Directory_and_Chronicle_1913 — Page 894

SHANGHAI

849

the Chinese in that year, of 655 in 1907, of only 8 in 1908 and of none in 1909, 1910, or 1911; scarlet fever for 1,500 in 1902, of whom 27 were non-Chinese; but an average of only 50 in the subsequent eight years, and tuberculosis for 2,000 in 1902, steadily decreasing to 618 in 1: 10 and 789 in 1911; but the Health Officer in his report for 1910 thinks that deaths are hidden or intentionally returned from other causes, as a result of disinfection being carried out. The thermometer ranges from 25 deg.. to 103 deg. Fahrenheit, the mean of eight years having been 59.1 deg., the average being 41,9, 65, 77,8 and 52.5 for first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively. Shanghai approaches nearest to Rome in mean temperature, while the winter temperature of London and Shanghai are ahost identical. The mean daily range averages 15.6', be- ing rom 13.3' during the first to 16.6 during th second quarter. In October and November there is generally dry, clear, and delightful weather, equal to that found in any part of the world; but when the winter has fairly set in the north east winds are extremely cold and biting. On January 17th, 1878, the river was frozen over at Woosung. The heat during July and August is sometimes excessive, but generally lasts only a few days at a time. In late years very severe gales have become more fre- quent. The mean of the barometer is from 29.77 in the third to 30.26 inches in the first quarter. The annual average of rainy days in Shanghai during eight years was 124; 55 wet days occurred in winter, and 69 in summer; the annual rainfall averages 44.27 inches, 14.31 in winter and 29,96 in summer: the heaviest shower was on the 4th Octo- ber, 1875, when 7 inches fell in 33 hours. The mean degree of humidity is from 76 in the winter to 8 in the summer months.

DESCRIPTION

The streets of the British and French Settlements all run north and south and east and west, mostly for the whole length of both, crossing each other at right angles. They were when first laid out twenty-two feet wide, but have since at very great expense been mostly made much wider. Under the new Regulations power to compel the sale of land required for public purposes has been secured. Notwith- standing the soft nature of the soil the roads are kept in remarkably good order, at least the main thoroughfares. In consequence of the introduction of trains the whole track of the Maloo, one mile in length, has been laid with Jamal hardwood blocks, and the section of Nanking Road. between Kiangse Road and the Bund has been so paved in its entire width. The Municipal Council now leases a stone quarry at Pingchiao, in Chekiang, about 150 miles south-west of Shanghai, from which they obtained 15,566 fong of good stone, and 1,979 tong of unsound stone in 1911. Owing to the nature of the ground, expensive piling or concrete foundations are necessary before any building over one story in height can be erected, and all stone has to be brought from a long distance. The Soochow Creek, between the British Settlement and Hongkew, is now crossed by seven bridges, six of which are adapted for carriage traffic, and the French concession is connected with the other settlement by eight bridges crossing the Yang-king-pang. Six new bridges were erected in 1901 to connect the extended settlements. A new steel bridge over the mouth of the Soochow Creek was completed in 1908, replacing the wooden "Garden Bridge” erected in 1873. It has two equal spans of 171' 2", the width is 60 feet with a carriage way of 36 feet 9 inches; the gradient of the approaches is 1 in 30; the headway above high-water from 6'6" to 11". It has been proposed to eulvert and fill in the Creek between the General and French Settlements and to make a broad thoroughfare along its line, but the scheme is in abeyance. There are several good driving roads extending into the country, two leading to Sicawei, a distance of about six miles, and one to Jessfield by the banks of the Soochow Creek, for five miles, with an extension measuring some thirteen miles to the extreme limits of the Shanghai hsein district. A scheme for the construction of a road from Sicawei to the hills, eighteen miles, has been sanctioned, and marked out, but owing to official obstruction it has not yet been commenced. Another broad thoroughfare, Yangtzepoo Road, runs by the side of the river for five miles, which it is intended ultimately to extend to Woosung. The termini of Jessfield Road and Yangtzepoo Road now mark the limits in their separate directions of the Foreign Settlements. The land for a new road from Sicawei to Jessfield was acquired in 1905. Several other roads have been proposed, but although foreigners are prepared to pay high prices for the land the opposition of the officials has hitherto prevented their construction. Now, however, by the granting of the extension of the Settlements the Municipal Council has the right to build and police roads in certain adjacent districts. At the time the Tai- pings approached Shanghai, some roads for the passage of artillery were made by the British military authorities at the expense of the Chinese Government, one of