CANTON
943
along the river in ruins. Recourse for accommodation was consequently had to warehouses on the Honam side of the river. Considerable discussion subsequently took place as to the selection of a site for a permanent British settlement, and it was eventually determined that an extensive mud flat known as Shameen should be filled in and appropriated. In 1859 an artificial island was created there, a canal constructed between the northern side of the site and the city, and solid and extensive embankments of masonry built. It took about two years to complete this undertaking, and cost no less than $325,000. Of this sum four-fifths were defrayed by the British, and one-fifth by the French Government, to whom a portion of the reclaimed land was given. Up to 1889 most of the French concession remained unutilised, but in that year a number of lots were sold and are now built upon. The French also received a grant of the old site of the Viceroy's Yamên, on which the Catholic Cathedral now stands. Shameen is pleasingly laid out, with gardens and tennis courts, and the roads are shaded with well-grown trees. Christ Church (Church of England) stands at the western end, and close to it are situated the Masonic Hall, Boat House and Club. Handsome new premises, costing half-a-million dollars, for the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation were opened in Central Avenue on October 29th, 1921. There is a Roman Catholic church on
on the French Concession. The Settlement contains good hotel accommodation. During an anti-foreign riot on the 10th September, 1883, sixteen houses and the Concordia Theatre on the Settlement were burned by the mob.
In consequence of the decline in the importance of Canton as a place of trade, caused principally by the opening of some of the northern ports, many of the merchants by whom lots were purchased there in 1861, at enormous prices, withdrew from Canton altogether. For many years the trade transacted there by foreigners was limited, but since 1900 an appreciable increase has been noticeable. Though trade has been interfered with by acute political disturbances and the bad effect of the European war, the net value of the trade of the port coming under the cognisance of the Foreign Customs during the past ten years has shown a steady increase, as will be seen from the following figures:-Hk. Tls. 140,814,317 in 1920; Hk. Tls. 147,953,136 in 1919; Hk. Tls. 103,226,078 in 1918; Hk. Tls. 102,844,940 in 1917; Hk. Tls. 109,081,638 in 1916; Hk. Tls. 103,817,195 in 1915; Hk. Tls. 105,296,323 in 1914; Hk. Tls. 112,285,888 in 1913; Hk. Tls. 96,170,631 in 1912; and Hk. Tls. 102,224,621 in 1911. Ample means of communication exist between Canton and Hongkong, a dis- tance of 112 miles by railway and about 95 miles by water. Foreign steamers and a large number of native craft ply daily between the two ports. There is daily steam communication with Macao and regular connection with Wuchow__and West River ports, and with Shanghai, Newchwang, and Kwangchauwan. The steam- launch traffic under the Inland Steam Navigation Regulations has proved a great success, though since rules were enforced in December, 1901, compelling all Chi- nese launches to undergo inspection at the hands of an engineer appointed by the Customs before obtaining licences to ply, the number of launches is not so large as previously. There is a safe and commodious anchorage within 150 yards of the river wall at Shameen. Canton was connected by telegraph (an overland line) with Kow- loon_in_1883, and another overland line was completed from Canton to Lungchau-fu, on the Kwangsi and Tonkin frontier, in June, 1884. The electric light and the tele- phone system have been introduced into a portion of the city. Through Railway communication between Canton and Kowloon was established in October, 1911. The British section of the line extends from Kowloon Point to Lowu, a distance of 22 miles. The Chinese section, which has its terminus at Taishatow (East Gate), is 89 miles in length. A connection with the Canton-Hankow Railway will be made. The survey by an American syndicate of a railway route to connect Canton with Hankow was made in 1899. Work upon the branch line from Canton to Samshui (about 30 miles) commenced in December, 1902, and a length of ten miles, as far as Fatshan, was opened on November 15, 1903. The line was extended to Samshui the following year. The completion of the railway to Samshui brought_the West River ports within easy distance of Canton, it being now possible to reach Wuchow in Kwangsi in less than twenty-four hours. That the advantages of rapid communication are appreciated may be gathered from the fact that about three millions of passengers a year are carried on this short line. There is very little freight traffic. The railway has practically killed the passenger traffic by steam launches to Fatshan, but an increase in the railway fares in 1908 revived it to some slight extent. Work on the grand trunk line was started at both ends by the American concessionaires, and a section, about 12 miles long, from Canton, northward to Ko Tong Hü, was rapidly approaching completion, when