Directory_and_Chronicle_1888 — Page 435

410

SHANGHAI,

but that is probably under the real number. The thermometer ranges from 25 deg. to 100 deg. Fahrenheit, the mean of eight years having been 59.2 deg.; winter being 39.1 spring 50.9, summer 78.2, and autumn 62.6. Shanghai approaches nearest to Rome in mean temperature, while the winter temperature of London and Shanghai are almost identical. In the months of October and November there is generally dry, clear, and delightful weather, equal to what can be found in any other part of the world; but when the winter has fairly set in the north-east winds are extremely cold and biting. On January 17th, 1878 the river was frozen over at Woosung. The heat in the summer is sometimes excessive, but generally lasts only a few days at a time. In late years very severe gales have become more frequent. The annual average of rainy days in Shanghai during eight years was 124, the annual rainfall 32.464 inches; 55 wet days occurred in winter, and 69 in summer; the heaviest shower was 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 and 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 roads extending into the country, two leading to Sicawei, a distance of about six 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 approached 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 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 Euglish 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. It is now proposed to considerably extend its area by reclaiming the foreshore.

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 desire of the Municipal Councils to keep the monopoly in their own hands retarded for many years the inauguration of water works, but a public company has now been established, which furnishes a continuous supply of filtered water at mode- rate rates. The Electric light was introduced in 1882; lamps have been erected at the wharves and on the principal thoroughfares, but it has not yet proved quite satisfactory.

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