Directory_and_Chronicle_1928 — Page 624

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SHANGHAI

in 1880, 107,812; in 1890, 168,129; in 1900, 240,995; in 1910, 602,475; and in 1920, 930,068. The Chinese population working in the Settlements, however, inust be much greater than the total given, as there are many more thousands who sleep outside the limits. Taking into consideration the thickly populated surrounding Chinese territory with its added thousands that cannot

cannot be even

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 to one hundred per cent. and that provisions and cost of living generally both of natives and foreigners have increased. The population of the native city is estimated by the Inspectorate of Customs at one million. The large congregation of nearly a million natives in the Settlements and outlying roads, eight and two-thirds square miles, is kept in admirable order by a police force of 255 Europeans (264 is the authorised nuinber), 704 Sikhs (including 174 for gaol duty), 40 Japanese and 1,546 natives. There are 81 European, 240 Tonkinese, and 488 Chinese police for the French Settlement. 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.

CLIMATE

The climate of Shanghai is generally allowed to be fairly healthy. The highest recorded number of deaths from cholera 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. The average number of deaths of foreign residents from small-pox during the last twenty years has been 15 per annum. Amongst the foreign population the general death rate was 15.4 per thousand in 1915, 14 in 1916, 20.7 in 1917, 16.5 in 1918 (including Japanese), 20.6 in 1919, 15.2 in 1920, 18.2 in 1921, 19.3 in 1922 and 17.2 in 1923. These rates compare favourably with those of many large towns in Europe and America. The thermometer ranges from 25 deg. to 103 deg. F., the mean of ten years having been 59′19 deg., the average being 41′13, 64.99, 77-91 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 dainage. The mean of the barometer is from 29.769 in the third to 30-245 inches in the first quarter. The annual average of rainy days in Shanghai during eight 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 which 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 Nanking Road between Kiangse Road and the Bund was paved with the same material. Owing to the nature of the ground, expensive piling or concrete foundations are necessary before any building over one storey in height can be erected, and all stone has to be brought from a long distance. The Soochow Creek, between the British Settlement and Hongkew, is now crossed by nine bridges, seven of which are adapted for carriage traffic.

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