Directory_and_Chronicle_1923 — Page 743

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KIAOCHAU (TSINGTAO)

The hills, in former days merely bare rocks of granite and porphyry, are now clad in fresh green owing to an extensive scheme of afforestation, which was decided upon in the early days of the colony. The soil of the valleys between the ranges and the plain country on the north-east is alluvial and very fertile, and is carefully cultivated. Wheat, barley, beans, millet, maize, and many other grains in smaller quantities are grown. The foreign residential quarter at Tsingtao has been well laid out, and there are some good foreign hotels. Building operations continue to be very active. The first sod of the Shantung Railway was cut by Prince Henry of Prussia in October, 1899, and the line to Tsinanfu was opened on the 1st June, 1904. It has done a pros- perous business from the day it was opened.

The coal mines have shown good progress. The output of the Shangtung Mining Company at Fangtse and Tsetchuan (Hungshan) in 1912 was 573,676 tons. Hungshan coal enjoys an ever-increasing demand for bunker coal.

Before the war, a brewery, soap factory, and two albumen factories were in full work, as well as a Government slaughter-house and ice plant. A large hat factory, fitted with the most up-to date appliances, was also in full operation. There is a big export of cattle to Vladivostock. Fruit grafting is becoming a promising enterprise. The develop- ment of the town of Tsingtao has made considerable progress; the town is lit by electricity, houses have sprung up in all directions, and a system of water supply (extended in 1922) and sewerage has added much to the hygienic conditions of the place. The dry dock commenced operations in October, 1905, and important new harbour works were completed a few years ago. The dock employed 56 Europeans and an average of 1,400 Chinese workmen. Over 100 acres of the north-eastern area near the Great Harbour were reclaimed in 1919-20; roads have been laid out; and it will soon form part of the city.

The wireless installation at the Signal Berg, originally built by the Germans, was removed by the Japanese naval authorities in June, 1921. A new wireless station was established by the Japanese military authorities at Taisichen at the close of the year, and is said to be very powerful. It is available to the public for "urgent" telegrams.

For the European community the Government maintained a reformed modern grammar school, open to boys and girls alike. In addition to the State school there was a girls' boarding and day school carried on by Franciscan Nuns. There were also a number of village schools in which in a five-years' course of instruction the pupils could obtain an elementary knowledge of Chinese, arithmetic, physical and political geography, natural science and German. For secondary instruction in European and Chinese sciences there was the German-Chinese High School, opened on October 25th, 1901. The teaching staff consisted of 28 German and 9 Chinese teachers. thoroughly equipped observatory was opened in January, 1912, with funds supplied by the Union of German Navy Leagues abroad. A Boys' Middle school, built at a cost of Yen 228,000, now stands where the Germans had erected an aero shed on the western slope of the Yamen Forts.

A

The temperate climate and the excellent beach have brought Tsingtao into promi-

nence as a summer resort.

The trade of the port for 1921 amounted to Hk. Tls. 81,962,027, as compared with Hk. Tls. 67,584,110 in 1920 and Hk. Tls. 67,376,824 in 1919.

The most conspicuous feature of the year 1921 was the continual rise of the cotton-spinning industry at this port. The abundance of labour and material near at hand, the atmospheric temperature specially suited for the industry, the absence of labour unrest so prevalent in other parts of the world, and the rise of the tariff rates all point (says the Commissioner of Customs in his report for 1921) to the bright prospects of this industry here. How far the industry has already developed, and how far it will develop in the near future will be seen from the fact that 70,000 spindles were actually working in 1921, 40,000 were completed and ready for work- ing, 85,000 were in course of construction, and 70,000 were under contemplation.