Directory_and_Chronicle_1909 — Page 767

TAINAN, TAKOW, AND ANPING

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breezes, Anping during the summer months can boast of a cool climate. 1st October to the end of April there is little or no rain, and the tempera ture leaves nothing to be desired. The value of the total foreign trade of the Tainan district, comprising the two ports of Anping and Takow, amounted in 1907 to £2,232,605, showing an increase of £148,084 on the trade of the previous year. The average for the previous five years works out at £1,374,318. Kerosine is the only import which remains in the hands of foreigners. The Government-General has established a special bureau for the encouragement of the sugar industry and the management of all matters relating to sugar. Its object is to improve the methods of cultivation and manufacture of sugar. Sugar milling in Formosa has recently been attracting a good deal of attention in Japan. Three new sugar mills are being erected in South Formosa by Japanese companies. Of the six staples of Formosan trade, namely, tea, opium, camphor, salt, sugar and rice, three-opium, camphor and salt-have already been monopolised by the Formosan Government-General, which now derives three-fourths of its ordinary revenue from these sources. Formerly, the trade in opium and camphor in this district was in the hands of the few foreign merchants at this port, and amounted, before the Japanese occupation, to nearly £250,000 annually. Since the creation of the monopolies the merchants have thus been deprived of two-thirds of their income. They feel the hardship particularly in the case of the camphor trade, which was originated and developed in this district entirely by their capital and enterprise, and for the loss of which they have as yet received no equivalent.

Takow is a port twenty-four miles to the southward of Anping. It takes little or no share in the import trade, but is a principal centre for the sugar export trade.

The last stand against the Japanese was made at Tainan, Takow, and Anping by Liu Yung-fu, the Black Flag General. Takow was bombarded on the 15th October 1895, and the resistance collapsed without any serious fighting, and Tainan and Anping were occupied on the 21st October.

Foreign shipping has been injuriously affected in recent years by a decrease in the volume of trade with the opposite coast, caused by the increased tariff on imports and the imposition of export duties in Formosa. The number of foreign vessels entering these two ports in 1907 was 64 of 86,021 tons, while the coasting vessels, principally Japanese, num- bered 227, and their tonnage totalled 359,915. The Japanese Government grants a subsidy of 61,028 yen to the Osaka Shosen Kaisha for a fortnightly steamer service between Anping and Hongkong via Amoy and Swatow, and since 1902 there has been a direct steamer service between the ports of Japan and the southern ports of Formosa, for which the same Company receives a subsidy of 124,800 yen. A further subsidy of 143,825 yen is paid to the Company for a service of steamers around the coast of Formosa throughout the year.

The construction of a through railway from Takow as its southern terminus viâ Tainan and Kagee to Taihoku in the north, was begun in the latter part of 1899. The period of construction was estimated at 10 years, and the cost at 28,800,000 yen, which it was decided to raise by the issue, yearly, of Formosa Industrial Public Loan Bonds at certain fixed amounts. This Trans-Formosan railway is now completed and is in full operation. Its total length, including the branch line from Tanisui to Taihoku is 259 miles 71 chains. A private light railway from Kagi to Arizan, 41 miles in length, is being constructed by the Japanese firm which has the monopoly for the exploitation of the magnificent cryptomaria forests of Aruzan, near Mount Morrison. The railway is being constructed for the purpose of conveying timber.

The proposed harbour works at Takow and Anping and the other public works are postponed, but will be proceeded with as soon as the necessary appropriations can be obtained. The harbours have been completely surveyed and the estimated cost is $6,500,000.