TONKIN HANOI
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bang, Bao-lac; 3rd circles of Ha-giang, Bac-quang; 4th circles of Lao-kay, Bao-ba. Hanoi, the capital, is the chief town of the province of the same name, and appears on old maps as Ke-sho. The population is estimated at from about 15,000,000. A railway was some years ago constructed from Phu Lang-Thuong to Langson, a distance of 64 miles, but it was little better than a tramway. The gauge of this line is now widened from 60 centimetres to 1 metre and extended to Hanoi, a distance of 45 kilometres, and a concession has been granted for a further extension from Langson to Lung- chow, in the Chinese province of Kwangsi. The new railway running from Haiphong to Hanoi will be opened in the beginning of 1902.
The spinning factory established in Hanoi by the "Sociéte Cotonière de l'Indo- Chine" with a capital of 2,500,000 fr., had, at the end of November, 1899, 16,000 spindles in working order (20,000 spindles will be set up), and could supply 10 bales of 180 kilos. (396 lbs.) per diem of No. 20 yarn.
HANOI
Hanoi, the capital of, Tonkin, and now the seat of Government, is situated on the right bank of the Songhoi, or Red River, about 100 miles from its mouth. The city is built close to the river and extends about one mile along the bank. The first aspect for visitors arriving from Haiphong by train or river is not a imposing one, as the fashionable portion of the town, the principal European centre, is situated further back. Here the broad and well kept streets planted with trees, numerous imposing public and private buildings, present a very nice European town of modern style. The city is lighted by electricity and thoroughly supplied with good drinkable water by enormous waterworks. Three lines of electric tramways recently opened run through the town over a distance of eight miles. A special attraction is the “Petit lac,” a lake of nearly half a square mile in the middle of the town, rendered picturesque by the quaint pagodas, occupying the small islands which adorn it and surrounded by promenades. Facing the lake there is the Square Paul Bert, with a fine bronze statue of Paul Bert unvailed on the 14th July, 1890, and a bandstand in the middle. Close to the square there are the Mairie, Treasury, Post Office, Cercle Union, Bank of Indo-China, Residence Supérieur and the Hotel Metropole. Other public buildings, as the residences of the Governor- General and Commander of the Troops, the Government Offices, the Hospital and others are situated on what was formerly the "Concession," close to the river bank. There is a large Cathedral of the Roman Catholics and a handsome small Protestant church. A new imposing palace for the Governor-General at the entrance of the Botanic Garden will shortly be finished, and a new Theatre, Museum, Palais de Justice, Terminus, etc. are in construction. There are two first-class Hotels, the Hotel Metropole, recently opened, with a front of nearly 300 feet, the Hanoi Hotel and some smaller ones. The "Cercle de l'Union," Société Philharmonique and the Masonic lodge possess their own buildings. A new Racecourse opened in 1890 has been formed just outside the new town. Several daily and periodical French papers are published at Hanoi. The citadel occupies the highest site and is surrounded by a brick wall twelve feet high, and a moat. It contains the buildings for the troops, arsenals, magazines, etc., and the Royal Pagola stands within its enclosure.
The ancient city is situated between the citadel and the river and presents a novel appearance, owing to the singular architecture of the houses. Since the occupation by the French great improvements have been effected in the laying out of the town and the formation of roads and streets, of which over 50 miles are already drained, electric lighted, and even in the native city well kept and very clean as compared with those of other Eastern cities. From the numerous temples and pagodas that of the "Grand Bouddha," situated on the shore of the large lake is the most important and interesting for visitors on account of its colossal bronze statue of the idol.
Halls of iron construction, each 160 by 60 feet, for the native markets have been erected in different quarters.
Export, and Import trade is steadily increasing and besides many important mercantile houses there is also a development of industries in this town. A cotton-spinning mill, ice factory, match manufactory, paper manufactory, some distilleries, furniture-shops and a brewery are in full swing.
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