YUNG-LI CHEMICAL COMPANY'S T'ANG-KU SODAWORKS AND CHIU-TA SALTWORKS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700170159-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 2, 2011
• Sequence Number: 159
• Publication Date: April 1, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/02 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700170159-6
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/02 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700170159-6
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/02 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700170159-6
YUNG-LT CREMICAL COMPANY'S TANG-KU SODAWORKS
AND CRIU-TA SALTWORKS
[Summary: The Yung-li Chemical Company's T'ang-ku Soda-
works was converted into a Public-private jointly operated firm
in June 1952. After the conversion, production of soda ash
rose 59 percent and caustic soda 47 percent. The Chiu-ta Salt-
works became a public-private jointly operated firm on 1 July
1953. Using January 1953 as the base month, the October 1953
production index for refined salt was 121; calcium chloride,
137; and magnesium carbonate, 373. The plant now employs 643
workers.]
YUNG-LI SODAWORKS INCREASES PRODUCTION -- Tientsin, Ta Ming Pao, 21 Nov 53
The T'ang-ku Sodaworks of the YunE;-Ii Chemical Company has made advances
in production since it became a public-i;rivate jointly operated company. The
sodaworks has been in existence 36 years, but during that time there was no
profitable development of the plant by the capitalists under the Nationalist
government.
Rapid recovery and expansion was effected by the people's government
after the liberation. By September 1950, the plant's production of soda ash
had reached the prewar level, and by the end of June 1952, when the plant be-
came jointly operated, the production rate had risen to five times the rate
maintained during the Japanese occupation, and 2 1/2 times the rate maintained
during the Nationalist government's reign.
The chemical industry is closely connected with other industries under
the national plan. After liberation, the glass, dyeing, paper making, soap,
and other industries were also expanding, and the sodaworks' equipment was
restricted to some extent. Thus, the requirements of the government and peo-
ple were not filled. In 1950, the plant owners made their first request that
the firm be converted to joint ownership. In June 1952, after a long period
of planning and preparation, the government granted their request.
After the conversion, the production of soda ash rose 59 percent and the
production of caustic soda rose 47 percent. Expenditure of all types of raw
materials per unit of output dropped 13.3 percent. This year's plan specifies
a 10 percent drop in costs. Since the conversion, new estimates have been
made on machinery performance, and the actual performance has broken all rec-
ords.
Many new production methods and systems have been put into effect. For-
merly, machinery was scattered throughout the plant; now, the pattern, rivet-
ing, molding, and iron working shops have been brought together into one ma-
chine shop. A few unnecessary sections, such as the work inspection section
have been eliminated. Fourteen new sections have been set up, including a
technical section and'a planning section. Two offices have been set up to co-
ordinate and standardize production procedures. After the conversion, the
workers proposed over 3,000 ideas for improving safety throughout the plant.
In May 1953, the entire plant stopped production, and for one month performed
the first major over-haul of all equipment in the entire history of the plant.
Over 400 safety features were installed in the plant.
Workers are receiving many benefits under the joint management. They now
work on a 3 1/2-pan [sic] basis, giving them more rest. The wage system is
now divided into eight grades, and since the conversion there has been a 20
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percent increase in total wage paid. In May 1950, 900 workers' homes were
completed. The dining hall can now serve 800-900 workers. Two additional
dining halls have been set-up where rich food is served to workers whose health
is poor. A 50-bed hospital and a rest room have been added to protect the work-
ers' health.
CHIU-TA SALTWORKS CONVERTS TO JOINT OPERATION -- Tientsin, Ta Kung Pao,
21 Nov 53
Win 1 July 1953, the Chiu-ta Saltworks?became a public-private jointly
operated firm. Since its founding 40 years ago, the plant had been very
backward, becoming more and more outmoded year after year. Prior to the
conversion, the highest annual output of refined salt by this saltworks was
50,000 tons. Sales branches were located in 13 ports. One of the original
roles of the Chiu-ta Company was to accumulate money-capital through the
manufacture and sale of table salt for the expansion of the Yung-li Company's
sodaworks. After the sodaworks prospered, little attention was given to the
improvement or expansion of the Chiu-ta Saltworks.
Production was resumed through the aid of the Central People's Govern-
ment in March 1949 after a 4-month work stoppage during the liberation. The
government invested large sums of money in the plant, but it continued to
lose money (the debt reaching one billion yuan) until its conversion to joint
ownership in July 1953.
In spite of the fact that the plant is old and the machinery requires
constant repair, production is rising. Using January 1953 as the base month,
the October production index for refined salt was 121; for calcium chloride,
137; magnesium carbonate, 373. Because of the great need for calcium chloride
in basic construction, it plans to double its production next year. Since the
plant is so old, of course, it will be necessary to rebuild part of it. The
plant at present has a total of 643 employees. Last year, after the govern-
ment invested capital in it, over 90 workers from other factories were trans-
ferred to the plant. There were 256 production workers and 296 others prior
to the transfer of the above-mentioned personnel.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/02: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700170159-6
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