Directory_and_Chronicle_1898 — Page 574

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SHANGHAI

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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 3,235 deaths amongst the natives in the "Anglo-American Settlement in 1896, which would make the rate 13.4 per thousand, but that is without doubt very greatly under the real proportion: 928 deaths of natives were registered as from cholera in 1895 and 18 in 1896, and from small-pox 138 in 1895 and 316 in 1896. The thermometer ranges from 25 deg. to 103 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 October and November there is generally dry, clear, and delightful weather, equal to that found in any 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 w › 1rozen over at Woosung. The heat in the summer is sometimes excessive, b generally lasts only a few days at a time, In late years very severe gales have 1 come 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 33 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 twenty-two 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 building 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 crossing the Yang-king-pang. There are several good driving roads extending into the country, two leading to Sicawei, a distance of about six miles, and one to Jessfield by the banks of the Soochow Creek, for five miles. Another broad road, more recently constructed, runs by the side of the river for seven 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 Government, one of them extending for seventeen miles into the Country: but, excepting those close to the settlement, they have now been turned into ploughed fields. The foreshore in front of the settlement has been raised, turfed and planted with shrubs. The trees planted some years ago having now attained a good height, and several more imposing buildings having been completed, the English and French Bunds form as magnificent a boulevard as any in the East.

Many foreign houses, nearly all of them with several mon of garden ground, have been erected near the outside roads, especially on that leading to the Bubbling Well, which is the main outlet from the settlement, and from which most of the other tads branch off. This road and its extension to Sicawei is planted with trees on both ides, forming a fine avenue of over five miles in length. A small but well laid out and admirably kept Public Garden was formed about 1868 on land recovered from the iver in front of the British Consulate. It has been considerably extended in area reclaiming the foreshore. A general Public Garden, intended for Chinese, eight e in extent, by the bank of the Soochow Creek, was opened in December, 1890. here is a public conservatory well stocked with flowers and ferns.

Immense sums have been wasted in various attempts to drain the settlements, rincipally from the want of skilled direction; but the great difficulties in this matter, ising from the low lying and level nature of the ground, have now been fairly ercome. The settlements are well provided with telegraphic fire alarms. The desire the Municipal Councils to keep the monopoly in their own hands retarded for many ars the inauguration of water works, but a public company is now established, which mishes a continuous supply of filtered water at moderate rates. The electric light introduced in 1882, and lamps erected on the principal thoroughfares and wharves. 1893 the Municipality purchased the property and business of the Electric Company.

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