NIIGATA
Niigata is situated on the west coast of Japan, and in the southern part of the province of Ehigo, at the mouth of the river Shinano-gawa. Though well located for trade it has yielded the most disappointing results of all the Treaty ports of Japan. Foreign goods find their way to Niigata in considerable quantities, but since the opening of the port no direct foreign trade has been developed there.
The town, which is perhaps the cleanest and one of the best laid-out in Japan, covers an area of rather more one square mile and consists of five parallel streets intersected by cross streets watered by canals which communicate with the river. It has been materially improved within the last few years by the widening of the canals and streets, the latter of which are now lighted with petroleum obtained in the district. New Law Courts, Post-office, and Schools have been built, and the town is connected by telegraph with Tokyo and other cities of the Empire. A Government Hospital and a Medical School, as well a large English School under English and American masters, have been established here. A handsome building for the local assembly was completed in 1884. A steam rice mill has been started and some fresh industries have been commenced. Niigata is still famed for the beauty of its women. The population of the town in 1889 was 44,761.
DIRECTORY
AMERICAN BOARD MISSION, Nishi Ohata
Dori, 2 bancho
Miss Gertrude Cozad
Rev. H. H. Coates
Rev. W. L. and Mrs. Curtis
Miss Harwood
Rev. Hilton Pedley
Miss Clara Brown
CANADIAN METHODIST MISSION
Rev. J. W. and Mrs. Saunby Rev. D. R. and Mrs. McKenzie Miss Jennie Cunningham
CONSULATE Great Britain
Acting Consul-J. H. Longford(H'date)
CUSTOMS-IMPERIAL
Superintendent-Ashiwara Shifu
KENCHO
Governor-Koteda Yasusada Secretary-Murakami Yoshio
KOTO CHIN GAKKO
O. N. Benton
NIIGATA BUSSAN KAISHA (Niigata Produce
Company)
Sudzuki Chohachi, director
Fujita Bunji, manager
Sudzuki Chozo, do. and agent
Sudzuki Sushiro, agent
NIPPON YUSEN Kaishia
M. Hama, agent
ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION
Rev. J. L. Lemaréchal, mission. apost. Rev. O. de Noailles, mission. apost. Rev. Alexis Cocherie
SISTERS OF CHARITY
Sœur Vitalme, supérieure
Sœurs Aspasie, Caroline
WOMAN'S UNION BOARD MISSION (U.S.A.)
Miss A. D. H. Kelsey, M.D.
OSAKA
Osaka is the second city in Japan in point of size and commercial importance, and has not inaptly been termed the Venice of the Far East, owing to the manner in which it is intersected by canals. The city is compact and well laid out, the streets being regular, clean, and animated. Osaka is essentially Japanese, though a go-ahead and progressive city, and possesses much of interest to the foreign visitor. It is situated in