Directory_and_Chronicle_1917 — Page 744

AKOW

TAINAN, TAKOW AND ANPING

The city of Tainan (until 1889 known as Taiwan), situated in lat. 23 deg. 6 min. N., and long. 129 deg. 5 min. E., is the commercial capital of Formosa. Since the Japanese occupation many improvements in the city have been made, and at the present day the main roads are all wide and well constructed. An extensive scheme of alterations is in hand, the programme extending over ten years. When this is completed the city will be second to none in the Island in arrangement. The old Chinese walls, some five miles in circumference, have been demolished in many places and the gates removed for the passage of the railway and new roads. Waterworks are in course of construction in the hills some distance from the city, and will be finished in about three years' time. The city is lighted by electricity, the power being carried by an overhead line from a generating station a few miles south of Takow.

Anping is the shipping port for Tainan, situated about three miles west of that. city. Communication is by a trolley line and a creek navigable for clutehs and small junks. The port itself is an open roadstead, vessels anchoring outside the bar and a mile or so from the beach. From November to the end of May the anchorage is a good one, but during the S. W. Monsoon a heavy swell sets in, rendering it difficult and sometimes impossible for vessels to load or discharge. There are now 36 adult British subjects in the south of the Island. As regards climate Anping, during the summer months, can boast of a comparatively cool temperature owing to sea breezes. Tainan is usually two or three degrees warmer. From October to the end of April there is little or no rain, and the cool weather then leaves nothing to be desired.

The import trade is mainly in the hands of Japanese firms, the only item still in the hands of foreigners being kerosene. The Government has given every encourage- ment to the Sugar industry, and many large modern mills have been erected during the past few years. Of the six staple industries of Formosa, namely, Tea, Opium, Camphor, Salt, Sugar and Rice, three-Opium, Camphor and Salt-have been monopo- lised by the Formosan Government, which now derives three-fourths of its ordinary revenue from these sources. Formerly, the trade in Opium and Camphor in this district was in the hands of the foreign merchants at "Anping and Takow, and amounted before the Japanese occupation to nearly £250,000 per annum. creation of the monopolies the merchants have thus been deprived of a large propor- tion of their income. They feel the hardship, particularly in the case of the Camphor trade, which was originated and developed in this district entirely by their capital and enterprise, for the loss of which they have received no equivalent.

Since the

Takow is a port twenty-four miles to the southward of Anping. There is an excellent harbour there, on which large sums are being spent for dredging, quays and protection. When complete it will be able to cope with the export of all products of the south, but as the southern districts are developing at such a rapid rate, it is felt that other ports will be necessary. The first portion of the harbour reconstruction was completed in March, 1913. At that time the quay, 2,880 ft. long, was able to berth seven steamers with ease, and a 100-ton crane has been installed to deal with cargo. Apart from berths at the quay, moorings for three steamers in the harbour are provided. At low water the depth will be 24ft., with 30ft. at the entrance, which is now 36ft. wide. Steamers of 18ft. draft and up to any tonnage can enter the harbour. Future plans include the enlargement of the dredged area, the widening of the entrance, and protective break waters both to the north and south of the harbour entrance. The last stand against the Japanese was made at Tainan, Takow and Anping by Liu-Yung-fu, the Black Flag General. Takow was bombarded on the 15th October,. 1895, and the resistance collapsed without any serious fighting. Tainan and Anping. were occupied on the 21st October. Foreign shipping is now confined to a small number of steamers per annum carrying oil and machinery. The Japanese Govern- ment grants a subsidy of Yen 61,028 to the Osaka Shosen Kaisha for a fortnightly service between Anping and Hongkong via Amoy and Swatow. For direct steamers. from Japan to the southern ports, a subsidy of Yen 124,800 is paid to the same company, as well as Yen 143,825 for a service of steamers round the coast of Formosa