1933

FORMOSA
351
Amongst sundry factories and mills a,t various places in the island are
ice-works, a brewery, a straw-board factory, two flour-mills, fertiliser fac¬
tories, ramie and jute mills, cement works, brick-works (many using Manches¬
ter kilns), numerous oil-extracting and rice mills, several electric-light plants,
.and a gas works (in Taipeh),
From the north of the island tea forms the principal export, and the
authorities are energetically pushing its cultivation and preparation. Export
of camphor in 1931 amounted to Yen 2,352,709. The export of sugar in 1931
amounted to Yen 122,831,659, of camphor oil Yen 1,834,823; of tea (Oolong)
Yen 2,372,606, of scented tea (Pauchcng) Yen 4,585,442, of bananas, Yen
8,529,603 and of rice in the same year Yen 41,098,17:2. The total imports for
•the year, 1931 were, from Japan, Yen 114,763,307, from foreign countries Yen
30,858,816, total Yen 145,622,123. The total exports for the year 1931 were, to
Japan Yen. 201,424,107, to foreign countries,- Yen 19,448,7i59, total Yen 220,-
872,866. Sugar factories:: There are now 47 of these equipped with , modern
machinery scattered throughout the island, mostly in the central and southern
districts, in addition to 13 factories of improved Formosan type, and 132 old-
style ones. . i
The following articles are classified under the Monopoly Law, and cans
be handled only by. the Governmentopium, camphor, salt, tobacco, wines
.and spirits. Imports in 1931 amounted to opium Yen 1,1128,566, tobacco, Yen
275,983, cigarettes Yen 2,113,916, sake (Japanese wine) Yen 2,031,989, beer
Yen 1,894,162, wines and spirits (Foreign) Yen 151,428, (Japanese other than
sake) Yen 505,718,.'
The trade and industries of the island are steadily developing, and both
fish and fruit are now being largely exported to the mother-country and
Dairen, whilst recently attention has been directed to the gathering of coral,
supplies of which have been found in the waters of the northern vicinity. All
the principal towns are now equipped with water-works, electric lighting,
and large markets, etc., and connection between them by motor lines of cars
is becoming general, replacing the push cars hitherto- mainly in use.
One great drawback to the island is its lack of good harbours, which is
more especially felt on account of the strength of the monsoons in the Formosa
'Channel,: Those on the eastern side are few and neither commodious nor
accessible; whilst on the west coast, with the exception of Keelung in the
north and Takow in the south, they are little better than open roadsteads.
Harbour improvements have just been completed at Keelung, and are still
being carried out at Takow, when completed, they will greatly increase the
existing accommodation. The depth ah low water at the entrance to the
harbours is 30 feet and 23| feet, respectively.
Taipeh is the capital of Formosa, and Tainan is the chief city in the
south of the Island. The open ports are four in number, viz., Takow and
Anping in the south, and Tamsui and Keelung in the north. The latter was
held for some months in 1884-5 by the French, under Admiral Courbet, but was
evacuated on June 21st 1885. The rivers of Formosa are few, shallow,
and winding, only navigable to small flat-bottomed boats. The scenery is
delightful, and the climate is very pleasant in the winter, but hot in some
parts of the island.
A complete system of post and telegraph services is in force while two
cables connect the island with Japan proper.
A railway traversing the west side of the island, from Keelung in the
north to Keishu in the south was officially opened by H.I.H. Prince (Kan¬
in on October 24th, 1908. A short line also connects Taipeh and Tamsui in
the north. On the west coast is a loop line of 561 miles between Chikunan
and Oden (near Shoka). Hugging the coast, as it does, it avoids the steep
gradients and numerous tunnels of the main line. On the through-line, sleep¬
ing-cars are now run for the accommodation of first and second class passengers.
There is also a railway along the East coast, and some other minor lines
partially completed Besides the Government lines there are 1,349 miles of
private railways laid by sugar companies.