Directory_and_Chronicle_1939 — Page 1306

B224

COCHIN-CHINA-SAIGON

for a Province and two Municipal Councils (one for Saigon, one for Cholon), the mem- bers of which bodies are partly French and partly native. The Chamber of Commerce at Saigon is also an official body elected by the merchants and traders; formerly it was composed of French, foreigners, and Chinese, but in 1896 its constitution was altered and it is now an exclusively French and native body. The Chamber of Agri- culture is another official body elected by planters and composed of French and natives.

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Following on irrigation works a great number of concessions have been granted, especially in 1899 and 1900, by the Colonial Council of Cochin-China, some villagers, some to settlers. The fields granted to European settlers are only taxed according to their progress, commencing by one-fifth at the end of the fifth year, to which is added another one-fifth at the end of each of the following four years. The Conseil Supérieur, in November, 1900, adopted a scheme for the improvement of Saigon Harbour which involved an estimated expenditure of F10,394,000 (£415,760). A quay 1,091 metres (3,578 feet) long was constructed on the right bank of the river, and a series of 11 warehouses 25 metres (82 feet) broad and 90 metres (290 feet) long was erected, thus making a total surface of 24,225 square metres (250,600 square feet). Railroads were built in front and at the back of the warehouses, and the line of railway leading thereto was connected with the Mytho and Cholon Railways. About 20 buoys were established on the left bank of the river in order that vessels might be moored on that side as well as on the right bank, and a bridge, level with the ground, was built in continuation of the street called rue d'Adran. A postal line of French steamers has been established between Saigon and Singapore, with a subsidy from the Govern- ment of Indo-China. A big wireless plant was erected in 1923. There are six steel towers each 780 feet high, and 4 smaller ones, each 390 feet high. "This plant, replete with the latest apparatus, is one of the most powerful in the world.

SAIGON

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Saigon, the capital of Cochin-China, is situated on the Saigon river, a tributary of the Donnai, in lat. 10 deg. 50 min. N., and long. 104 deg 22 min. E. It is about 40 miles from Cape St. Jacques and is accessible to the largest vessels. Since its occupation by the French the climate has undergone a very favourable change, owing to sanitary works in the town, such as drains, the filling up of pools, marshes, etc. The town presents a fine appearance, the roads and thorough- fares being broad and regular. Amongst the public buildings the Government House is the most remarkable; several millions of francs have been spent upon its construction and decoration. The other prominent public buildings are the Palace of the Cochin China Government, the handsome and imposing Post Office on the Place! de la Cathédrale, the Treasury, the Supreme Court and the "Hotel de Ville" (Town Hall), the cost of which was over Francs 2,000,000. Fine buildings have been erected, among which the Banque de l'Indo-Chine and the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. There is also a stately Gothic Cathedral of large proportions, in frout of which has been erected the statue of Monseigneur Pigneau de Behaine, bishop of Adran, one of the first French missionaries who came to Cochin-China in the last century. Saigon has two public gardens, the "Jardin de la Ville," which is maintained at the expense of the Municipality, and the Botanic and Zoological Garden. The municipal theatre, which was inaugurated in 1900, is a remarkable building erected at a cost of over 2,000,000 fr. There is good docking accommodation. The Bassin de Radoub, capable of receiving the largest men-of-war, is one of the finest docks in the world, and there are two floating lifts Two petroleum godowns built by the Government are situated at Rach Doi, on the banks of the Saigon River (half-way to the town). They are said to be large enough to receive over 400,000 cases. The agents of Messrs. Samuel & Co., of London, have built two petroleum tanks at Nhabé, at the point where the Saigon River flows into the Donnaï. The largest of these is estimated to receive 2,300 cubic metres (81,190 cubic feet) of oil. There are (without reckoning the troops): over 8,000 Europeans and over 160,000 Asiatics or natives.