.512
FORMOSA
Amongst miscellaneous factories and mills at various places throughout the island may be mentioned a brewery, ice-works, a straw-board factory, two flour-mills,i fertiliser factories, ramie and jute mills, cement works, several brick-works (many using Manchester kilns), numerous oil-extracting and rice mills, several electric-light plants, and a gas factory in Taihoku.
From the north of the island tea forms the principal export, and the authorities are energetically pushing its cultivation and preparation. The value shipped to foreign markets in 1924 was Yen 10,309,000, of which about half was Ooloong, and the remainder scented tea (known as Pouchong) which is mainly consumed in Netherlands 'India and the Straits. Camphor to the value of Yen 2,636,000 was exported, and Yen 3,890,000 worth shipped to Japan, as also Yen 2,115,000 of camphor oil. Coal exports aniounted to Yen 9,373,000, of which Yen 2,068,000 went to Japan, and the remainder was sent abroad. The export of rice to Japan reached Yen 48,486,000, which is rather more than double the previous year's total, and bananas and canned pineapples to a value of Yen 13,166,000 were also shipped there. Sugar is now the leading industry of the island, and the export figures are given as Yen 119,911,000 to Japan, and Yen 5,994,000 to other. countries. Alcohol to a value of Yen 3,039,000 also was shipped to Japan, and Yen 1,621,000 worth sent abroad. Of Miscellaneous items:-Sweet potatoes, salt, lumber, cement, dried fish, cotton cloth, &c., over Yen 16,000,000 worth were likewise exported, of which about two-thirds went to Japan, and the remainder abroad. Sugar Factories: There are now 42 of these equipped with modern machinery scattered throughout the island, mostly in the central and southern districts, in addition to 11 factories of improved Formosan type, and 100 old-style ones.
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The following articles now come under the Monopoly Law, and can only be handled by the Government:-opium, camphor, salt, tobacco, wines and spirits.
The trade and industries of the island are steadily developing, and both fish and fruit are now being largely exported to the mother country, whilst recently attention has been directed to the gathering of coral, supplies of which have been found in the waters of the northern vicinity. All the principal towns are now equipped with water-works, electric lighting, large markets, etc., and a Japanese Electrical Company under Government support is still working with a view to the electrification of the railways and other industries of the island, although not being pushed as vigorously as. it was prior to the earthquake calamity of 1923 in Japan, and it is rumoured work may shortly be abandoned, for reasons of economy.
One great drawback to the island is its lack 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; whilst on the west coast, with the exception of Keelung in the north and Takow in the south, they are little better than open roadsteads. Harbour improvements are still being car- ried out both at Keelung and Takow and these, when completed, will greatly increase the existing accommodation. At present not more than four vessels at Keelung, and six at Takow of above 6,000 tons each can be berthed on the quay fronts at one time. The depth at low water at the entrance to the harbours is 30 feet and 23 feet, respectively.
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.
A railway traversing the west side of the island, from Keelung in the north to Heito (formerly Ako) in the south-a distance of 275 miles-was officially opened by H.I.H. Prince Kan-In on October 24th, 1908. A short line also connects Taipeh and Tamsui in the north. On the west coast a loop line of 56 miles between Chikunan and Oden (near Shoka) has been completed and is now working. Hugging the coast, as it does, it avoids the steep gradients and numerous tunnels of the main line. On the through-line, sleeping cars are now run for the accommodation of first- class passengers only. A line along the East coast is under construction and has already been completed between Keelung and Suwo. Between the latter and Karenko there is a break, whilst from the latter to Giokuri, 55.1 miles, the line is working, when another gap occurs, beyond which, from Taito to Riro, a span of 27.7 miles, it is in running order. From Takow to Panryo (now known as Borio), near the southern extremity of the island, work is still proceeding, the line being open as far as Keishu.