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CANTON
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 $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 the French Concession. The Settlement contains good hotel accommodation. During an anti-foreign riot on the 10th September, 1883, 16 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 interfered with by acute political disturbances, the trade of the port coming under the cognisance of the Foreign Customs during the past ten years has shown a steady increase in value, as will be seen from the following net figures:-Hk. Tls. 219,203,728 in 1923; Hk. Tls. 197,287,935 in 1922; Hk. Tls. 165,232,378 in 1921; 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; and Hk. Tls. 112,285,888 in 1913.
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A noteworthy factor affecting the increase in 1923 is that much Chinese trade which ordinarily would have been carried by junks found it expedient to go by. steamer instead in the hope thereby of escaping the attention of pirates. earlier months of the year saw agitation in connection with the efforts for the boycott of Japanese goods, but these ceased entirely when news was received of the great earthquake disaster in Japan. There were decreased imports of most varieties of foreign cotton piece goods, but there were heavy increases in the imports of cotton and woollen mixtures, so largely brought in by German firms. Electrical appliances were in good demand and the lion's share of this branch of trade was also secured by German agencies.
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. An agreement was entered into with the South China Wireless Co., a British concern, in the latter part of 1923, for the installation of a powerful wireless station, to give a continuous commercial service with Hongkong and Shanghai and communication with Peking, Japan, the Straits Settlements, etc. The electric light and the telephone system have been introduced into a portion of the city. Through railway communica- tion 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 has long been contem- plated. 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
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