Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-05-08
LANCASTER SATURDAY. MAY 8, 1917.
The FORT of Shanghai ias
China.

China.
Our Government has recently ap-
pointed Caleb Lyon, Esq. of Lyon
dale, in New York, Consul to the above
named port. Mr.. Lyon is spoken Of
as possessing not only the usual qualjfi-
cations for the office, but also the al
tainments and tastes of a scholar. The
New York Post, after noticing the APP
pointment of Mr.. Lyon, gives an in
Iteresting account of the port of Shang-
hal.
1t is the northermost, and therefore
the healthiest of all the Chinese ports
open to foreign trade. 1t is situated in
390 Of north latitude, at the mouth of
the great river Yang-tsce-kee, name
isiguifying Child Of the Ocean, with a
current two thousand miles in length.
1t flows through the richest and central
portion Of the empire, and about a
hundred miles above Shanghai it pas
SEES the ancient city of Pekin, with "A
population of about 10000 SOULS
Nankin is older than Pekin, and was
the capital of the empire before the
Tartar conquest. At Nankin the en-
peror still passes the summer months,
and his palace stands on the banks of
the river little above the city.
Shanghai is also the most populous
of the Chinese ports with which for
Ieigners are permitted to trade. Within
the walls are 100000 inhabitants, in
the suburbs are 100000. The popu-
lation of Canton is only about half that
number. 1t is situated Immediately
on the ocean, while Nankin is reached
by passing up river.
On the banks of the Yangtsee-kec,
and around Shanghai, lies the region
in which green tea is produced. Teas
are cheaper at this port than at Can
ton; they arc brought Immediately
down the river, and the producers have
no canal transit duty to pay as at that
port. ThisScircumstnnce and the com
modiousness Of its harbor, and the
healthiness fits climate, are probably
the reasons why the English trade
with this place has increased so rapid
Iy. 1t is now quite equal to the Eng
lish trade with Canton.
Shanghai commands the extensive
Japanese commerce which passes thro'
that city up the Yang-tsee-kee to Nan
kin, and thence through the great ca
nal, six hundred miles further to Pc
kin, the great inland city Of the en-
pire. So large is the trade of the
port, that seven thousand junks have
been seen lying before it at once wait
ing for their cargoes. Ii the trade
with Japan is ever acquired to this
country, it must, in all probability, be
by means of the wealthy japanese
merchants, amounting to about two
hundred, who reside at Shanghai,
where they conduct the commerce of
their country, maintain their own
schools, and preserve a separate exls-
tence from the Chinese.
The river Yang -tsce-kce is the Mis-
sissippi of China: its banks, in the
language of the country, are called the
paradise of China. The French mis-.
sionaries remarked, long ago, that "A
great resemblance existed between the
climate of the Chinese coast and that
of North America; but at Shanghai
the winters appear TO be colder and The
summers warmer than in the same lat
itude in the United States. At Shang-
mai the snow falls in winter to the
depth of two or three inches. and ice,
the product OF the winter frosts, is pre-
served for use through the summer
Any of the vegetable productions Of
the region around Shanghai would
probably be hardy enough for this lat
itude. A consul, like Mr.. Lyon, who
takes an interest in the study of natur-
al history might have it in his power
to render no slight service TO the agri-
culture of this country by introducing
among US some of the more important
vegetable productions Of northern Chi
ma.
FINN ire Lf7Tsco,,sfg, Gr1,,s