Directory_and_Chronicle_1882 — Page 365

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SHANGHAI,

in the summer is sometimes excessive, but generally lasts only a few days at a.time. The summer of 1879 was an exception, being the hottest that has been known for many years, the thermometer reaching 99 deg. for several successive days, and the average maximun for July and August being 92.7. Last summer was cooler, but there were one or two very severe gales. The asnul average of rainy days in Shanghai during eight years was 124, the annual rainfall 42.464 inches; 55 wet days occurred in win'er, and 69 in summer; th heaviest shower wis on the 24th October, 1875, when 7 inches fell in 3 hours. Earthquakes occasionally occur, but have not been known to inflict any serious injury.

The streets of the English and French Settlements all run north anl south and east and west, mostly for the whole length of both settlements, crossing each other at right angles. Notwithstanding the soft nature of the soil they are now kept in remarkably good order, at least those near the river, the district chiefly occupied by Europeans. Owing to the nature of the ground, expensive piling is necessary before any foreign buildings can be erected, and all stone has to be brought from a long distance. The Soochow Creek, between the English Settlement and Hongkew, is now crossed by six bridges, three of which are adapted for carriage traffic, and the French is connected with the other Settlement by eight bridges. There are several good driving roa'ls extending into the country, two leading to Sicawei, a distance of five and a half miles, and one to Jessfield, by the banks of the Soochow Creek, for about seven miles. Another broad road, more recently constructed, runs by the side of the river for six miles. It is intended ultimately to extend it to Woosung. Several other roads have been proposed, but although foreigners are prepared to pay high prices for the land the opposition of the officials has hitherto prevented their construc- tion. At the time the Taipings approache1 Shanghai some roads for the passage of artillery were made by the British military authorities at the expense of the Chinese Government, one of them extending for seventeen miles into the country; but ex- cepting those close to the settlement they have now been turned into ploughed fields. An inland carriage road to Woosung, made at the expense of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. and others, has now also been reduced to a narrow footpath. The foreshore in front of the settlement has recently been raised, turfed and planted with shrubs. The trees planted some years ago having now attained a good height, and several more imposing buildings having been completed, the English and French Bunds form as magnificent a boulevard as any in the East.

Many foreign houses, nearly all of them with several mow of garden ground, have been erected near the outside roads, especially on that leading to the Bubbling Well, which is the main outlet from the settlement, and from which most of the other roads branch off. This road and its extension to Sicawei is planted with trees on both sides, forming a fine avenue of over five miles in length. A small but well laid out and admirably kept Public Garden was formed about 1868 on land recovered from the river in front of the British Consulate.

Immense sums have been wasted in various attempts to drain the settlements, principally from the want of skilled direction; but the great difficulties in this matter, arising from the low lying and level nature of the ground, have now been fairly overcome. The settlements are well provided with telegraphic fire alarms. The water supply is at present obtained by means of buckets from the river, and is unfit for cooking or drinking purposes unless both boiled and filtered. The desire of the Municipal Councils to keep the monopoly in their own hands retarded for many years the inauguration of water works, but sanction was given in August, 1880 to a public company to establish the much needed works, which are now in progress and it is expected will be iu operation this year.

Shanghai can boast of several fine buildings of various and varied styles of architecture. Trinity Cathedral, erected from a design by Sr Gilbert Scott, is one of the finest specimens of modern ecclesiastical architecture to be found out of Europe, but, from want of funds, the tower and spire, which is an essential part of the design, has not yet been built. There is a Roman Catholic Church in the French