Directory_and_Chronicle_1915 — Page 851

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SHANGHAI

however, was exceptional. The number of registered deaths of foreign residents, including non-Chinese Asiatics, was 307 (including 103 children), and of non-residents, 60, in 1913. Partial outbreaks of cholera have occurred at intervals, but the larger proportion of the cases were among the ships in harbour. The highest recorded number of deaths from this cause among foreigners was 32 in 1890. Of these, 11 were amongst residents. In the years 1892 to 1894, 1897 to 1901 (inclusive) and in 1905 and 1910, 1911, and 1913 there were no deaths from cholera among foreign residents, but there were 14 in 1912, the average being slightly over four per annum during the last twenty years. The highest number of deaths of foreign residents from small-pox was 21 in 1907. There were twelve deaths from this cause in 1913; but the average during the last twenty years has been seven per annum.

In winter, cases of small-pox and typhoid are frequent among the natives. Amongst the shore population the death rate was 12.1 per thousand in 1906, of which 15 per thousand were from zymotic causes, against a rate of 2:19 per thousand from these diseases in England. The rate in 1907 was 179, in 1908 159, in 1909 167, in 1910 202, in 1911 168, in 1912 21, and in 1913 215. These rates compare favourably with those of many large towns in Europe and America. The Health Officer in a late Report says that "out of the seventy-five deaths registered there were but nine which can in any sense be termed climatic." There were reported 9,663 deaths amongst the natives in the "Anglo-American Settlement” in 1912 and 8,062 in 1913, which make the rate 19.3 and 158 per thousand. Small-pox, which in 1909 claimed only 19 victims, was the cause of 863 deaths of natives in 1907, the annual average during the past two decades being 226; cholera, which was responsible for 1,500 deaths in 1902, was entirely absent in 1904 and 1905, but reappeared towards the close of 1906, and was the cause of 193 deaths among the Chinese in that year, of 655 in 1907. of only 8 in 1908, and of none since; scarlet fever for 1,500 in 1902, and 27 non-Chinese; but an average of only 8 in the subsequent ten years, and tuberculosis for 2,000 in 1902, steadily decreasing to 618 in 1910, but then gradually increased to 1,008 in 1913. The Health Officer in his report for 1910 thinks that deaths are hidden or intentionally returned from other causes, as a result of disin- fection being carried out. The thermometer ranges from 25 deg., to 103 deg. Fahrenheit, the mean of eight years having been 591 deg., the average being 41′0, 65, 778 and 52′5 for first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively. Shanghai approaches nearest to Rome in mean temperature, while the winter temperatures of London and Shanghai are almost identical. The mean daily range in 1913 averaged 17:55, being from 1466 in February to 2313 in October, but that was throughout the whole year considerably above the usual range. 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 some- times excessive, but generally lasts only a few days at a time. In late years very severe gales have become more frequent. The mean of the barometer is from 29'69 in the third to 30-35 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 4241 inches, about 135 in winter and 29 in summer; the heaviest shower was on the 24th October, 1875, when 7 inches fell in 3 hours. The mean degree of humidity is from 76 in the winter to 81 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 trams the whole track of the Maloo, one mile in length, has been laid with Jarrah 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 about 59,000 tons of sound stone, and about 8,800 tons of inferior stone in 1913. Owing to the nature of the ground, expensive piling or concrete foundations are necessary before any building over one storey 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