Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-11-13
A Chinese City.

Foo Chow, the capital of the city of
the province of Fob KEN, and one of
the few ports in China open TO foreign
trade. The Chinese name of the city is
Hok Chin, which signifies happy re-
gion.o Foo Chow is situated in latitude
% degrees minutes north and longi-
tude 10 degrees 90 minutes east, about
400 miles northeast of Canton, and $40
miles southwest of Shanghai. It stands
on o plain about two and half miles
from the north bank of the river Min,
and twenty-five miles from its mouth.
An amphitheatre of hills surrounds the
hills about four miles distant, and it is
protected by one of the peculiar walls of
China, which is seven miles in circum-
ference, from twenty to twenty-five feet
high, and from twelve to twenty feet in
thickness at different points. Seven
gates afford entrance to the city proper
through this high wall, and over each of
the gates is high tower which is jeal-
olsly guarded by watchmen. The whole
district between the city and River Min,
the island of Nantai, and the southern
bank of the river are occupied by extern
sive suburbs, and the river itself is occu-
pied by large floating population, which
lives in the boats which crowd its wa
tiers. Communication from bank to bank
of the river is afforded by stone bridge,
which is about quarter Of mile long,
and is supported by forty piers, place.s
at uneqal distances Across these piers
are laid immense stones, three feet square
and about forty-five feet long, and over
these granite platform extends. The
bridge is known to the natives as the
bridge of ten thousand ages, and it is
said to be over eight hundred years old.
1t is lined along the sides with shops,
and is constantly filed with the people
Of Foo Chow.
The city proper of Foo Chow is regn-
larry built, but the streets, though paved
with granite, and in many instances
planted with trees. are filthy, narrow,
and infested with beggers The popula-
ton Of the city has been variOusly esti-
mated by travellers in China at from Co.,
600 to /, 1000, 600 souls. The most re-
markable establishment Of the city is the
arsenal, situated about three miles down
the river Min, at Pagoda island, where
the seagoing vessels usually anchor 1t
was founded in 1867, and has been con-
Quoted. under the direction Of French
engineers, according to European meth
DDS. In 1870 it employed about one
thousand workmen, beside fifty Euro
pean superinEendents. Foo Chow is
known ii China as city Of the FIRST
class, and i the seat Of viceroy, Or gov
ernor- general, whose jurisdiction extends
over Fokien and Cheliang, the province
adjoining Fokien to the north. The city
Is also great literary center, and num-
erous gentry who have retired from Office
in other parts Of the empire and men Of
high literary attainments reside there
Il has several cotton. paper, and hard
ware manufactures. several hundred fac
tories Tor making porcelain, and factor
les Of blue cloth, screens, and combs.
Near By are productive lead mines, and
great tea growing district lies within
seventy miles Of the city. The commerce
of Foo Chow il principally with Japan
and tie maritime provinces Of China
The chief exports ire black teas. timber,
bamboo, fruits. orange peel. tobacco,
potash. spices. grain, copper and lead
The imports ARC opium, which sometimes
amounts Il &5. 600. coo ia value FOR year.
salt. SUGAR and European manufactures