SHANGHAI
867
non-Chinese Asiatics, was 294, and of non-residents, 49, in 1912. Partial outbreaks of cholera have occurred at intervals, but the larger proportion of the cases were among the ships in harbour. The highest recorded number of deaths from this cause among foreigners was 32 in 1890. Of these, 11 were amongst residents. In the years 1892 to 1894, 1897 to 1901 inclusive and in 1905 and 1910 and 1911 there were no deaths from cholera among foreign residents, but there were 14 in 1912, the average being slightly over four per annum during the last twenty years. The highest number of deaths of foreign residents from small-pox was 21 in 1907. There were only three deaths from this cause in 1912; the average during the last twenty years has been seven per annum. In winter, cases of small-pox and typhoid are frequent among the natives. Amongst the shore population the death rate was 12.1 per thousand in 1906, of which 1.5 per thousand were from zymotic causes, against a rate of 2.19 per thousand from these diseases in England. The rate in 1907 was 17.9, in 1908 15.9, in 1909 16.7, in 1910 20.2, in 1911 16.8 and in 1912 21. These rates compare favourably with those of many large towns in Europe and America. The Health Officer in a late Report says that "out of the seventy-five deaths registered there were but nine which can in any sense be termed climatic." There were reported 9,663 deaths amongst the natives in the "Anglo-American Settlement" in 1912, which makes the rate 19.3 per thousand. Small-pox, which in 1909 claimed only 19 victims, was the cause of 863 deaths of natives in 1907, the annual average during the past two decades being 225; cholera, which was responsible for 1,500 deaths in 1902 and 162 in 1903, was entirely absent in 1901 and 1905, but reappeared towards the close of 1966, and was the cause of 193 deaths among the Chinese in that year, of 655 in 1907, of only 8 in 1908 and of none in 1909, 910, 1911 or 1912; scarlet fever for 1,500 in 1902, of whom 27 were non-Chinese; but an average of only 42 in the subsequent ten years, and tuberculosis for 2,000 in 1902, steadily de- creasing to 618 in 1910, 789 in 1911 and 1,096 in 1912; but the Health Officer in his réport for 1910 thinks that deaths are hidden or intentionally returned from other causes, as a result of disinfection being carried out. The thermometer ranges from 25 deg., to 163 deg. Fahrenheit, the mean of eight years having been 59.1 deg., the average being 41.9, 65, 77.8 and 52.5 for first, second, third and fourth quarters, respec- tively. Shanghai approaches nearest to Rome in mean temperature, while the winter temperature of London and Shanghai are almost identical. The mean daily rang aver- ages 15.60, being from 13.3° during the first to 16.6° during the second quarter. October and November there is generally dry, clear, and delightful weather, equal to that found in any part of the world; but when the winter has fairly set in the north- east winds are extremely cold and biting. On January 17th, 1878, the river Was frozen over at Woosung. The heat during July and August is sometimes excessive, but generally lasts only a few days at a time. In late years very severe gales have become more frequent. The mean of the barometer is from 29.77 in the third to 30.26 inches in the first quarter. The annual average of rainy days in Shanghai during eight years was 124; 55 wet days occurred in winter, and 69 in summer; the annual rainfall averages 44.27 inches, 14.31 in winter and 29.96 in summer; the heaviest shower was on the 24th October, 1975, when 7 inches fell in 3 hours. The mean degree of humidity is from 76 in the winter to 84 in the summer months.
DESCRIPTION
In
The streets of the British and French Settlements all run north and south and east and west, mostly for the whole length of both, crossing each other at right angles. They were when first laid out twenty-two feet wide, but have since at very great expense been mostly made much wider. Under the new Regulations power to compel the sale of land required for public purposes has been secured. Notwith- standing the soft nature of the soil the roads are kept in remarkably good order, at least the main thoroughfares. In consequence of the introduction of trams the whole track of the Maloo, one mile in length, has been laid with Jarrah hardwood blocks, and the section of Nanking Road, between Kiangse Road and the Bund has been so paved in its entire width. The Municipal Council now leases a stone quarry at Pingchiao, in Chekiang, about 150 miles south-west of Shanghai, from which they obtained about 55,000 tons of sound stone, and about 10,000 tons of inferior stone in 1912. Owing to the nature of the ground, expensive piling or concrete foundations are necessary before any building over one storey in height can be erected, and all stone has to be brought from a long distance. The Soochow Creek, between the British Settlement and Hongkew, is now crossed by seven bridges, six of which are adapted for carriage traffic, and the French concession is connected with the other
27.