Directory_and_Chronicle_1937 — Page 294

YOKOHAMA

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Yokohama is situated on the Bay of Tokyo, in lat. 35 deg. 26 min. 11 sec. N., and long. 139 deg 39 min. 20 sec., and is distant about 20 miles from the capital, with which it is connected by several lines of steam and electric railways. A very small fishing village when it was opened to foreign trade in 1859, its proximity to the capital quickly led to its development and it was for many years the leading port of Japan. The surrounding scenery is hilly and pleasing, and on clear days the sriów-crowned summit and graceful outlines of Fuji-san, a volcanic mountain 12,370

12,370 feet high--celebrated in Japanese literature and depicted on innumerable native works of art is most distinctly visible, though some 75 miles distant. Adjoining the harbour is the site of what was known before the abolition of extra-territoriality, as the foreign settlement. Beyond the plain on which the town is built rises a sort of semi- circle of low hills called CC The Bluff," on. which are situated residences of many miembers of the foreign community. Along the waterfront runs a good road called the Bund, on which stand a number of imposing buildings, of which the principal ones are the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, the American Consulate, the Standard-Vacuum Oil Co.'s offices, the United Club and the New Grand Hotel. The reconstructed city includes many fine. examples of modern architecture, notably the Prefectural offices, rebuilt at a cost of 3 million yen, the Silk Conditioning House, the Customs House, General Post Office. the British and American Consulates, Japanese and Foreign Banks and office buildings. A fine cricket and recreation club and a racecourse are situated about two miles from the Settlement. Three excellent golf links are within a short distance of the city. A good boating and yachting club also exist, providing facilities for deep-sea bathing. The railway station is well- designed and commodious. The town is in the enjoyment of an excellent water supply, large waterworks having been completed in 1887. The municipal electric tramways traversing important sections of the city now extend for 31 miles (approximately 29 miles in actual use). There are 33 miles of bus route within the city.

The harbour work started in 1900 and practically finished in 1917, sustained great damage in the earthquake of 1932. Reconstruction was, how- ever, complete in March 1931. An outer breakwater, now under construction, will on completion, more than double the present harbour area. The gas works were started as a private enterprise but taken over by the municipality in 1892, the pipes laid measure now about 200 miles. There are 4 berths at the pier accommodating the largest steamers, and 12 mooring wharves for large ocean-going vessels, most of these wharves accommodating vessels of any size. The Yokohama Dock Company has three dry docks of 628 ft., 489 ft., and 380 ft., docking length, 98 ft., 77 ft., and 76 ft. width of entrance, and 33 ft., 26 ft. and 21 ft. of water on the blocks respectively, and a mooring basin of 600 ft. by 100 ft. by 25 ft.

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In the very severe earthquake, which was followed by a huge conflagra- tion, on September 1st, 1923, close on 30,000 people are known to have perished. Another 3,559 were missing and believed to be dead, and 66,371 were officially reported as injured, the total casualties representating nearly one-quarter of the population. The number of buildings destroyed was 70,000 out of a total of 93,000. The shipping in harbour was placed in serious jeopardy by the blazing oil from the oil-tanks on shore running into and spreading over the water.

The population of Yokohama was about 720,000 in 1936 thus being the sixth largest city in the Empire.