Directory_and_Chronicle_1897 — Page 167

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SHANGHAI

There are four Docks at Shanghai, the one at Tungkadoo, opposite the city, having a length of 380 feet over all, with a depth at spring tides of 21 feet; the Old Dock at Hongkew is 400 feet long and 18 feet deep at springs; and the New Dock at Pootung, at the lower end of the harbour, measures 450 feet on the blocks, with a depth at high water springs of about 21 feet. A public company was formed last year to build another dock. All steamers and most sailing vessels now discharge and load at the various public and private wharves. The premises of the Associated Wharf Companies have a frontage of about three-quarters of a mile. The Chinese Government has an Arsenal, Dock, and shipbuilding establishment at Kaou Chung Mow, a short distance above the city. It commenced as a small rifle factory in 1867. The Great Northern Telegraph Company's cable was laid to Shanghai in 1871, and that of the Eastern Extension Company in 1884, there being now three distinct lines of communication with Europe. An overland line to Tientsin was opened in December, 1881, subsequently extended to Peking, and in 1894 connected with the Russian land lines through Siberia to Europe. There is also a line west to Hankow and south as far as Lungchow, on the Kwangsi border. A railway constructed by a foreign company was opened to Woosung in June, 1876, but after running for sixteen months it was purchased and taken up by the Chinese Authorities. During the short time it was running the passenger traffic alone covered the working expenses, leaving sufficient profit to pay a small dividend. Towards the close of 1895 consent was given by the Throne for the construction by the provincial authorities of a line of railway from Shanghai to Soochow, a distance of about eighty miles. When completed it is to be extended to Chinkiang and Nanking. A scheme for Tramways in the settlements was sanctioned some years ago, but they have not yet been commenced. There are four locally owned lines of steamers running on the coast and the river Yangtsze. Several manufactories under both native and foreign auspices have sprung up of late years, and would have done so in large numbers long ago had it not been that the native authorities offered strong opposition to any manufactures under the control of foreigners and prevented the importation of foreign machinery. Although the right under the Treaty to import machinery is quite clear, the British Government hesitated to enforce it, but the Japanese, in the treaty of 1895 which closed the war, obtained the insertion of a clause specially authorising its importation. The consequence is that the Mill-owners Union of Japan intend to build a mill of 50,000 spindles at Shanghai, and four companies have been floated, one under the auspices of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., one under those of the American Trading Company, one under the management of Messrs. Ilbert & Co. and one by Messrs. Arnhold, Karberg & Co., to build mills of 40,000 or more spindles each. It is understood that other mills, to be under the control of foreigners, are

being projected. But cotton manufacture has already made great strides in Shanghai, and with the number of mills working and the still larger number in course of construction, the place is rapidly assuming the appearance of a thriving district in Lancashire. The most extensive of these establishments is the magnificent mill of the Shanghai Cotton Cloth Administration on Yangtszepoo road, which was completed early in 1895 on the site of the former building, destroyed by fire in October, 1893. The new building is considerably larger than the old one, and contains 35,000 spindles, provision being made for largely increasing the number. It is owned chiefly by officials. Another mill, in which there are to be 20,000 spindles, has been planned for a Chinese syndicate on Yangtszepoo road, and it is intended to build another a little further up the road, which will also contain 20,000 spindles. Mr. Tong's ginning mill beside the Waterworks contains 100 Japanese gins. The cotton treated is used chiefly in the Chinese New Cotton Spinning Mills, an establish- ment containing 20,000 spindles. At the Kwong Tuk-chong ginning mill, near the Rifle Butts, there are 47 Japanese gins producing 90 piculs of cotton per day, which is all shipped to Osaka. On the Pootung side of the river there is the Pootung Cotton Cleaning and Working Company's mill, containing 32 McCarthy gins, with four openers. The cotton turned out of this establishment is also sent to Japan. Then there is Messrs. Mackenzie & Co.'s ginning mill in Amoy road, with 60 Japanese gins, producing 90 piculs of clean cotton per day, which is sent away to Japan. The same firm runs another large ginning mill on the Soochow Creek, while the owners of the Kwong Tuk-chong mill have also an extensive establishment of the same kind on the Creek. On Alpha Farm a Chinese company is erecting a large spinning mill, which is to contain 20,000 spindles, and on the other side of the Creek a ginning mill, with 72 Japanese gins. A little below the Sing-chang Filature on the north side of the Creek a cotton ginning mill is to be erected by Chinese. It is to contain 72 gins