108
TAINAN-FU, TAKOW, AND ANPING
of sugar. Of the six staples of Formosan trade, namely, tea, opium, camphor, salt, sugar and rice, three-opium, camphor and salt-have already been monopolised by the Formosan Government-General, which now derives three-fourths of its ordinary revenue from these sources. Formerly, the trade in opium and camphor in this district was in the hands of the few foreign merchants at this port, and amounted, before the Japanese occupation, to nearly £250,000 annually. Since the creation of the monopo- lies the merchants have thus been deprived of two-thirds of their income. They feel the hardship particularly in the case of the camphor trade, which was originated and developed in this district entirely by their capital and enterprise, and for the loss of which they have as yet received no enquivalent.
Takow is a port twenty-four miles to the southward of Anping. It takes little or no share in the import trade, but is a principal centre for the sugar export trade.
The last stand against the Japanese was made at Tainan-fu, Takow, and Anping. by Liu Yung-fu, the Black Flag General. Takow was bombarded on the 15th October and the resistance collapsed without any serious fighting, and Tainan-fu and Anping were occupied on the 21st October,
The total shipping, excluding sen-going junks, entered and oleared during 1901 was 716 vessels of 832,469 tons. Compared with 1900, this shows an increase of 396 vessels. The shipping entered from foreign countries during 1901 shows a decrease from that of 1900 of 18 vessels of 13,796 tone, of which the decrease in British shipping was 15 vessels of 7,865 tons, and the decrease in Japanese shipping entering from and clearing for abroad was three vessels of 6,204 tons. The shipping entered from Japan shows a large increase from 9 vessels of 123,326 tons in 1900 to 309 vessels of 368,170 tons in 1901. The decrease in foreign shipping is a consequence of the decrease in the volume of trade with the opposite coast and Hongkong, caused by the increased tariff on imports and the imposition of export duties in Formosa. The increase in shipping from Japan is mainly in ships chartered or subsidised by the Government to carry railway materials, salt, troops and stores.
Changes show a reduction of 47,300 yen in the subsidies paid to Japanese steam- ship lines between Formosa and the opposite coast and Hongkong, and an increase of 87,700 yen in the subsidies paid to lines running from Foochow to other China Coast or river ports and to Hongkong. The construction of a through railway from Takow as its southern terminus via Tainan and Kagge to Taihoku in the north, was begun in the latter part of 1899. The period of construction was estimated at 10 years, and the cost at 28,800,000 yen, which was to have been raised by the issue, yearly of Formosa Industrial Public Loan Bonds at certain fixed amounts.
The work pro- gressed rapidly in 1900 and 1901, but has been temporarily abandoned this year (1902) owing to lack of funds. The section between the port of Takow and the City of Tainan (28 miles) was opened in November, 1900, and the section between Tainan and Kagee (43 miles) was almost completed at the end of 1901. A part of the latter line. extending as far as the town of Sinyeisha (about 30 miles), has already been. opened from Tainan, and the remainder was opened in March (1902). The railway in its present stage (although a great convenience to the public, and most useful from a military point of view) is not remunerative, and is not likely to become largely so until it has been fully constructed throughout the length of the island. The receipts for 1902-03 are estimated at 722,500 yen, and the expenditure at 724,021 yen, showing a small estimated loss.
The proposed harbour works at Takow and Anping, and the other public works are postponed but will be proceeded with as soon as the necessary appropriations can be obtained. The harbours have been completely surveyed and the estimated cost is $6,000,000.
記怕 Ee.koe
BAIN & Co., Merchants
A. W. Bain
H. W. Arthur
Ko Thieng Sang
Agencies
DIRECTORY
Hongkong and S'hai. Banking Corpn.
Norddeutscher Lloyd
Douglas Steamship Company, Limited Indo-China S. N. Company, Limited China Navigation Company, Ll.
Canadian Pacific Railway Company Nippon Yusen Kaisha
Lloyd's
Liverpool Underwriters' Association Canton Insurance Office, Limited
China Traders' Insurance Co., Limited Digitized by