Directory_and_Chronicle_1906 — Page 814

SHANGHAI

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Chambers was the architect, and the new building adds an imposing feature to the Bund. Another fine building is the Central Police Station in Foochow Road, large and spacious, of red brick with stone dressings, but lacking frontage and surround- ing space to set it off to full advantage. The new Town Hall and Public Markets were completed in 1899, and form the first block of buildings erected by public funds for public use. They occupy a prominent site, which is bounded by four roads; the principal front being upon the Nanking road, after the Bund the main thoroughfare of the Settlement. The plan divides the block into two portions, the moiety facing Nanking Road being for use by the European community as a Town Hall and Market and the portion in rear as a Chinese Market. This latter is an airy open building 156 feet by 140 feet, two stories high, constructed entirely of iron and steel with concrete floors and a roof glazed in such a manner as to admit the north light only. A four-way staircase connects the two floors and is sur- mounted by an octagonal dome 40 feet diameter. The front building is of red brick with stone dressings. The lower floor consists of the European market 156 feet by 80 feet, and an arcade 156 feet by 45 feet employed for the same purpose. A special and striking feature of the building is the handsome staircase entered from Nanking Road and leading to the Town Hall on the first floor. The walls and arches of this staircase are finished in clean red brickwork with stone dressings, the steps being of concrete with stone handrails and ballusters, and encaustic tile floors to halls and landings. The Town Hall is also used by the Shanghai Volunteers for Drill purposes. It presents an imposing appearance, being 156 feet long, 80 wide, and 26 feet high to the tie- beams of roof, a massively timbered gallery crossing one end. The floor is of teak laid on steel joists and concrete. The open timbered roof is ceiled under the purlins almost up to the apex, with ribbed panels. The windows are of cathedral glass and the joinery and dado in this room are of polished teak. It is heated by large American stoves, and special attention has been given to the ventilation. Adjoining this Hall are other large rooms used for public meetings, a Volunteers' Club and other purposes. The buildings are lighted throughout by incandescent electric lights, the Town Hall having six 300 candle power incandescent lamps besides the numerous side lights. The whole of the buildings form an effective group although the narrowness of the streets on the East and West sides considerably detracts from the possibility of obtaining a good view of the block. took about eighteen months to erect and were built from the designs and under the superintendence of Mr. C. Mayne, c.E., the Municipal Engineer, and Mr. F. M. Gratton, F.R.I.B.A., of the firm of Morrison and Gratton of Shanghai, as joint architects and en- gineers. A New Mixed Court, an imposing structure, was completed in 1899. A monu- ment to the memory of Mr. A. R. Margary, of the British Consular service, who was murdered by Chinese in Yunnan, was unveiled in June, 1880, and a statue of the late Sir Harry Parkes, British Minister to Peking, was erected in 1890. A bronze monument in memory of the heroic death of the crew of the German gunboat Iltis, lost in a typhoon off the coast of Shantung on 25th July, 1896, was erected on the Bund, at the end of the Peking road, in November, 1898. The principal buildings on the French Concession are the Municipal Hall and the Consulate. A bronze statue of Admiral Protet, who was killed when directing an attack on Nan-yao on 17th May, 1862, stands in front of the Municipal Hall. The Public Markets of the French Concession are large and well built and are perfect as regards sanitary arrangements.

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The Council of the French Settlements voted in 1902 the amount of 90,000 Taels for the building of a street tramway-line from the Place de l'Est via the French Bund and the Rue de Consulat to the French Camp, but not a rail has yet been laid. The tramway scheme in the International Settlement is now in a more advanced state. A contract was entered into with a British firm early in 1903, but owing to general financial depression the firm asked for an extension of time which the council refused to grant and the company thereupon abandoned the conces- sion. A contract has now been entered into with another British firm, and an immediate commencement is to be made with the work.

INSTITUTIONS

Among the institutions of the place may be mentioned the Volunteer Defence Force, under the command of Lt. Col. W. M. Watson (West Riding Regiment) with Major Brodie A. Clarke as second in command. It consists of Staff 11, Light Horse 43, mounted Infantry 20, Artillery 57, Maxim Company 45, "A" Company 92, "B" Company 57, German Company 53, Customs Company 66, Japanese Company 51, Ambulance Corps