Directory_and_Chronicle_1923 — Page 764

SHANGHAI

707

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

Year

Foreigners

Natives

Ordinary Income

1895

4,684

240,995

Tls. 482,603

1900

6,774

315,276

"

1,045,177

1905

11,497

452,716

1,780,415

1910

13,526

488,005

51

2,555,056

1915

18,519

620,401

21

3,051,017

1920

23,307

759,839

""

1921

24,000

780,000

4,823,483 5,967,040

CLIMATE

The climate of Shanghai is generally allowed to be fairly healthy. The death rate amongst the resident foreign population ranged from 11.0 per thousand in 1921 to 11.2 per thousand in 1905. The rate including non-residents was considerably higher; it reached 34.6 per thousand in 1902, which, however, was exceptional. In 1921 the number of registered deaths of foreign residents, including non-Chinese Asiatics (225 amongst Japanese), was 437 (including 154 children), and of non-residents 149. Partial outbreaks of cholera have occurred at intervals, but the larger proportion of the cases has been among the ships in harbour. The highest recorded number of deaths from this cause among foreigners was 32 in 1890. Of these, 11 were amongst residents. With the exception of the year 1912, when there were 14 cases, the average number of cases amongst foreigners has been slightly over three per annum during the last twenty years. There were 11 fatal cases in 1921. The highest number of deaths of foreign residents from small-pox was 21 in 1907. The average during the last twenty years has been 15 per annum. In winter, cases of small-pox and typhoid are frequent among the natives. Amongst the shore population the death rate was 154 per thousand in 1915, 14 in 1916, 20.7 in 1917, 16.5 in 1918 (in cluding Japanese), 20 6 in 1919, 15.2 in 1920, and 18.2 in 1921. These rates compare favourably with those of many large towns in Europe and America. There were reported 9,663 deaths amongst the natives in the "Anglo-American Settlement" in 1912, 8,062 in 1913, 8,198 in 1916, 9,612 in 1917, 8,441 in 1918, 9,646 in 1919, 8,546 in 1920 and 8,610 in 1921, which make the rate 19.3, 15.8, 13, 14.9, 12.6, 14.3, 11.2 and 11.0 per thousand. The thermometer ranges from 25 deg. to 103 deg. F., the mean of ten years having been 5919 deg., the average being 41-13, 6499, 7791 and 52.49 for first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively. Shanghai approaches nearest to Rome in mean temperature, while the winter temperatures of London and Shanghai are almost identical. In October and November there is generally dry, clear, and delightful weather, equal to that found in any part of the world; but when the winter has fairly set in the north-east winds are extremely cold and biting. On January 17th, 1878, the river was frozen over at Woosung. The heat during July and August is sometimes excessive, but generally lasts only a few days at a time. In late years very severe gales have become more frequent. On 27th and 28th July, 1915, a typhoon of extraordinary violence visited the district doing much damage. The mean of the barometer is from 29'769 in the third to 30245 inches in the first quarter. The annual average of rainy days in Shanghai during cight years was 124; 55 wet days occurred in winter, and 69 in summer; the annual rainfall averages 49'57 inches, about 15 in winter and 30-2 in summer. The mean degree of humidity is

from 786 in the winter to 82'6 in the summer months.

DESCRIPTION

The streets of the British and French Settlements all run north and south and east and west, mostly for the whole length of both, crossing each other at right angles. They were when first laid out twenty-two feet wide, but have since at very great expense been mostly made much wider. In spite of this, however, and the more stringent regulations, the traffic problem is becoming increasingly acute. Under the new Regula- tions power to compel the sale of land required for public purposes has been secured. Notwithstanding the soft-nature of the soil the roads are kept in remarkably good order, despite the heavy motor traffic. With the introduction of trams the whole track of the Maloo, one mile in length, was laid with Jarrah hardwood blocks, and the section of