Directory_and_Chronicle_1894 — Page 421

YOKOHAMA

Yokohama is the principal Treaty port of Japan, and was opened to foreign trade in July, 1859. It is situated on the Bay of Yokohama, a small bay on the Western side of the Gulf of Yedo, in lat. 35 deg. 26 min. 11 sec. N., and long. 139 deg. 39 min. 20 sec., in the island of Honshiu, and is distant about eighteen miles from the capital, with which it is connected by a line of railway. The settlement stands on what was originally a swamp, and-the town having sprung up from a poor fishing village only since the site was selected for a treaty port instead of the little town of Kanagawa-possesses few attractions for the visitor. The scenery around, however, is hilly and pleasing, and on clear days the snow-crowned summit and graceful outlines of Fuji-san, a volcanic 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 are in progress, which it is hoped will be completed early in 1894. These include two breakwaters of an aggregate length of 12,000 feet, BO 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, Japan Herald, Japan Daily Mail, and Japan Daily Advertiser; the Mail and Gazette also issue weekly editions.

The population of Yokohama numbered, on the 31st December, 1892, 143,252. The number of foreign residents was 4,927, of whom 3,339 were Chinese, 763 British, and the rest of various nationalities.

In 1892 the values of the different classes of imports were as follows:- Arms, Machinery, Clocks, &c......$2,536,157 Metals and Manufactures of

Cotton, Raw

Cotton Yarn

Cotton Piece Goods

Drugs, Medicines, &c.

Kerosine Oil

1,694,443 Sugar....

.$2,627,751 5,215,418

3,591,274 Wool and Woollen Manufres..

2,624,044 Sundries

... 4,027,833 6,031,598

1,264,788

1,715,598

$31,328,904

The values of the principal articles of export in the same year were as follows:- Grain, Beverages, and Provns. ...81,689,286 Tea

Metals

Silk

2,325,967 Sundries .39,502,851

Silk and Cotton Piece Goods...... 8,596,553

$4,527,703

4,909,844

$61,552,204

The total export of raw silk during the season from 1st July, 1892, to same date 1893, was 46,855 bales. The total export for the previous year was 40,041 bales. The export of tea during the season 1st May, 1892, to same date 1893, was 29,346,987 lbs., pearly all for America. The export during the previous season was 29,957,597 ĺbs.