YOKOHAMA
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pier and wharf facilities exist, and, though practically entirely destroyed in the earthquake and fire of 1923, are almost all restored. There are 4 berths at the pier accommodating the largest steamers, and 12 mooring wharves for large ocean-going vessels, most of these wharves accommodating vessels of any size. The Yokohama Dock Company has three dry docks of 631 ft., 489 ft., and 380 ft., docking length, 93 ft., 67 ft., and 60 ft. width of entrance, and 28 ft., 21.5 ft. and 26 ft. of water on the blocks, respectively, and a mooring basin of 600 ft. by 100 ft. by 25 ft.
The town was devastated by a very severe earthquake, followed by a huge con- flagration, on September 1st, 1923. Close on 30,000 people are known to have perished. Another 3,559 were missing and believed to be dead, and 66,371 were officially reported as injured, the total casualties representing nearly one-quarter of the population. The number of buildings destroyed was 70,000, out of a total of 93,000. The shipping in harbour was placed in serious jeopardy by the blazing oil from the oil-tanks on shor running into and spreading over the water.
There is at present no English newspaper in Yokohama, the publication of the Japan Gazette having been suspended since the catastrophe of 1923.
The Japanese population of Yokoliama was about 422,942 in 1920, according to the Census returns of that year. It is computed that it is now about 100,000 less than that figure. There was a great exodus as the result of the earthquake, but confidence is now being restored and there seems every reason to expect that in time Yokohama will recover its former prominence as the principal port of Japan. The importance of the foreign element in the port may be gauged by the fact that they paid nearly 40 per cent. of the entire amount of business and income taxes collected in Yokohama, The foreign trade of the port in 1922 was :- Imports, Yen 652,154,109, and Exports, Yen 895,463,242, as compared with Imports, Yen 520,400,765, and Exports, Yen 602,993,259, in 1921.
The foreign trade suffered inevitable dislocation after the earthquake, but the export trade has already largely recovered and is showing a steady increase. Imports received a great stimulation owing to the need for reconstruction material, but the normal import business shows a slower recovery than the export trade.
The heavy cost of rebuilding is hampering the return of business houses, but many of these have already resumed business in premises temporarily erected pending permanent rebuilding. The foreign-style hotels were all destroyed in the earthquak and hotel accommodation is at present inadequate to requirements.
DIRECTORY
(For Government Departments see under G.)
ADMIRAL ORIENTAL LINE-42, Yamashita- cho; Teleph. 237; Tel. Ad: Admiraline
F. C. Thompson, agent
L. Nietman
Agency
Barber S.S. Lines, Inc.
W. B. Smith
AHRENS & Co., NACHF, H. (Gomei Kaisha) Temporary Office: Helm Bros., 43, Yamashita-cho
AMERICAN EXPRESS Co.-See Kobe
AMERICAN TRADING Co.-255, Yamashita- cho: Telephs. 566 and 2123; P.O. Box 28; Tel. Ad: Amtraco. Head Office for Japan: Tokyo
F. N. Shea, vice-president and general
manager for Japan (Tokyo) Sydney Shepard, manager, traffic and
shipping depts.
Agencies
Frank Waterhouse & Co., Seattle Prince Line, Ld.
South British Insurance Co., Ld. L'pool., London and Globe Ins. Co., Ld. Home Insurance Co. of New York
AMSTERDAM UNDERWRITERS ASSOCIATION
-72, Main Street
R. J. Carroll, agent
Geo. Hood, signs per pro.
APCAR & Co., A. M. (Gomei Kaisha), General Merchants and Commission Agents-Teleplı. 2449; P.O. Box 70; Tel. Ad: Apcar
BARMONT & Co., Raw Silk-9, Bund,
Yamashita-cho; Tel. Ad: Madiersilk
Madier Freres & Co., agents
BELL, HAROLD, TAYLOR, BIRD & Co., Char-
tered Accountants-See under Kobe
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