Directory_and_Chronicle_1910 — Page 680

TAINAN, TAKOW, AND ANPING

The city of Tainan (until 1889 known as Taiwan), situated in lat. 23 deg. 6 min. N., and long. 129 deg. 5 min. E., is the commercial capital of Formosa. It is for an Eastern city moderately clean and well paved. The walls are some five miles in circumference. The shipping port of Tainan-fu is Anping, situated on the coast about three miles to the eastward of the city and connected with the suburbs by a creek. The port is an open roadstead, vessels having to anchor a mile or so from the beach. From the 1st November to the end of May the anchorage is a perfectly safe one, but during the S. W. monsoon a heavy swell sets in, rendering it difficult, and at times impossible, for vessels to load or discharge. The foreign residents in 1907 numbered 36 British subjects. No persons of any other European nationality

nationality are now resident here. Tempered by sea breezes, Anping during the summer months can boast of a cool climate. From 1st October to the end of April there is little or no rain, and the temperature 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 1908 to £3,068,092, showing an increase of £835,487 on the trade of the previous year. The average increase for the previous five years works out at £1,431,227. Kerosene is the only import which remains in the hands of foreigners. The Government has been giving every encouragement to the sugar industry and many new sugar mills have been erected in South Formosa by Japanese companies during the past few 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 For mosan 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 received no equivalent.

years.

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 1908 was 73 of 110,314 tons, while the coasting vessels, principally Japanese, num- bered 336, and their tonnage totalled 530,181. 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 via 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 Tamsui 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 ca be obtained. The harbours have been completely surveyed and the estimated cost $6,500,000.