SOURABAYA
Sourabaya is the capital of the. "Provincie" Cost-Java. in the island of Java, and is advantageously situated for commercial purposes on the Madura Strait, directly opposite the island of Madura. The second largest city on the island, it is the principal centre of Java's commercial activities. It is also the naval headquarters of Netherlands India. Among its principal buildings are fine Government and municipal offices, a naval arsenal, several shipbuilding yards and a naval flying-base.
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Sourabaya's position is naturally protected and it lies on the low alluvial delta of the Kali Mas river which empties into the Madura strait This strait is the narrow division between the island of Java and that of Madura. Sourabaya, therefore, is the outlet in a trade way for exceptionally rich districts. It has been pointed out else- where that Java is naturally divided into three producing districts, each of which, while yielding much the same products, yields a different grade. This is due to climate as well as to soil. Much of the soil of Java is of volcanic origin and therefore exceedingly rich in deposits of a nutritive value. The eastern portion of the island, of which Sourabaya is the seaport proper, contains about 2,000 square miles of agricultural land, most of which has been under cultivation for many years. About 71 per cent. of the population is agricultural. Among the foreigners the Chinese play an important part. In 1939 there were 32,601 Europeans, 51,883 foreign Orientals, 300,000 natives; total 384,484.
The climate is typically tropical there being only three quarter of an hour's difference between the longest and the shortest day. The climate, however, shows one marked difference froni that of other tropical regions for the influence of the sea and mountain-breezes moderates the heat during the day and prevents too fast cooling- off at night. The pressure is constant with a mean temperature of 80° F. maximum 95° F. and a rainfall of 130 inches. The wet season covers the period from December to May, the dry one from June to November.
Sourabaya is extremely fortunate in point of shipping, thanks largely to its geo- graphical position. Besides a modern, well equipped harbour, Sourabaya is provided with an excellent and safe roadstead. The entrance to the roads is 1,500 feet in width at the west, and the depth of water at low tide is 22 feet. At the East entrance, which widens to the open sea, the depth is about 16 feet and in the roads about 42 feet. The harbour has approximately 5,500 yards of quay and is fully equipped with electric cranes, dry-docks, and other loading and coating facilities. It lies about three miles from the centre of the town, to which it is linked by rail, road and water.
DIRECTORY
AANNEMING MIJ., N. V., ALGEM. BOU- WEN (A.B.A.M.), Building, Contrac- tors-
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AANNEMING MIJ., V/H FIRMA H. F. BOERSMA, N. V. NEDERLANDSCHE (N.E.D.A.M.)-Cable Ad: Nedam
AGENTUUR EN COMMISSIEHADEL M/RÖHR MAN, N. V. Sociteitstraat 17; Ca- ble Ad: Rolirman; Codes: Bentley's Complete Phrase and A.B.C. 6th Edition. Head Office: Tanah Abang West B8, Batavia-Centrum
ALGEMEENE NED. IND. ELECTRICITEIT MIJ., N. V., Electric Power Co., serving Java and Borneo. Importers of Electrical Accessories-Cable Ad: Energon; Codes: A.B.C. 5th, Tybo, Bentley, Mosse, Galland & Alpha
"AMSTERDAM", N. V., HANDELSVEREENIG- ING, Producers of Sugar, Producers and Exporters of Sisalfibre, Suma- tra Manila Fibre, Palm Oil, Palm Ker- nels, Tea, Tapioca, Rubber-Head Office: Sourabaya; Cable Ad: Victoria; Branch Office: Medan: Cable Ad: Victoria; Codes: Acme, A.B.C. 6th, Bentley's and Private