Directory_and_Chronicle_1912 — Page 1236

SANTUAO-FOOCHOW

1005

Tien-cheang

DODWELL & Co., LD., Merchants

Agencies

The Asiatic Petroleum Co., Ld.

The Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co., Ld.

JARDINE, MATHESON & CO., LD., Merchants

Agencies

Indo-China Steam Nav. Co., Ltd. Canton Insurance Office, Ltd.

局政郵 三清大

POST OFFICE, IMPERIAL CHINESE

Acting sub-district Postinaster

Kaik-jong

Lau

(N.B.--Letters should be addressed:

Santuao wa Foochow)

TELEGRAPHS, IMPERIAL CHINESE Clerk-in-Charge-- Y. 1). Wei

FOOCHOW

州福 Fuh-chan

Foochow (or Ful-chau-fu) is the capital of the Fokien province. It is situated in lat. 26 deg. 20 min 24 sec. N., and long. 119 deg. 20 min. E. The city is built on a plain on the northern side of the river Min, and is distant about thirty-four miles from the sea, and nine miles from Pagoda Island, where foreign vessels anchor.

The attention of foreigners was early attracted to Foochow as a likely place where commercial intercourse could be profitably carried on in the shipment of Bohea Tea, which is grown largely in the locality. Before the port was opened, this article used to be carried overland to Canton for shipment, a journey which was both long and difficult. The East India Company, as early as 1830, made representations in favour of the opening of the port, but nothing definite was done till the conclusion of the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. The early years of intercourse with the natives were anything but what was anticipated. The navigation of the river was difficult, there was no market for imports, and several attacks by the populace rendered the port an undesirable place of residence for some time. It was not until some ten years after the port had been opened that there was much done in the export of tea from the interior, but after that the quantity shipped increased largely, and Foochow became one of the principal tea ports in China. Since 1880, when the tea trade of the port reached its highest figure, the prosperity of the place has been on the wane. Local teas are only wanted now if they can be bought cheaply enough to bring down the prices of Indian and Ceylon blends, and that demand for them for their own sake will soon cease. Within 20 years á valuable trade has dwindled to the most meagre dimensions, and thousands of acres must have gone out of cultivation. Apart from the tea business the trade of the port has shown some improvement in the last decade.

A few years ago extensive mining concessions were granted in the north and west of the province of Fukien to a Chinese and French syndicate, with a view to mining for gold. A French mining engineer of high repute made a careful survey of all the gold fields at Shao-wu Fu, and reported them very valuable and all worth working. A company with a capital of one and a quarter million dollars was reported to have been formed to work the mines, but operations were delayed until the privilege expired and nothing has been done.

The city is built around three hills, and the circuit of the walled portion is between six and seven miles in length. The walls are about thirty feet high and twelve feet wide at the top. The streets are narrow and filthy, but the number of trees about the official quarter of the city, and the wooded hills enclosed by the walls, give a picturesque appearance to the general view. Two well-preserved pagodas stand within the city walls. Near the east gate of the city are several hot springs, which are used by the natives for the cure of skin diseases and are believed to be efficacious. The Foochow people excel in the manufacture of lacquer ware of all kinds. What is known as “No. 1, Lacquer" is regarded as the best made in the world. These goods received gold medals at the St. Louis World's Fair. There are several grades of lacquer, but all are having large sales, also the manufacture of miniature monuments, pagodas, dishes, etc., from what is called "soap stone," and inthe construction of artificial flowers, curious figures of birds, etc. A few miles above the city the river divides into two branches, which, after

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