Directory_and_Chronicle_1908 — Page 1245

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

HAIPHONG

This is the shipping port for Hanoi, Hai-duong, and Namdinh, the commercial centres of Tonkin. It is situated in lat. 20 deg. 51 min. N., and long. 106 deg. 42 min. E. on the two rivers Cua Camand Song Tam Bac, which are connected by two or more channels or creeks with that great river connecting Yunnan with the Tonkin Gulf, called the Song-koi. The town of Haiphong is about sixteen and a half miles from the lighthouse. The light- house at the entrance of the river Cua Cam on the island of Hon-Do, is visible at a distance of about six miles. The entrance to the port is obstructed by two bars; the outer one sand, the inner one mud. Haiphong is accessible, however, by vessels drawing from 17 to 18 feet and after the completion of the "Conpure de Dinh-vie" for vessels drawing up to 24 feet. There is plenty of water in the river. Vessels anchor about a quarter of a mile from the shore in from 40 to 60 feet of water. The banks of the river are low and consist of alluvial mud, from which the present town has with great labour and expense been reclaimed.

Haiphong proper is situated on the Cua Cam and on both sides of the Song Tam Bac, and is in the midst of an extensive rice swamp with low lying swampy land allaround it for miles, having in the distance the monotony relieved by rugged ranges of low limestone hills, and beyond these to the northward, at a distance of some sixteen miles, is a range of mountains, the loftiest, known asthe Grand Summit, being about 3,000 feet high. Most of the native buildings are wretchedly constructed of mud, bamboo, and matting, but a well built European town with broad boulevards, lighted by electricity, has sprung up and is fast assuming the aspect of a prosperous city. Industries are developing, 2 cotton mill has produced yarn since 1900 and a cement factory has delivered cement and hydraulic lime since the end of 1901. There is a very pretty theatre, built in 1900 by the Municipality. The Hôtel du Commerce is a large and handsome structure, its lofty mansard roof dominating every building in the town. There is a church attached to the Roman Catholic Mission. A small dock and some fine wharves and godowns have been made. A Public Garden of rather limited area with a band stand in the centre has been neatly laid out at the end of the Boulevard Paul Bert. The Cercle du Commerce, which is a well managed Club, has its domicile in the Boulevard Paul Bert, the Cercle Banian, another prosperous Club, has its house in Boulevard Sontay. The Race Course is about a mile from the town on the Do Son road. There are several newspapers published in the town. The population of Haiphong is about 18,480, of whom less than 1,000 are Europeans, about 5,500 Chinese, and 12,000 Annamites. A regular service of river steamers is maintained between Hanoi and Haiphong by the Messageries Fluviales, and Haiphong is connected by submarine cable with Saigon and Hongkong. Haiphong is becoming an important centre of the Tonkin railways.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1908 — Page 1245

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