PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :---
། ། ། །
C.O. 882
8
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
6
he replied: "I do not think the place can be good for trade as I can only buy land there' on condition that the Government can resume it at any time for the same price at which I originally bought it.”
12. Rents are high at Ts'ing-tau-about £200 a year being paid for a five-roomed bungalow. High rents are said to be due to the high price paid for land on account of the land regulations and to the fact that people are deterred from building because of the feeling of insecurity which exists through fear of Japan. I was much surprised to hear the latter reason, and was not inclined to believe it, but both the judge and Captain Wollseiffen informed me that such a fear undoubtedly exists. This may account for the strong antipathy to the Japanese which the Germans take no pains to conceal, and which is intensified by the fact that the success of the Japanese in the war has undoubtedly checked German ambitions in this part of the world. This feeling of dislike is reciprocated by the Japanese, who cannot forget the part Germany took to deprive Japan of the results of her victories over the Chinese and of the fact that the German Emperor was
horse. pro-Russian until it was seen that he had backed the wrong
13. On Thursday, the 17th May, the Governor kindly sent the band of the Marine Artillery to the hotel to play for us, and later on came to call for us to take us for a ride to inspect the work of afforestation which is being carried out under the superintendence of Mr. Haas, the Commissioner of Forests.
11. The hills around Ts'ing-tau were almost barren when the German Colony first started, but the Government has been devoting great attention for many years past to the work of covering them, chiefly with fir, with the result that the appearance of the hills is much improved.
Planting of other trees on the lower levels has also been carried on to a large extent. It is calculated that by 1907, about 2,000 acres will be afforested, when further planting on an extensive scale will cease.
15. Successful attempts have also been made to improve fruit production by grafting. The importation of fruit trees from Europe and California was commenced in 1900. Farmers have been instructed in grafting, and grafts are largely distributed among those who wish to utilise them. Foreign fruit appeared in the market for the first time in 1905, and it is hoped an export trade in fruit may gradually arise.
The work of afforestation and fruit growing has involved a considerable outlay, the estimated annual expenditure for forestry in 1904-5 and 1905-6 being £4,000. A similar amount has been spent in former years, so that the total expenditure is considerable.
16. On our way back from the inspection of Mr. Haas' excellent afforestation work, we visited the buildings now in course of erection for a new Government House. They occupy an excellent site with a fine view, and contain large and spacious rooms, but I was Surprised at the small number of bedrooms, sufficient only for one or two guests, in addition to the Governor's family. The building will be completed at the end of the year, and is estimated to cost about £10,000. The present Government House is made of wood, and was originally a Court at one of the Exhibitions in Europe. It was shipped It is not regarded as to Kiaochou from Germany in pieces, and put together on arrival. a suitable building, though it has a large dining-room, capable of seating 30 or 40 people, and fairly good reception rooms, which appear quite spacious enough for the purpose of entertaining the present European population of the Colony, which, exclusive of the military, amounts to 1,500 only. The number of the military is 2,000.
17. New Government officest have also been built since my last visit, at a cost of $83,000. They form an imposing pile of buildings, but they did not strike me as possessing much architectural beauty.
18. Our ride enabled us to judge of the roads of the Colony, which are excellent. They are wide and metalled, and well maintained. But the expenditure on them has been large, the estimated cost for building roads, &c. in 1904-5 being £89,200, a rate of expenditure which has been maintained for several years.
19. The Governor being very anxious for us to be present at Te'ing-tau for the races which were to take place the following week, I determined to leave for Chinan the
• Stae Photographs, Vol. 1, page 8. [0.0. Nora.—The Photographs are not re-produced.]
↑ Nee Photographs, Vol. I., page 3
•
7
following day, so as to be able to complete our visit there, and to be back at Te'ing-tau in time to see the races, and catch the weekly steamer for the North.
20.
We accordingly started on Friday, the 18th May, by the through train for Chinan which left at 7 a.m. Mr. Hildebrand, the Chief Representative of the Railway. Company, kindly placed at our disposal a private carriage which had been specially made to convey Prince Adalbert to Chinan, so we were able to travel in great comfort.
21. The railway from Ts'ing-tau to Chinan was built by the Shantung Railway Company formed at Berlin in June, 1899, with a capital of £2,700,000. The concession granted by the Chinese Government empowered that Company to construct in five years a railway from Ts'ing-tau to Chinan, a distance of 250 miles, and a branch line of about 27 miles, to the Poshan district. Work commenced in September, 1899, and on the 1st June, 1904, the railway was open for traffic to Chinan and Poshan.
22. The railwayt is being worked in a very efficient manner under the active and able superintendence of Mr. Hildebrand, who has been and continues to be the moving spirit of the undertaking. He informed me that a dividend of 3 per cent. would be paid this year.
When I mentioned this fact to the Governor, he smilingly said the railway would never pay more than 6 per cent. as the Government would then be entitled to a share of the profits, which, if ever paid, would be devoted to the support of the harbour works and the administration of Kiaochou. The German Government has also the right of taking over the railway at a fair price at the end of 60 years.
23.
When I travelled on the line in 1903, the passenger traffic was not great, but on the occasion of the present journey, the increase in the number of passengers was very noticeable. The following figures show how the passenger traffic has grown :—
Arrivals from Interior.
Departures for Interior.
1902
70,099
77,551
1903
86,919
93,195
1904
92,198
100,921
1905
123,393
135,176
24. As regards goods traffic, the railway conveyed during 1905, 303,000 tons of goods. The value of the foreign goods forwarded. to the interior during 1905 was Hk. Taels 8,880,749 as compared with Hk. Taels 6,998,977 in the previous year. Particulare regarding the foreign goods conveyed to the interior in 1905 will be found in Appendix II.
25. After a pleasant journey we reached Chinan at 7.30 p.m., having travelled for 12 hours. The country through which we passed was looking very pretty in its summer garb, the scenery being much more homelike than is usual in the Far East.
26. The railway is policed throughout by police of the Chinese Government, representatives of which we saw at every station. At one time it was said that the German Government was attempting to induce the Chinese Government to allow the former to police the line, but the latter refused to consent to such an arrangement, and the result of the recent war no doubt helped them to carry their point.
27. The Governor had deputed two officials to meet us at a station some way down the line, and on arrival we were welcomed by a large number of officials, the British Consul, Mr. Clennell, and representatives of the British community. On leaving the train I inspected the guard of honour and was saluted with 15 guns. We then proceeded in chairs to the city, which we did not reach till about 8.45 p.m. The station being situated at so long a distance from the city is very inconvenient for those who use the
See Photographa, Vol. II., page 6.
t
и
" I., pages 10, 11.
↑ Haikwan Taal : 38. 0μd.