KIAOCHAU (TSINGTAO)
693
the north side, and the other, smaller one, on the south side. A new mole was opened on March 6th, 1904, which accommodates five vessels with berths. A second mole was opened a few months later, and a third for kerosene ships was subsequently constructed. They have direct connection with the railway. About 20 ships can be berthed simultaneously in the harbour.
The hills, in former days merely bare rocks of granite and porphyry, are now clad in fresh green owing to an extensive scheme of afforestation, which was decided upon in the early days of the colony. The soil of the valleys between the ranges and the plain country on the north-east is alluvial and very fertile, and is carefully cultivated. Wheat, barley, beans, millet, maize, and many other grains in smaller quantities are grown. The foreign residential quarter at Tsingtao has been well laid out, and there are some good foreign hotels. The first sod of the Shantung Railway was cut by Prince Henry of Prussia in October, 1899, and the line to Tsinanfu was opened on the 1st June, 1904. It has done a prosperous business from the day it was opened.
The coal mines have shown good progress. Hungshan coal enjoys an ever-increas- ing demand for bunker coal. Thanks to favourable conditions, such as the abundance. of labour and material near at hand, the atmospheric tenperature specially suited for the industry, the absence of labour unrest and the rise of the tariff rates, the prospects of the cotton spinning industry at this port are very bright. How far the. industry has already developed and how far it will develop in the near future will be seen from the fact that 70,000 spindles were actually working in 1921, 40,000 were completed and ready for working, 85,000 were in course of construction, and 70,000 were under contemplation.
Before the war, a brewery, soap factory, and two albumen factories were in full work, as well as a Government slaughter-house and ice plant. A large hat factory, fitted with the most up-to date appliances, was also in full operation. There is a big export of cattle to Vladivostock. Fruit grafting is becoming a promising enterprise. The develop- ment of the town of Tsingtao has made considerable progress; the town is lit by electricity, houses have sprung up in all directions, and a system of water supply (extended in 1922) and sewerage has added much to the hygienic conditions of the place. The dry dock commenced operations in October, 1905, and important new harbour works were completed a few years ago. The dock employed 56 Europeans and an average of 1,400 Chinese worknien. Over 100 acres of the north-eastern area near the Great Harbour were reclaimed in 1919-20 and roads have been laid out on it.
The wireless installation at the Signal Berg, originally built by the Germans, was removed by the Japanese naval authorities in June, 1921. A powerful new wireless station was established by the Japanese military authorities at Taisichen at the close of the year. It is available to the public for "urgent" telegrams.
For the European community the Government maintained a reformed modern grammar school, open to boys and girls alike. In addition to the State school there was a girls' boarding and day school carried on by Franciscan Nuus. There were also
a number of village schools in which in a five-years' course of instruction the pupils could obtain an elementary knowledge of Chinese, arithmetic, physical and political geography, natural science and German. For secondary instruction in European and Chinese sciences there was the German-Chinese High School, opened on October 25th, A thoroughly equipped observatory was opened in January, 1912, with funds supplied by the Union of German Navy Leagues abroad. A Boys' Middle school, built at a cost of Yen 228,000, now stands where the Germans had erected an aero-shed on the western slope of the Yamen Forts.
1901.
The temperate climate and the excellent beach have brought Tsingtao into promi
nerce as a summer resort.