Directory_and_Chronicle_1920 — Page 781

SHANGHAI

709

I

protection of foreigners, and foreigners themselves being able to obtain a much higher rental for their land, and finding native house property a very profitable investment, no opposition was made to their residence. In 1870 there were in the tliree Settlements 75,047; in 1880, 107,812; in 1890, 168,129, in 1900, 240,995, in 1910, 602,475. The total foreigners and Chinese of the two settlements for 1910 was 617,487. Between 1910 and 1915, taking the population of the two settlements as a whole, it was found that in five years the number of residents in Shanghai had increased by 170,433, or at the rate of nearly 35,000 annually. The numbers of Chinese by the last census (October, 1915) were, in the Central district, 141,423; Northern district, 151,562; Eastern district, 138,956; Western district, 107,274; in Foreign hongs, houses and mills, 33,168; in villages- and huts within the limits, 36,772; in shipping and boats 11,246; a total, exclusive of the French Concession, of 620,401; 284,188 men, 165,632 women, and 170,581 children, as compared with 488,005 in 1910. The native population of the French Concession in 1915 was 134,095, consisting of 67,932 males, 34,127 females and 32,036 children (against 89,686, exclusive of 12,284 in outside roads, in 1910, 84,792 in 1905, 80,526 in 1900, 45,758 in 1895, and 34,722 in 1890), the estimated boat population 5,500, and in transit 7,000 being added, the total native population was 146,595. The Chinese population working in the Settlements, however, must be very much greater than the total given, as there are many more thousands who sleep outside the limits. The Captain Superinten- dent of Police a few years ago said: "For good reasons I am inclined to believe that the native population is very much under-estimated," and he then considered that three- quarters of a million work within the Settlement, although they do not all reside there. Taking into consideration the thickly populated surrounding Chinese territory with its added thousands that cannot be even approximated, the daytime population of the port, it is thought, must be well toward 1,500,000. This rapid increase has occurred notwithstanding that rents have risen from thirty to sixty and in some cases even one hundred per cent. and that provisions and cost of living generally both of natives and foreigners have increased. The majority are immigrants from other provinces who followed in the wake of foreigners, attracted by the high wages paid to skilled and unskilled labour required for the many industries. The population of the native city is estimated by the Inspectorate of Customs at one million. This large congregation of over three quarters of a niillion natives in the Settlements and outlying roads, eight and two-thirds square miles, is kept in admirable order by a police force of 146 Europeans (283 is the authorised number, but 42 were at the end of the on war service, others had resigned, and owing to the war no recruits were enlisted from home), 565 Sikhs, including 128 for gaol duty, 25 mounted troopers, 25 Japanese and 1,376- natives for the north of the Yang-king-pang, being one constable for about each thirée acres, and for 284 head of population. There are nine police stations. There are 40 European, 230 Tonkinese, and 405 Chinese police for the French Settlement, or about one constable for every 212 inhabitants. As the natives have to be tried by their own authorities, and bribery and obstruction have to be contended against, and there is a want of the facilities found elsewhere, the difficulties of organizing and efficiently working such a small force are considerable. In few places are life and property more secure. A few years since the Captain Superintendent stated that twenty-four hours- had passed without one defaulter being reported, an unique police experience for any city in the world of its population.

year

The following table shows the population and Municipal Revenue of the Settlement, exclusive of the French, for the past five quinquennial periods:

Year

Foreigners

Natives

1895

4,684

240,995

Ordinary Income Tls. 482,603

1900

6,774

315,276

""

1,045,177

1905

11,497

452,716

""

1,780,415

1910

13,526

488,005

""

2,555,056

1915

18,519

620,401

""

1916

19,105

630,510

""

3,051,017 3,333,151

1917

19,750

644,580

""

3,455,128

1918

21,000

659,000

""

་

3,864,577

CLIMATE

The

The climate of Shanghai is generally allowed to be fairly healthy. death rate amongst the resident foreign population ranged from 20.2 per thousand (in 1910) to 11.2 per thousand (in 1905). The rate including non-