Directory_and_Chronicle_1892 — Page 536

SHANGHAI

the Settlements. As they found some amenities from "squeezing" when under the protection of foreigners, and foreigners themselves being able to obtain a much higher mental for their land, and finding native house property a very profitable investment, no apposition was made to their residence. In 1870 there were in the three Settlements 75,047. The numbers by the last census (June, 1890) were, in the British Settlement 719, in Hongkew 44,435, in Foreign Hongs in both Settlements 7,113, villages and huts 4520, in shipping and boats 6,342, total 168,129. The native population of the French Concession on 24th June last was 34,722 and the boat population about 6,000; say a total for the three Settlements and those afloat of 208,000, more than half of whom are adult males. The majority are immigrants from other provinces who followed in the wake of foreigners. The population of the native city is supposed to be about 125,000. The large congregation of natives in the Settlements is kept in admirable order by a Police force of 60 Europeans, Indians, and 290 natives for the north of the Yang-king-pang, and 40 foreigners and natives for the French Concession. As the natives have to be tried by their own thorities, and bribery doubtless works its effects in Shanghai as elsewhere in China, the difficulties of organizing and efficiently working such a small force are considerable. In few places is life and property more secure.

The climate of Shanghai is generally allowed to be fairly healthy. The death rate mongst foreigners ashore and afloat during the past seventeen years has ranged from 17.2 per thousand (in 1884) to 30.8 per thousand (in 1881). The rate in 1890, calculated on the asis of the census taken in June, of that year, was 23.79 per thousand. Partial outbreaks of cholera have occurred at intervals in recent years, but the great majority of the enses were among the ships in harbour. The number, 32, in 1890, was the highest recorded. Of these, 18 were amongst residents. If we exclude non-residents the death rate was 2063 per thousand in 1890 and has varied, so far as can be estimated in the absence of an annual census, from that, which is the highest recorded, to 14.2 per 1,000 in 1884, a rate which compares favourably with that of large towns in Europe. The Health Officer in a late report says that out of the seventy-five deaths registered, there were but nine which can in any sense be termed climatic." The Chinese authorities reported 3,295 deaths amongst the natives in the "Anglo-American Settlement" in 1890, which would make the rate 19.6 per thousand, but that is no doubt considerably under the seal number: 605 of these deaths were registered as from cholera and 79 from small-pox. 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 that 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 34 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. They were when first laid out 22 feet wide, but have since at very great expense been mostly made much wider. 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 or concrete foundations are 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 a'sis miles, and one to Jessfield by the banks of the Soochow Creek, for about seven mes. Another broad road, more recently cons- tructed, 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 construction. 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 Goverment, one of them extending for seventeen miles into