Directory_and_Chronicle_1885 — Page 411

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SHANGHAI.

over 500 members. In 1876 a District Grand Lodge for North China was con- stituted, with Shanghai as its head-quarters.

There are four Docks at Shanghai, the one at Tunkadoo, opposite the city, having a length of 380 feet over all with a depth at spring tides of 21 feet; the Old Dock at Hongkew is 400 feet long and 18 feet deep at springs, and the New Pock at Pootung at the lower end of the harbour measures 450 feet on the blocks with a depth at high water springs of about 21 feet. All steamers and most sailing vessels now discharge and load at the various public and private wharves. The premises of the Associated Wharf Company have a frontage of about three-quarters of a mile. The Chinese have au Arsenal and shipbuilding establishment at Kiou Chong-now, a short distance above the city. The Great Northern Telegraph Company's calle was laid to Shanghai in 1871, and that of the Eastern Extension Company last year, there being now two distinct Ines of communication with Europe. An overland line to Tientsin was opened in December 1881, which has recently been extended to within twelve miles of Peking. There iso a line west to Hankow and auth a far as Poochow. A railway constructed by a foreign company was opened to Woosung in June, 1876, but after running for sixteen months it was purchased and taken up by the Chinese Authorities. During the short time it was ruling the passenger traffic alone cover d the working expenses, having suficient profit to pay a small dividend. A scheme for Tramways in the elements was sanctioned soine time ago, but has not yet hen commenced. In 1877 the property of the Shanghai 11: Navigation Company, a foreign association owning the principal lines of steamers trading to the Yangtze aud Northern porta, was bought by the Chinese Govelume ut, acting through the China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company, for the sum of two million taels. The property then taken over consisted of about fifteen steamers, a dock, and extensive whurves and godowns in the French Settlement and at Hongkew. The China Merchants' Company, which in the interval had increased their fleet to twenty-six ress. la aud also their landed property at Shanghai, Tientsin and elsewhere, sold the whole of their property to Messrs. Russell & Co. in August last for the sum of five and a quarter million tails, about one and a third millions sterling. There are three other locally owned lines of steamers running on the coast and the river Yangtsze. Several manufactories under both native and foreign auspices have sprung up of late years, and would considerably increase were it not that the native authorities are offering the most determined opposition to any manufactures under the control of foreigners.

The hotel accommodati su of Shanghai was formerly, like that of Hongkong and Yokohama, of the most miserable description, but by the opening of the "Central, the rebuilding of the "Astor House" in 1876-77, and subsequently of the "Hotel des Colonies" in the French Concession, it is now in this respect unexcelled by any port in the East. There are three daily newspapers, the North China Daily News, morning, and the Shanghai Courier and Shanghai Mercury, evenings also two weeklies, the North China Herald and the Celshất Empire. tia two semi-religious weeklies. Thero are two native daily papers, the Shunjão and the Hu-pao. These are sold at the price of eight cash, equal to a farthing and a half, and have a very large circula- tion. In one matter, that of Postal accommodation, Shaughai is inconveniently over-supplied, there being British, Freuth, American, Japanese, Local, and Customis Post-offices. It is hoped that the Chinese Government may soon estal·lish a general postal department in connection with the International Union, to be under the control of the Foreign Customs, or that failing this the other Authorities may consent to all correspondence passing through either the British or Local Offices. Shanghai was made a port of Registry for British ships in 1874. All foreign hongs and even private houses have to give themselves fancy Chinese names, by which only they are known to the natives. The system is, however, found to havo its convc_iences. Jinrickshas to the number of 2,500 1,500 passenger wheelbarrows, and 200 horse vehicles ply for hire in the Settlements.

The currency of Shanghai is the tael weight of silver, cast into "shoes" of fifty taels, more or less. The foreign bauks issue notes of the value of five taels and

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