Directory_and_Chronicle_1883 — Page 472

WLADIWOSTOCK.

This port, on some charts still called Port May, lies in latitude 43 deg. 7 min. N. and longitude 131 deg. 54 min. E., at the southern end of a long peninsula reaching into Peter the Great Bay. Of all the Russian ports on the sea of Japan in the maritime province of East Siberia, it is by far the most important, both as a military and commercial centre. It is a free port except for the importation of alcohol, which is subject to duty. Wladiwostock is one of the most magnificent harbours in the East. From its peculiar long and narrow shape and the once supposed hidden treasures in the slightly auriferous soil of its surrounding hills, it has not inappro- priately been called the Golden Horn. The entrances to the harbour are hidden by the large Russian Island, still better known as Dundas Island, which divides the fairway into two narrow passages, an eastern and a western one. This fine sheet of water first runs for about half a mile in a northern direction and then suddenly bends to the east for a distance of about one mile. On all sides it is surrounded by hills, low on the southern and higher on the northern shore, and which slope sharply down to the water's edge. These hills, once verdant with foliage, have been com- pletely denuded of trees by reckless felling. The harbour, capable of accom- modating an almost unlimited number of vessels of deep draught and large capacity, affords a safe anchorage. It is usually closed by ice from about Christmas till the beginning of April, but even then ships may safely approach the entrance by making either for Diomed Bay or some of the numerous sheltered anchorages along the eastern shore of Dundas Island. The transit of cargo is then effected to Wladiwostock over the ice.

This port, now the chief Naval station of Russia on the Pacific, is governed by an Admiral appointed from home, but whose jurisdiction does not extend beyond the peninsula. The Governor is independent of the Governor-General of the province or of the Government of Irkutsk, receiving his instructions direct from St. Petersburg. He is aided by a staff of naval and military officers, as well as by a Mayor and Town Council elected by and from among the Russian civil community. The town is built on the southern slope of the hills running along the northern shore of the harbour. The entire area, with the exception of many unoccupied lots intervening here and there, is covered by buildings. Most conspicuous among these are the Government Offices, the Barracks, and the Governor's residence, which is surrounded by a Public Garden, while the houses of the more affluent merchants are well and substantially built. In the Public Garden the pleasing strains of a town- band may be heard twice a week during summer time. There is a Naval Club, to which civilians are admitted as non-voting members; two or three hotels; a Gym- nasium, or School for boys; an Institute for young ladies; and a General Hospital.

On the whole, the first impression of Wladiwostock, as seen from the harbour, is a pleasing one. It has all the appearance of a rising city, though of course it cannot compare with either Shanghai or Hongkong. Not more than eighteen years ago the site of Wladiwostock was little better than a wilderness, where wild beasts disputed the possession of the soil with man. There was then but one merchant and a detachment of about one hundred soldiers in the settlement; the city now contains upwards of 10,000 souls, most of whom are of European extraction. We have no statistics of the trade of the port, but it is known to be steadily increasing. The tonnage of vessels entering the port in 1881 is given as 35,265 tons, principally Russian, German, and British.