Directory_and_Chronicle_1893 — Page 423

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

YOKOHAMA

mountain 12,370 feet high-celebrated in Japanese literature and depicted on innu- merable native works of art is most distinctly visible though some seventy-five miles distant. Yokohama is compactly built of low houses with tiled roofs. The town is divided into two nearly equal parts, the western half being occupied by the foreign settlement. Beyond the plain on which the town is built rises a sort of semicircle of low hills called "The Bluff," a special concession made to foreigners subsequent to the founding of the Settlement, which is now thickly dotted with handsome foreign villas and dwelling-houses in various styles of architecture, all standing in pretty gardens. From these dwellings charming prospects are obtainable. The Bluff is about 150 feet higher than the Settlement, and is much more salubrious. Along the water-front of the foreign settlement runs a good road called the Bund, on which, facing the water, stand many of the principal houses and hotels and the United Club. The streets in the foreign settlement are fairly paved, kerbed, and drained. There are Anglican, French Catholic, Union Protestant, and native Mission Churches in the settlement. A fine Cricket and Recreation Ground exists in the Settlement, and there are well laid out Public Gardens on the Bluff. There is a fairly good Race Course situated about two miles from the Settlement. A good Boating Club also exists, which has provided facilities for deep sea bathing. The Public Hall, containing a theatre and assembly rooms, neatly built of brick, is situated at the top of Camp Hill, and was opened in 1885. The chief public buildings in the native town are the Kencho, opposite the British Consulate, the Town Hall, which has a clock tower, and the Custom House, a fine building erected in 1885. The Railway Station is also a creditable structure, being a well designed and commodious terminus. The town is now in the enjoyment of an excellent water supply, large Waterworks having been completed in 1887. The harbour is much exposed, and new works for its improvement have been commenced by the Government, which it is hoped will be completed early in 1894. These include two breakwaters of an aggregate length of 12,000 feet, so projected as to practically enclose the whole of the anchorage, leaving an entrance 650 feet wide between their extremities.

A pier 2,000 feet long at which vessels may load or discharge is also included in the scheme. A graving dock will probably be constructed by private enterprise. Yokohama is well supplied with hotels, some of which afford good accommodation. There are four English daily papers published in the port, namely, the Japan Gazette, the Japan Herald, Japan Daily Mail, Japan Daily Advertiser; the Mail and Gazette also issue weekly editions.

The population of Yokohama numbered, on the 31st December, 1891, 132,809. The number of foreign residents in 1891 was 4,020, of whom 3,348 were Chinese, 714 British, and the rest of various nationalities.

The imports into Yokohama consist chiefly of cotton and woollen goods. In 1891, the values of the different classes of imports were as follows:-Cotton manufactures, $6,277,702; woollen and mixed cotton and woollen manufactures, $3,165,953; metals and manufactures of, $2,651,137; kerosine $2,284,759; sugar, $1,747,587: miscellaneous, $9,840,712; total, $28,967,8-40. The total value of the exports was $19,540,894 in 1891. Silk is the most valuable of the exports, being set down at $31,740,826. The value of the tea exported was $4,305,389. The total export of raw silk during the season from 1st July, 1891, to same date 1892, was 51,900 bales. The total export for the previous year was 33,662 bales. The export of tea during the season 1st May, 1891, to same date 1892, was 32,294.723 lbs., nearly all for America. The export during the previous season was 27,219,996 lbs.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1893 — Page 423

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