Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 897

FOOCHOW

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uresque, and has been compared to some of the scenes on the Rhine. The Yung Fu, a ributary of the Min, also affords some charming scenery, the hills rising very abruptly From the river bank. The Min Monastery, the Moon Temple, and the Kushan Monastery, ll occupying most romantic and beautiful sites, are fine specimens of Chinese religious difices, and are much resorted to by visitors. Game abounds in all the ravines and mountains in the vicinity of Foochow, while tigers and panthers are common in the more remote hills, and some of these beasts have been killed within ten miles of the city.

Foreign vessels are compelled to anchor at Pagoda Island, owing to the shallow- chess of the river. The limits of the port of Foochow extend from the City Bridge to the Kimpai Pass. The Mamoi Arsenal, near Pagoda Anchorage, an extensive Govern- ment establishment, was bombarded by the French on the 23rd-24th August, 1884, and reduced to partial ruin, but was restored. The establishment was later reorganised, and was for some years administered by French experts. There is a dock in connec- tion with the Arsenal on Losing Island. The dock is over 300 ft. long and has very powerful pumps and a good steel caisson. The Fukien Christian University, moved into its new quarters, just below Kushan Point, at the end of 1921. The site com- prises some 50 acres of hill and plain. The object of the University is to provide cheaper education for Chinese on Western lines and in more congenial surround- ings than are to be had abroad. In June, 1900, the port was visited by the most. disastrous floods known there in living memory; the river, rising through heavy rains, overflowed and deluged the country, sweeping away villages and causing immense havoc and loss of life. The Chinese population of Foochow was estimated at 388,164 in 1929.

TRADE IN 1930

At the beginning of the year a serious situation was created in Foochow when by a coup d'état six members of the provincial government were arrested by political rivals, and it was not till the late autumn, when the cessation of fighting in the North enabled the Government to despatch more troops to the province, that the deadlock came to an end and the release of these members was effected. Meanwhile, throughout the summer the vicinity of Foochow was the scene of attacks and counter-attacks, but in no case were the opposing forces able to enter the city. In such circumstances the year was one of pre- vailing uneasiness and lack of confidence in commercial circles; market prices soared and were unstable and insecure, while many Chinese hongs, banks, and money shops closed their doors. For more than four months, from the be- ginning of June to the end of October, communications between Foochow and the districts of the Upper Min River were completely interrupted owing to military restrictions and bandit activities. As a result a shortage in the supply of rice and firewood, for which Foochow depends on these districts, forced up the local price of these articles, though an exceptionally abundant autumn harvest resulted in a considerable reduction in the price of the former commodity towards the end of the year. The scarcity of firewood led to the introduction of coal into more general use, very considerable importations of which, both native and foreign, were made. Tea, paper, timber, and bamboo shoots, which are mainly produced in the up-river districts, were held up in the interior throughout the summer and did not arrive until early in December, when a brisk export commenced. In January a great improvement was effected in the telephone system by the installation of automatic telephones. In spite of unsettled political conditions, municipal work has procceded apace through- out the year. The road-widening scheme has been carried out successfully, and motor-bus services operate on both the Foochow and Nantai Island sides. In addition, the Wan Shou Bridge was closed in December for the purposes of reconstruction. Its width is to be extended to 32 feet-two and a half times its present width,-and the new bridge is to be built of cement con- crete. The work is expected to be completed early in 1931.

The net value of the trade of the port coming under the cognisance of the Foreign Customs was Hk. Tls. 43,312,381 in 1930, as compared with Hk Tls. 52,533,576 in 1929, Hk. Tls. 49,264,752 in 1928, Hk. Tls. 35,204,017 in 1927, Hk. Tls. 34,284,907 in 1926 and Hk. Tls. 32,983,033 in 1925.