Directory_and_Chronicle_1921 — Page 784

706

SHANGHAI

Tls. 26,863,700; Eastern, Tls. 32,093,900; Western, Tls. 25,963,800-a total, after deducting. rebates on ground occupied by churches, cemeteries, and municipal properties, of Tls 150,714,300, on which a tax of 7/10ths of one per cent. was levied, estimated tớ- yield, net, Tls. 1,055,000. One piece of land in the Nanking Road, assessed in 1867 at Tls. 4,000 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 l'axes 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, 1919, was 3,501 assessed at Tls. 6,045,250, 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 60,806 native houses the assessment was $12,717,775 against 52,008 assessed at $8,332,449 in 1910, and 45,328 assessed at $6,83,461 in 1905. In addition, six per cent. (half rate) is now collected on 670 foreign houses assessed at Tls. 439,136 and 1,236. native houses assessed at $110,246 outside the Settlement limits, but supplied with water by the Shanghai Waterworks Co. For 1919 the land of the Frencli Concession was valued for assessment at Tls. 31,000,000; the rental assessment of foreign houses at. Tls. 800,000, and of native houses at Tls. 2,580,000. 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 was of opinion "that the native population is very much under-estimated," and considered that nearly three- quarters of a million earned 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.

A

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 124 per acre. There are in the whole Settlement and outside roads (exclusive of the French) 4,088 occupied European houses, with an average of 5.38 foreign inhabitants per house, and 60,695 occupied Chinese houses, with an average of 11.08 occupants. There are 144 miles of roads and 637,562 feet 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 it is estimated that 12,000 Japanese are now residing in Shanghai no definite claim has yet been made for such an area. 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 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 тош. 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 native 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