native city, the only accommodation provided in this respect
being situated in the foreign settlements. The Chinese city of Hankow, with
its swarming population, was restricted to a very small area, with narrow,
dirty and insanitary streets. No proper provision for intercommunication
existed between the three cities whose aggregate population was at least 1,
4oo,ooo. No proper scheme existed for the extension of the city which must
follow on the further opening up of China by railways, and the further
increase in its foreign trade.
In 1911 the three cities formed the center of the fighting between the
Imperialists and the Revolutionists. The actual signal for the premature
outbreak of the Revolution was given by the explosion of a bomb which
occurred in a . bouse in the Russian Settlement at Hankow. This led to the
discovery of the plans of the Revolutionists, who, seeing their plans
exposed and having a large part of the garrison 1 of Wuchang on their side,
struck. In the fighting which ensued Hankow and Hanyang were taken and
retaken by Imperialists and Revolutionists, while Wuchang remained in the
hands of the Revolutionists throughout. Foreign settlements were respected
by the belligerents and suffered > no other damage than may have been done
by a stray shell. On the final capture of the native city of Hankow by the
Imperialists and before peace could put a stop to hostilities the city was
burned to the ground, and upon its ashes the ultimately established
Republican Government decided to build a city upon modern lines. However,
their good intentions were frustrated owing to financial stringency and the
Chinese began to rebuild of their own accord upon lines almost similar to
the old conditions, though the roads have been considerably widened by the
authorities refusing to issue building licenses except upon the
understanding that buildings were to be set back three feet from their
former site. Now that the Government has entered into an agreement with
Messrs. Samuel and Company, Limited, steps will be taken, when the time
arrives, to put into effect many improvements so that the city may take the
place it ought to occupy as the leading commercial and industrial center in
China.
Trade to Hankow from the south now chiefly finds its way by various
waterways to the Yangtze, but this trade will be greatly facilitated and
augmented by the completion of the Canton-Hankow Railway now in course of
construction. A further link will be forged with Western China by the
completion in the next few years of the railway to Szechuan, a joint British
, French, German and American enterprise, while further feeders such as the
Shasi-Shingyi line are already contracted for or contemplated. The
construction of the Sinyangchow-Pukow Railway, being built with British
capital, and other lines will also contribute to the growing trade of the
city.
Disregarding for the moment the construction of these new methods of
transportation which will facilitate the movement of goods and people along
the already defined lines of travel in China, it will be seen that Hankow
commands the trade of the whole of central China moving along the waterways
which form the main arteries of traffic. Thus it receives the whole of the
river-borne trade from the provinces of Hupch and Szechuan, which reaches
Hankow along the Yangtze and its trihutaries, and taps a region with a
population of 78,11o,ooo for Szechuan, and 34.ooo,ooo for Hupeh. The river
Han, from which Hankow, meaning "Han mouth," takes its name, brings to it
the trade from northern Hupch, Honan (with an estimated population of 22,1oo
,ooo), and southern Shensi. The Tungting Lake and its feeders contribute the
trade from the south of the province of Hupeh, the province of Hunan (with
an estimated population of 22,ooo,ooo), and part of the province of Kweichow
. While Hankow is thus favorably situated for steamer traffic from the west
of China, and from Hankow itself to the eastern provinces, it must be borne
in mind that the city is the highest point on the Yangtze to which ocean-
going vessels of light draught can ascend at all times of the year, while
during a very large portion of the year it is accessible to ocean-going
steamers of the deepest draught. During the months of April to October, when
the Yangtze is high, ocean-going steamers of 15,ooo tons burden may be seen
lying alongside the wharves of Hankow, 6oo miles or more from the sea,
while on one occasion the British first-class battleship Glory anchored off
the bund.
Reliable statistics as to the population of Hankow, Hanyang and Wuchang, of
which it forms a portion, are not forthcoming. In Captain Blackiston's
account of Hankow in his survey of the Yangtze River when the place was
first opened to trade on the conclusion of the Treaty of Tientsin, 186o, we
learn that the city was then already a place of great importance. This
expedition commanded by Admiral Hope ascended the Yangtze River for the
purposes of survey, and in order to throw open to trade the ports of
Chinkiang, Wulu1, Kiukiang, and Hankow, and to establish consulates there.
During the fifties and early sixties the whole of central China was ravaged
by the Taiping rebels. Little was heard outside of China of the wholesale
destruction of human life and property that occurred in the interior of the
country during the years that the Taipings were in possession of most of the
Yangtze region. The ravages of these rebels were only observed by
foreigners in the vicinity of the then opened Treaty ports such as Shanghai;
but after the rebellion was subdued by the exertions of Chinese statesmen,
such as Tseng Kuo-fan and Li Hung-chang, with the co-operation of General
Gordon, whose services were lent to the Chinese by the British Government,
and on the opening of the Yangtze region as a result of the Treaty of
Tientsin, it became apparent that the whole country, lately the most
prosperous portion of the Chinese Empire, had been to a large extent
depopulated. Reliable authorities have calculated the loss of life in China
owing to the Taiping and the Mohammedan rebellions at approximately1oo.ooo.
ooo—c. f. Putnam Weale in "Conflict of Colour."
No better instance of the extraordinary recuperative powers of the Chinese
nation, and of the productiveness of the Yangtze region, can be adduced than
the fact that in spite of this wholesale slaughter, the ruined cities were
soon rebuilt, the countryside which had reverted to a jungle interspersed
with ruined villages, was soon repopulated and cultivated, and during the
forty years of peace which elapsed between t86o and 19oo the population of
the Yangtze area recovered to a point higher than it had ever attained to in
Chinese history. Trade at all Yangtze ports showed a rising curve during
all these years, but first and foremost the trade of Hankow, as attested by
the returns of the Maritime Customs Revenue, increased out of all proportion
to all others, owing to the exceptional situation of the port, which has
been described as the
Chicago of China. In the "China Year-Book," 1913, the estimated population
of Hankow, exclusive of the sister cities of Hanyang and Wuchang, is given
as 826,ooo, while that of the province of Hupeh, of which Wuchang, with its
sister cities of Hankow and Hanyang, is the capital, is given as 34,ooo,ooo
(Customs estimate, 191o, 34,ooo,ooo; Chinese official census, 1885, 33,6oo,
ooo).
Thus we see Hankow as the trading portion of a group of three cities with a
total population of something over 1,ooo,ooo, is situated in the strategic
center fur trade purposes of the principal provinces of China, namely, Hupeh
, Hunan, Honan, Szechuan and Shensi. each of these provinces being equal in
area and population to a European state of the first order. The aggregate
population of these provinces is not less than 158,o:1o,ooo, or about the
same as the combined population of Germany. France and the British Islands,
with Belgium and Holland thrown in. Many of the provinces of China
contribute to Hankow's import and export trade, and again a large portion of
the trade contributed by the millions of inhabitants of Central Asia flnds
its outlet to the sea at Hankow, while their requirements are imported
through the same avenue.
THE BRIDGE OVER THE YANGTZE.
In this suggested structure provision will be made for a roadway thirty feet
wide, two six-feet wide cantilever pathways, and a single line of railway.
The type of bridge at present suggested is a constant level floating bridge
some 3.75o feet long, provided with twin opening spans electrically operated
, giving a clear waterway of not less than 2oo feet for the passage of
steamers plying between Hankow and Ichang, which are much smaller craft than
those trading between Hankow and down-river ports.
It is considered that a structure of this particular type has many
advantages in overcoming some of the difficulties in foundation works. The
general idea embodied in this important structure was detailed in one of the
competitive designs for a bridge over the Hooghly at Calcutta. The constant
level floating bridge has a del ided advantage over an ordinary floating
bridge which would rise and fall according to the considerable variation of
the level on the Yangtze. It is thought, however, that this extreme
variation in water level may necessitate, for economical reasons, having
moderate gradings from each bank of the river towards the center of the
bridge.
In order to maintain the bridge at constant levels the submerged pontoons
carrying the superstructure will be anchored down at and below the low water
level of the river by means of tension rods, which will, in turn, be
attached to groups of cylinders sunk deeply into the bed of the river.
Consequently there is always an upward pressure exerted by the pontoons, and
the stress in the abovementioned tension members never becomes zero and is
only reduced by the full application of the external load which the bridge
is designed to carry.
It is estimated that one group of steel cylinders forming a "foundation" to
sustain the upward pull as a swing span would entail the use of some twenty
cylinders not less than lfi feet in diameter, while the ordinary fixed span
groups for the same purpose would each need twenty cylinders not less than
1o feet in diameter as a foundation. The submerged pontoons providing the
floating power to carry the superstructure would be of considerable length
and diameter, strongly framed internally and divided into numerous
watertight compartments. Provision will be made to remove cylinders for
repairs as necessity arises. Until the necessary investigations at the site
are concluded it is impossible to indicate more than the present general
intention of those responsible for carrying into actual effect this large
and much-needed bridge, which will certainly rank as an undertaking of the
first magnitude, involving as it will considerable engineering difficulties.

