Directory_and_Chronicle_1934 — Page 792

A384

SOOCHOW

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extending the whole length of the settlement and as far as the railway station, a distance of five and ahalf miles. The care of roads has been entrusted to the Works Department of the Wushien Government, which, during 1932, continued to make a radical improvement in construction and widening of roads especially inside the city. The two wooden bridges, namely, the Gordon Bridge () and the Chu Kung. Bridge (*), on the road leading from the Custom House-at the outside south- east corner of the city-to the railway station were reconstructed with re-inforced concrete and opened to traffic in November and December 1931 respectively, thus leaving only one wooden bridge, viz. Pan Tang Bridge (4) on the road which cannot take motor cars or trucks. The widening of streets inside the city has made much headway. The work on the widening of the Park Road (A) commenced in September 1931 was completed in December of the same year. It is much due to the credit of the Provincial authorities concerned that the work on the construction of Soochow Kashing or Soo-kah Highway was constructed in. May and opened to traffic on 28th June, 1933, covering a total length of 66.8 kilometres and at a cost of $700,000. A new Y.M.C.A. building was opened in December, 1921. The Chinese and European school dates back to 1900. With a view to promoting local industries, an exhibition of domestic products was held in November 1930 and lasted three weeks, thousands of spectators being attracted daily to the exhibition ground. On new year's day 1931, a new city gate named "Chin Mên" (F), replacing the Hsin Chang Mên and a little to the south of it, was open to traffic. The city of Soochow has thus, in addition with the newly built "Ping Mên” (49), eight city-gates, much to the convenience of the travelling public. The year 1931 witnessed the growth of a great many modern banking institutions. Branch offices of Chinese modern banks established in this city and opened to business during 1931 were the Ching Ch'eng Bank (17); The Chinese Manufacturer's Bank († @ @ K * †); The Peasants Bank (R); The Oriental Bank ( &#17); and The State Bank (國華銀行).

TRADE IN 1932

The opening of the year was soon followed by the Shanghai incident, which, at a time, this city was threatened. The tension amongst the populace was great when the Japanese bombing machines dropped 13 bombs on the new aerodroma which was totally destroyed. The railway traffic was suspended for over three months, and there was practically no trade during the first half year.

The cocoon crop of 1932 was an exceedingly poor one. Owing to the de- pression of the silk trade, the quantity of the silk cocoons which farmers usually undertake to feed every year has been greatly reduced. The crop was not even as promising as that of the previous year, due probably to the cold spell which prevailed throughout the season.