Directory_and_Chronicle_1918 — Page 785

SHANGHAI

711

yield, net, Tls. 832,500. One piece of land in the Nanking Road, assessed in 1867 at Tls, 1,000 per mow, the then basis of assessment on the best Bund lots, in 1899 at Tls. 13,000. and in 1903 at Tls. 27,500, was recently sold for Tls. 85,000 per mow. The Overseer of Taxes in a late Report said: "On the Bund and in Nanking Road east of the Fokien Road the value per mow would be at least Tls. 100,000." The average for the whole- Settlement was, under the assessment of 1907, Tls. 9,656 per mow, and for the Central District (old British Settlement), Tls. 34,706; the highest being Tls. 110,000. A great rise in values took place during the later months of 1895, and this continued steadily until 1911, chiefly caused by the influx of native capital seeking safe investment under foreign protection and by the great increase in population resulting from the establish- ment of numerous cotton mills, silk filatures, and other industries.

■

The total number of foreign houses in the four divisions of the General Concession on 31st December, 1916, was 3,368 assessed at Tls. 5,302,209, against 3,119 assessed at Tls. 4,809,155, and 2,472 assessed at Tls. 3,235,311, on the corresponding dates in 1910, and 1905. On 58,966 native houses the assessment was $11,494,335 against 52,008 assessed at $8,332,449 in 1910, and 45,328 assessed at $6,830,461 in 1905. In addition, six per cent. (half rate) is now collected on 559 foreign houses assessed at Tls. 380,917 and 1,223- native houses assessed at $109,462 outside the Settlement limits, but supplied with water by the Shanghai Waterworks Co. For 1917 the land of the French Concession was valued for assessment at Tls. 31,000,000; the rental assessment of foreign houses at Tls. 625,000, and of native houses Tls. 1,666,667. The British and French Settlements, exclusive of the extensions acquired in 1899 and 1901, are now all built over, and the vacant 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.

It

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 1163 per acre. There are in the whole Settlement and outside roads (exclusive of the French) 3,766 occupied European houses, with an average of 5'1 foreign inhabitants per house, and 56,901 occupied Chinese houses, with an average of 1107 occupants. There are 120 miles of roads and 104 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. is estimated that the Japanese now total about 12,000. A proposed extension North- ward 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 Republic 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 mow, 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,