Directory_and_Chronicle_1908 — Page 827

TSINANFU

Tsinan (or Chinan, as it is sometimes written), the capital of the province of Shantung, has the distinction of being the first city in the Chinese Empire in which a Foreign Commercial Settlement was voluntarily opened by the Government of China. The date of its inauguration was January 10th, 1906. The city of Tsinan lies at the foot of a range of hills (Lat. 36° 50′ N ; Long. 117° E), and has a gradual slope from south to north. Situated in the south-west suburb are magnificent springs giving forth many tons of water per minute, and the streams from these natural fountains flow through the city to a lake situated on the north side. This abundance of water tends to make Tsinan one of the cleanest as well as one of the healthiest cities in the Empire. The population is computed to number about 300,000, about one-twentieth of whom In an address delivered on the occasion profess the Mohamedan faith. of the inauguration of the Foreign Settlement, the Governor of Shantung described Tsinan as occupying a pivotal position with respect to northern and southern China and as being on the main route from Kaifeng Fu to the Yellow Sea. "An immense development," he declared, "must therefore await this Settlement, and though it may never equal the largest commercial centres of Europe and America, yet it may well hope to enter into rivalry with them." There are no indications at present of any rapid development in this direction, and it is practically certain that so long as the regulations framed for the government of the Settlement contain illiberal conditions which are absolutely unacceptable to foreigners, the governor's hopes are destined to remain unfulfilled. No foreigners have yet gone to reside in the Settlement except the German Consul and staff (whose houses are held under other conditions) and some employes of the Chinese Government. The Deutsch Asiatische Bank is erecting premises in the Settlement. Many Chinese houses have been built and more are in course of erection in the Settlement, but foreigners reside elsewhere.

Tsinanfu is connected by rail with Tsingtau (Kiaochau), distance 412 kilometers, and by canal with Yang Chiao Kou, on the Gulf of Chilli, distance 146 miles, whence there are occasional steamers to Chefoo. The Shantung Railway in 1906 carried 846,840 passengers and 381,649 tons of goods as against 803,527 and 310,480 respectively in the previous year, and the income rose from 81,912,296 to $2,168,897 with an increase of less than $1,400 in expenses (8911,737 against $910,382). The line paid a dividend of 44 per cent. There are, however, indications that 1907 has been less prosperous, owing to bad harvests and competition of the canal route. Tsinan stands five miles south of the Huang-ho or Yellow River, and in spite of some difficulties of navigation, there is a considerable junk traffic between its river port of Lo-kou and the Grand Canal, which enters the river eighty miles higher up. This trade is almost if not quite, entirely with the south, to Chining-chou and beyond, since the canal from the Huangho northward to Lin-ching-chou has been unnavigable for several years. The high road from Tsinan to the north crosses the Huang-ho by ferry at Chi-lio Hsien, distant sixteen miles. If railway communication should hereafter be established, as is proposed, with Tientsin and with Chinkiang, the commercial prospects of Tsinan would be brightened.

Tsinan is the head-quarters of the fifth division of the Chinese army, whose camp is a few miles south-west of the town. There has been an arsenal since 1874, north of the town, near Lok'ou on the Yellow River. There is also a military college. Since January, 1906, the main street of the city, the Governor's yamen, and some other public buildings have been lighted by electricity. Great activity has recently been evinced in building colleges and schools and among the interesting institutions of the town the Museum established by the English Baptist Mission should not be overlooked. The sacred mountian of China, Tai Shan (5,100ft.) is distant some 35 miles (60 by road) to the south. Küfu, the birthplace and the tomb of Confucius, and the residence of the Confucian duke are about 100 miles away in the same direction. The control of the Settlement is vested in a Bureau whose members are appointed by the Governor of the province.

i

!

Digitized by

Google