Directory_and_Chronicle_1910 — Page 1226

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

There is also

SAIGON

1233

was

Cathedral of large and Artillery Park.

a stately Gothic proportions, in front of which has been erected the statue of Monseigneur Pigueau de Behaine, bishop of Adran, one of the first French missionaries who came to Cochin-China in the last century. A fine bronze statue of Gambetta stands in the Boulevard Norodom. There are two other Statues, one of Francis Garnier on the Boulevard Bonnard in front of the theatre, and another, that of Amiral Rigault de Genouilly, on the Rond Point Rigault de Genouilly. Saigon has two public gardens, the "Jardin de la Ville," which is maintained at the expense of the Municipality, and the Botanic Garden. The municipal theatre, which inaugurated in 1900, is a remarkable building erected at a cost over 2,000,000 fr. There is good docking accommodation, the Bassin de Radoub being one of the finest docks in the world, capable of receiving the largest men-of-war, and there are two floating lifts. Saigon has two steam rice mills. Two new petroleum godowns built by the Government at a cost of $18,000 are situated at Rach Doï, on the banks of the Saigon River (half way to the town). They are said to be large enough to receive over 400,000 cases. The agents of Messrs. Samuel & Co., of London, have built two petroleum tanks at Nhabé at the point where the Saigon River flows into the Donnaï. The largest of these is estimated to receive 2,300 cubic metres (81,190 cubic feet) of oil. There are (without reckoning the troops) about 3,500 Europeans and about 189 foreigners, of whom there are about 40 British subjects (Europeans and descendants of Europeans).

The M. M. steamers call twice a month at Saigon on their homeward and outward trips. Easy communication is afforded with the principal towns of the territory either by subsidized mail steamers, or railway. There is a railway with Chaudoc, Bien Hoa and beyond, and with Hoc Mon. The bridge of Binh-Loi was inaugurated on the 8th of March, 1902, over the river of Saigon, putting in direct communication the two rives des fleurs. It is a swing bridge and is of a total length of 276 metres supported by 6 piles (en maçonnerie et à 2-culées). All the principal towns of Cochin-China possess telegraphic communication, and a submarine cable unites the colony with Singapore, Hongkong Haiphong, Amoy. &c. The postal organization of the Colony is very complete and efficient; correspondence can be sent daily to almost all parts of the country. The Journal Officiel is published twice a week, and there are usually one or two other journals published, but they frequently change their titles, and lead a spasmodic existence. The Gia-dinh-bao is the native issue of the Journal Officiel.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1910 — Page 1226

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