Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 932

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CANTON

The year 1929 was a very bad one, for in addition to the constant warfare- a severe drought, and great heat lasting well into June, gravely effected the crops. There was great distress in the East River districts and all the mer- chants suffered heavily, though an improvement set in towards the end of the

year.

As already stated the year 1930 passed off uneventfully which enabled a good deal of progress to be made in municipal services. The number of muni- cipal primary schools increased in the year from 75 to 85 accommodating 36,460 as opposed to 24,770 pupils. The number of middle-schools, in which the English language is taught, also greatly increased so as to provide instruc- tion for 3,000 students. Night schools, were developed and added to, the total number being 70 at which 12,000 students attended. A free library at a cost of $200,000, and a poor-house were constructed during the year. A new water-tower purchased in Germany was also erected. New roads built in Can- ton in 1930 totalled some 43,000 feet making the city have, in all, some fifty miles of well-laid, well-paved and well-drained thoroughfares. As already stated the growth in importation of gasoline shows that the number of motor vehicles is rapidly increasing: the number is, however, compared with Euro- pean cities of an equal size stili minute, there being at the end of 1930, in all, only 572 motor cars; 129 lorries; 133 motor-buses; and 76 motor cycles. Sixteen buses are now engaged on a service running from Canton to a point on the river bank opposite to Whampoa.

The 1931 total road construction programme for 1931 is 72,000 foot of new road but it is possible that disturbed political conditions may prevent this being carried out for on the 28th April a bloodless coup d'état occurred. The Chairman of the Kwangtung Provincial Government, Chen Ming-shu, a loyal supporter of Nanking, suddenly found it expedient to leave Canton. His place was taken by the Mayor of Canton who became Chairman in his stead, but the real power passed into the hands of General Chan Chai-tong com- manding the local troops. He declared his independence of Nanking. A separate government calling itself the National Government of China, which denies the legality of that at Nanking, was set up, Eugene Ch'en becoming its Foreign Minister. Arrangements for a northern expedition to capture Hankow and subsequently Nanking were given much publicity in the local Press but it is questionable whether such military preparations as were made were in- tended mainly for offensive or defensive purposes. The recruiting of troops to swell the local forces, and purchases of arms and munitions have naturally led to increased taxation and had a somewhat adverse effect upon trade. Floods in the North and East River Districts have further aggravated an already adverse situation.

DIRECTORY

Acme Code Company, Publishers

Acme Commodity and Phrase Code

Representatives: Hogg and Co.-19,

British Concession, Shamecn

司公險保亞美

Mei-yah Pao Sien Kung Sze

AMERICAN ASIATIC UNDERWRITERS, LTD., General Insurance: Fire, Marine, Motor- Car, Life, Accident and Health, Burglary, Plate-glass, Baggage and Special Risks--Missions Building, The Bund; Teleph. 12311; Cable Ad: Ad: Underiters

V. C. Starr, president (Shanghai)

C. L. Seitz, act. district manager S. L. Yang, local manager

Agents for:

Globe and Rutgers Fire Ins. Co. and 22 Other American, British and Con- tinental Insurance Companies

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY (See Missions)

AMERICAN CONSULATE (See Consulates)

司公船輪旗花 AMERICAN MAIL LINE--Cable Ad: Dollar

The Robert Dollar Co., general agents

(See Dollar Co., The Robert)