Directory_and_Chronicle_1915 — Page 841

SHANGHAI

spaces in Hongkew are being rapidly covered. The Captain-Superintendent of Police in a late report said that nearly the whole area "may be described as densely populated: how crowded few residents can have any conception." He thinks "that the native population is very much under-estimated," and considers that nearly three-quarters of a million earn their living within the Settlement. Many of the best foreign houses, both in the Settlements and outside roads, are now occupied by Chinese, retired officials and merchants.

A greatly enlarged boundary for the Settlement was granted in 1901. This new territory has been thoroughly surveyed and many new roads are being formed. The area within Municipal limits is now 8 square miles, or 5,584 acres, with a population of 93'4 per acre. There are in the whole Settlement and outside roads (exclusive of the French) 3,486 occupied European houses, with an average of 4:09 foreign inhabitants per house, and 52,983 occupied Chinese houses, with an average of 9626 occupants. There are 110 miles of roads and 93 miles of footways, and considerable additions, in the extension, are planned. The Japanese Treaty of 1896 gave that Power the right to a separate Settlement at Shanghai, but although 3,361 Japanese were residing in Shanghai at the time of the 1910 census no definite claim has yet been made for such an area. A proposed extension Northward to include the Paoshan district, necessitated by the difficulties of policing the boundaries, has received the unanimous support of the Ratepayers and the Consular body, and is now being pressed on the Chinese Authorities. Most of the land at Pootung, on the opposite bank of the river, is now also rented by foreigners, but natives have recently been considerable purchasers of landed property within the Settlements. All ground belongs nominally to the Emperor of China, but is rented in perpetuity, a tax of fifteen hundred copper cash, equal to less than two taels per mow, being paid to the Government annually. The Settlement land was bought from the original proprietors at about $50 per mou. which was at least twice its then value. Some lots have lately been sold at Tls. 80,000 to Tls. 110,000 a mow. Six mow equal one acre.

As a port for foreign trade Shanghai grew but gradually until it gained a great impetus by the opening in 1861 of the Yangtze and northern ports, secured by the Treaty of Tientsin, and a further increase by the opening up of Japan. In March, 1848, owing to an assault on some missionaries near Shanghai, Mr. Alcock, the British Consul, blockaded the port and stopped the passage outwards of eleven hundred grain junks. This drastic measure, by which grain for the North was cut off, brought the authorities to their senses, and after sending a man-of-war to Nanking the matter was arranged. The first event of importance since the advent of foreigners was the taking of the city on 7th September, 1853, by the Triad rebels, who held it for seventeen. months, although repeatedly besieged and attacked by the Imperialists. This caused a large number of refugees to seek shelter within the foreign Settlements, and the price of land rose very considerably. At that time a Volunteer force was formed among the foreign residents, under the command of Captain (afterwards Sir Thomas) Wade, which did really good service. The battle of "Muddy Flat" was fought on 4th April, 1854, when the Volunteers in conjunction with the Naval forces, consisting in all of 300 men with one field piece, drove the Imperialists, numbering 10,000 men, from the neighbour hood of the Settlements and burned their camps. Two of the Volunteers and one American were killed, and ten men wounded. Owing to the occupation of the city the authorities were powerless to collect the duties, which for a short time were not paid, and it was in consequence agreed in July, 1854, between the Taotai and the three Consuls (British, French, and American) that they should be collected under foreign control. This was found to work so much to the advantage of the Chinese Government that the system was, subsequently to the Treaty of Tientsin, extended to all the open ports. The Foreign Inspectorate of Customs was established in 1861, the headquarters of which were for some years, and, according to the original regulations, ought still to be, at Shanghai. In 1861 the Taipings approached Shanghai, occupied the buildings of the Jesuits at Sicawei, and threatened the city and settlements. The capture of Soochow on 25th May, 1860, had driven a large number of the inhabitants of that city and the surrounding districts to Shanghai for protection, so that the native population increased rapidly. It was variously estimated at from four hundred By 1861 provisions had increased in price to four times what they had been some yours. previously. Efforts were made to keep the rebels at a distance from Shanghai; & detachment of British Royal Marines and an Indian Regiment garrisoned the walls, while the gates on the side towards the French settlement were guarded by French Marines. In August, 1861, the city was attacked, and the suburbs between the city