Directory_and_Chronicle_1917 — Page 1077

SWATOW

975

somewhat scattered, though the majority are in or near the town of Swatow. The yearly increasing traffic of the port led to much overcrowding on the narrow strip of land on which it is built, and since February, 1877, no less than 21 acres have been reclaimed from the sea, the greater part of which is now covered with shops and houses.

The climate of Swatow is reputed to be very salubrious. The town occupies, however, an unenviable position as regards typhoons, on account of being opposite the lower mouth of the Formosa Channel, and it has on many occasions been subjected to all the violence of these terrible storms, which almost every year sweep across the lower coast of China. The population of Swatow is estimated at 7,060 families, representing. from 50,000 to 60,000 inhabitants.

A Chinese syndicate with a capital of two million dollars obtained the necessary sanction for the construction of a railway from Swatow to Ch'ao-chou-fu, and work was commenced on the line in 1904. The line, which is 24 miles in length, was opened to traffic on November 25th, 1906. The contractors were Japanese, who supplied all material, the rails and engines coming from America and the carriages from Japan. The construction of the line has brought about a great inflation of laud values, as well as a notable influx of Japanese traders.

Swatow has now an electric light plant of its own, and on account of the cheap price at which the current is supplied this method of lighting is finding favour with the Chinese, and to some extent replacing the use of kerosine lamps. A new waterworks was completed early in 1914, tlie reservior being at Kia-kun, about eight miles inland.

The foreign trade of Swatow has never been large. Tea and sugar were formerly the principal exports, but the tea trade here, as in other China ports, has to a very large extent passed away. The sugar trade seemed to be rapidly following it but there was a recovery in 1915 and it is hoped that the decline has been arrested. Increased attention is being given to the cultivation of vegetables, fruit, and indigo. The net value of the trade of the port coming under the cognisance of the Foreign Customs for 1915 was Hk. Tls. 56,927,308, as compared with Hk. Tls. 53,245,153, in 1914, Hk. Tls. 51,351,756, in 1913, Hk. Tls. 57,391,124 in 1912, Hk. Tls. 51,415,699 in 1911, Hk. Tls. 54,422,111 in 1910, Tls. 47,679,174 in 1909, Tls. 46,873,268 in 1908 and Tls. 45,342,001 in 1907.

DIRECTORY

ANGLO-CHINESE COLLEGE,

Rev. H. F. Wallace, M.A., B.D., principal A. W. Edmunds, BA., B.A.I., and wife

ASIATIC PETROLEUM Co. (SOUTH CHINA),

LTD., THE

F. K. Brownrigg, local manager

W. B. Lightburn, installation manager

J. A. Ozorio

T. M. King, travelling inspector

F. M. Ozorio

ASTOR HOUSE HOTEL

行銀灣臺

BANK OF TAIWAN, LTD.-Tel. Ad: Taigin

Y. Mizuno, manager

S. Miwa, p.p. manager

T. Shimosono

S. Kuzuro

Agency

S. Shigenaga

Chartered Bank of I., A. & China

Zuat-tye

Ben & Co., Shipcliandlers, Storekeepers, Provision Merchants, Navy Contractors, Auctioneers, Import and Export Mer- chants, Feathers and Drawn Thread- work Exporters, and General Commis- sion Agents

C. U. S. Ben

C. P. W. Ben

•

C. P. E. Ben

Agencies

A. S. Watson & Co., Ld., Hongkong. Nestlé & Anglo-Swiss Cond. Milk Co. Commercial Union Assurance Co., Ltd. Dairy Farm Co., Ltd., Hongkong i

Blühase Dom82

BRANGWIN & HOBSON, Medical Practi-

tioners

C. H. Brangwin H. G. Hobson