Directory_and_Chronicle_1934 — Page 572

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SHANGHAI

visited the district doing much damage. 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 826

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in the summer months.

DESCRIPTION

The streets of tlie International and French Settlements run nortlı 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 in Shanghai as elsewhere. 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..

Many foreign houses, surrounded by gardens, have been erected near the outside roads, especially on the Bubbling Well, Avenue Haig, Yuyuen, Great Western and Sinza Roads, which are the main outlets from the Settlement, and from which most of the other roads branch off. These roads are planted with trees on both sides, forming fine avenues of five to six miles in length. Building activity of late years may be described as reniarkable and unparalleled in the history of the port.

Mention should be made of the many 10 and even 20 storied apartment houses in the central as well as western districts. Foreigners for the most part have migrated to these. These are now too numerous to enumerate off-hand.

TRADE IN 1932.

The review of the trade of Shanghai for 1931 opened with the assertion that that year was one of the most depressing in the history of the port. It was the year of the great flood calamity: it was the year that witnessed Japan's first military moves in Manchuria; it was a year of extreme difficulty for producers and distributors in the interior owing to the flood and to communist-bandit activities; and it was the third year of the world-wide depression in trade. At the close of that year, even the greatest optimists could see few signs of a coming improvement in the situation. Nevertheless, it may be hazarded with some confidence that the general feeling at the opening of the year under review was that rock-bottom had been reached in 1931, and, therefore, that things could not be worse and ought even to be somewhat better in 1932.

Unfortunately, fresh troubles arose between China and Japn to thwart any susp- icion of a revival of trade in the Far East, and the depression throughout the world deepened still further instead of lifting. Apart from these factors there would undoub- tedly have been hope for some improvemement. The disappointing result of the year's trading was not so much due to internal causes, for crops in China were good, the remedial measures taken to offset the disastrous consequences of the flood were all carried out, and, during the second half of the year at least, the country was less harassed by communistic activities; but Japan's further actions in Manchuria and her invasion of the Shanghai area were more than enough to upset the whole business of the port. Shanghai being the entrepot for almost all inward and outward cargoes of the Yangtsze, central, and nearby coastal ports, the usual machinery of trade at such places was thrown out of gear for many months. Supplies for their industries could not be obtained, their produce could not be shipped, business could not be financed owing to the absence of banking facilities, and so on. This state of war undeclared indeed but none the less ruinous to property and commerce, lasted from the end of January to the beginning of March as far as actual hostilities were concerned, but its influence, on trade was felt even long after the truce was signed in May. Indeed, the effect of such an intensive struggle between the military forces of Japan and China may well be felt for years to come, since the suburban district of Chapei, which was completely laid -waste, was one of the busiest hives of industry in all China, and many were the factor-

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