The American Cyclopaedia: A Popular Dictionary for General Knowledge,
Volume 8
edited by George Ripley, Charles Anderson Dana 1883 pp 441

编者认为太平天国烧杀前，当时武汉三镇城市郊区人口加在一起五百万人！！

Urbanization and the Pacific World, 1500–1900
edited by Lionel Frost

william rowe 在Hankow: Conflict and Community in a Chinese City, 1796-1895
page 43-45
估计汉口在1800年就有100万人口，到1850年有150万人口，太平天国战乱后60万人口，
到1890年汉口本身就有100万人口。

China’s Foreign Places: The Foreign Presence in China in the Treaty Port
Era ...
By Robert Nield pp 98

作者认为当时的武汉城市规模是世界上最大的之一，已经可与伦敦相比。

The Encyclopædia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and ...,
Volume 11
不列颠百科全书1905年版编者认为：太平天国烧杀前，当时武汉三镇城市郊区人口加在
一起超过五百万人！！！
1900年武汉约100-150万人口，汉口60万-80万，武昌汉阳40万-70万。

Description

This section is from "The American Cyclopaedia", by George Ripley And
Charles A. Dana. Also available from Amazon: The New American Cyclopæ
dia. 16 volumes complete..

Hankow

Hankow , a city of China, in the province of Hupeh, on the Yangtse-kiang,
470 m. W. of Shanghai; pop. estimated at 800,000. The river Han, which hero
falls into the Yangtse, separates Hankow from Hanyang, and opposite both, on
the other bank of the Yangtse, is Wo-chang, the capital of Hupeh. These
three towns are said to have had, before they were almost wholly destroyed
by the Taepings, an aggregate population of 5,000,000. In consequence of its
flourishing trade, Hankow is now again one of the first commercial cities
of the Chinese empire, and in particular the centre of the commerce of the
provinces of Hupeh, Ho-nan, Sechuen, and Kweichow. It is one of the treaty
ports opened to foreign commerce. Two regular lines of steamships connect it
with Shanghai. For the trade with Russia, Hankow is next to Tientsin the
most important place. The imports in 1871 were valued at $187,000, the
exports at $5,112,000. The most important articles of export are tea, China
grass, hemp, tobacco, and rhubarb; the most important articles of import are
Russian cloth and velvets.

The number of vessels entering the port in 1869 was 286, tonnage 185,226;
cleared, 350, tonnage 191,088.

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