FORMOSA
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expansion. There are many coal mines near Keelung, and sulphur springs also exist in the north of the island. The interior of the island is becoming gradually explored, but many years must pass before it becomes thoroughly known. On the east coast settle- ments are springing up at Karenko, Giran and Pinan.
One great drawback to the island is its want of good harbours, which is more especially felt on account of the strength of the monsoons in the Formosa Channel. Those on the eastern side are few and neither commodious nor accessible, while on the west coast most of the harbours are little better than open roadsteads. Harbour improvements are still being carried out in Keelung and at Takow. Taipeh is the capital of Formosa, and Tainan is the chief city in the south of the Island. The open ports are four in number, viz., Takow and Anping in the south, and Tamsui and Keelung in the north. The latter was held for some months in 1884-5 by the French, under Admiral Courbet, but was evacuated on the 21st June, 1885. The rivers of Formosa are few, shallow, and winding, only navigable to small flat-bottomed boats. The scenery is delightful, and the climate is very pleasant in the winter, but hot in some parts of the island and malarious in the wet season. A railway traversing the west side of the island, from Keelung in the north to Takow in the south, a distance of 259 miles, was officially opened by H. L. H. Prince Kan-In on 24th October, 1908, but since then extensions to Ako, a distance of about 16 miles, have been made. A short line also connects Taipeh and Tamsui in the north. The total length of Government Railways in existence at present approximates 354.7 miles, but light railways or tramways, most- ly privately owned, have a mileage of nearly 1,635.7 miles. A line along the east coast is likewise in course of construction, the following portions have been completed and opened, viz., 55.1 miles between Karenko and Gyokiri, opened on 1st November, 1917; 13.9 miles between Giran & Suwo, opened on 5th March, 1919; and 5.9 miles between Zuiho and Hatto, opened on 5th May, 1919. Work on the northern portion is in progress but is likely to take some years to complete. The trade of the island shows a steady develop- ment, and municipal improvements are noticeable. In Keelung, Tamsui, Takow, Taipeh and the other principal cities water-works have been completed, and amongst the numerous buildings are large inarkets. Electric light is laid on everywhere. In Taipeh there is a first-class European hotel. In many of the former Chinese centres practically new towns have been built, and.in the case of both Keelung and Takow extensive harbour improvements have been effected. At the latter port an outer harbour is now in course of construction, and it is anticipated that in another three years it will be possible to handle 900,000 tons of cargo annually there. It is estimated, too, that the harbour will be of sufficient capacity to accommodate ten steamers each of 10,000 tons at the quays and twelve steamers below this tonnage at the buoys.
From the north of the island tea forms the principal export, its value in 1916 being Yen 6,327,647. The following year, owing to difficulty in shipping, this fell off to Yen 4.546,848, whilst in 1918 the export to foreign markets was Yen 8,613,015, and to Japan Yen 1,195,951. The Camphor export amounted in 1916 to Yen 4,669,009, in 1917 to Yen 4,628,633, whilst in 1918 the figures were, to foreign countries Yen 2,942,011, and to Japan 1,757,120. Formosan rice, which formerly was not much favoured there, has, owing to the short crops and high prices ruling in Japan, now become in great request and the official statistics for 1918 shew an export to that country of no less than 2,561,034 piculs, of a value of Yen 24,862,838. Flax, hemp, and jute are amongst the articles of export, and there is now a factory at Koroton, erected under official auspices, for the manufacture of jute bags for packing rice. Sugar has become a most important industry, and the leading article of export from the island. The value of the sugar exported in 1916 amounted to Yen 11,426,960, whilst in 1917 the figures were, to foreign countries 15,774,989 and to Japan 68,344,719. 1918 did not yield as good results as the preceding year, the foreign export only amounting to Yen 6,223,243, and to Japan Yen 50,665,919. This may be partly attributable to the encouragement given to the cultivation of rice in lieu of cane, due to the enhanced demand from Japan. A noticeable feature is the importation of Java sugar into the island, inaugurated during 1918. There are now 43 large factories equipped with the most modern machinery, in running order, their location being chiefly in the central and southern districts, and another one is in course of construction at Giran, besides which there are 53 factories of improved Formosan type, and 290 old-style ones.
Of Imports opium is the most important, its value in 1916 amounting to Yen 3,724,131, in 1917 to Yen 3,857,849, and in 1918 to Yen 4,554,080. Korosene is an article of some importance, and there is also considerable business done in white shirtings and other classes of dry goods; it is, however, noticeable that since 1898 the trade, which previously had been done mainly with China, has been largely diverted to Japan.