Directory_and_Chronicle_1891 — Page 490

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SHANGHAI.

The ground selected by Captain Balfour, the first British Consul, for a Settlement for his nationals, lies about half a mile north of the city walls, between the Yang-king- pang and Soochow Creeks, and extends backward from the river to a ditch connecting the two, called the Defence Creek, thus forming what may be called an island, a mile square. The port was formally declared open to trade on the 17th November, 1843. The French subsequently settled on the ground between the city walls and the British Concession, and in exchange for help rendered in driving out the rebels who had seized the city in 1853, got a grant of the land extending for about a mile to the south between the city walls and the river. They have since by purchase extended the bounds of the Concession westward to the "Ningpo Joss house," a mile from the river. Later on the Americans rented land immediately north of Soochow Creek, in the district called Hongkew, so that the ground now occupied by foreigners extends for about four miles on the left bank of the river. The land in the British Settlement was assessed in November, 1882, at Tls. 10,340,650, that in Hongkew at Tls. 3,550,660, an advance since 1880 of seventy per cent. The value, especially in Hongkew, may now be estimated very much higher. The assessed value of the land in the French Concession was Tls. 2,306,677 in 1885. The Chamber of Commerce in 1882 valued the lands in the three Settlements at Tls. 24,355,000 and the merchandise in stock at Tls. 32,645,000, together equal to fourteen and a quarter millions sterling. The British and French Concessions are now practically all built over, and the vacant spaces in Hongkew are being rapidly covered. Most of the land along the outside roads and at Pootung, on the opposite bank of the river, is now also rented by foreigners, but natives have recently been considerable purchasers of landed property within the Settlements. All ground belongs nominally to the Emperor of China, but is rented in perpetuity, a tax of fifteen hundred copper cash, equal to about a dollar and a quarter per mow, being paid to the Government annually. About six mow equal one English acre,

The approach by sea to Shanghai is now well lighted and buoyed, and the dangers of the ever shifting banks and shoals as well guarded as can be expected. Under the superintendence of the Engineering department of the Customs, lighthouses have been erected on West Volcano, Showeishan, North Saddle, Gutzlaff, Bonham, and Steep Islands, and at Woosung. There are also two lightships in the Yangtsze below Woosung.

As a port for foreign trade Shanghai grew but gradually until it gained a great impetus by the opening in 1861 of the Yangtsze and Northern ports, secured by the Treaty of Tientsin, and a further increase by the opening up of Japan. The first event of importance since the advent of foreigners was the taking of the city by the Triad rebels in September, 1853, who held it for seventeen months. This caused a large number of refugees to seek shelter within the foreign settlements, and the price of land rose very considerably. At that time a Volunteer force was formed among the foreign residents, under the command of Captain, now Sir Thomas, Wade, which did really good service. The battle of "Muddy Flat," when the Volunteers, in conjunction with the Naval forces, drove the Imperialists from the neighbourhood of the Settlements and burned their camps, was fought on 4th April, 1851. Owing to the occupation of the city the authorities were powerless to collect the duties, and it was in consequence agreed between the Taotai and the three Consuls (British, French, and United States') that they should be collected under foreign control. This was found to work so much to the advantage of the Chinese Government that the system was extended, subsequently to the Treaty of Tientsin, to all the open ports, and thus the Foreign Inspectorate of Customs was established, the head-quarters of which were for some years, and according to the original regulations ought still to be, at Shanghai. In 1861 the Taipings approached Shanghai and threatened the city and settlements. The taking of Soochow on 25th May, 1860, had driven a large number of the inhabitants of that city and the surrounding districts to Shanghai for protection, so that the native population increased rapidly. It was variously estimated at from four hundred thousand to a million, but the smaller number is probably nearer the truth. So immensely did the price of land rise that it is stated ground which had originally cost foreigners fifty pounds per acre was sold for ten thousand pounds. At this time the old Race Course and Cricket Ground was sold at such an enormous profit that after the shareholders had been repaid the original cost there was a balance of some forty-five thousand taels, which the owners generously devoted to the foundation of a fund for the use of the public, to be applied to the purposes of recreation only. Unfortunately thirty thousand taels of this amount was lent by the treasurer on his own responsibility to the Club, in which institution he was a shareholder. As the shareholders were never able to repay this loan out of the profits on the Club, the building and furniture were taken over in 1869 by the trustees on behalf of the Recreation Fund, to which the building still