The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-09-03
Foo Choo.

Foo Choo, the point in china
where the first attack of the French
forces was made Saturday, is the
capital of the Province of Foh-Kien
and one of the few ports in China
open to foreign trade. The Chinese
name of the city is Hok-Chin, which
signifies ''happy region" Foo-Choo
is situated in latitude 26o 5 north
and longitude 1872 20 east, about
420 miles northeast of Canton, and
375 miles southwest of Shanghai.
1t stands ON a plain, about q miles
from the north bank of the River
Min, and % miles from its mouth.
An amphitheatre of hills surrounds
the city about 4 miles distant, and
it is protected by one of the pecu-
liar walls of China, which is 7 miles
in circumference, from 20 to % feet
high, and from II to 20 feet in thick
ness at different points. Seven gates
afford entrance to the city proper
through this high wall, and over
each ofthe gates is a high tower
which is jealously guarded
district between the city
by watchmen. The whole and
River Min, the island of Nantai
and the southern bank of the river
are occupied by extensive suburbs,
and the river itself is occupied by a
large floating population, which
lives in the boats which crowd its
waters. Communication from bank
to bank of the river is afforded by a
stone bridge, which rs about aquar-
ter of mile long, and is supported
by 40 piers, placed at unequal dis
tances. Across these piers are laid
immense stones, 8 feet square and
about 45 feet long, and over these a
granite platform extends. The
bridge is known to the natives as the
bridge of 10000 ages and is said to
be over 800 years old, 1t is lined
along the sides whith shops, and is
constantly filled with the people
of Foo-Choo.
The city proper Of Foo-Cnoo is reg
ular built, but the streets though
paved with granite and m many in
stances planted with trees are filthy,
narrow, and infested with beggars.
The population of the city has been
variously estimated by travellers in
China at from 100000 to 100000
souls. The most remarkab bic estab-
lishment of the city is the Arsenal,
situated about three miles down the
River Min. at Pagoda Island, where
the sea going vessels usually anchor.
1t was found in 1867, and has been
conducted, under the direction of
French engineers, according to Eu-
ropean methods. In 1870 it en-
ployed about 1000 workmen, be-
sides 80 European Superintendents.
Foo-Choo is known in China as a
city of the first class, and is the seat
of a Viceroy or Governor-General,
whose jurisdiction EXTENDS over
Fokien and Chekiang, the province
adjoining Fokien to the north. The
city is also a great literary centre,
and numerous gentry who have re-
tired from office ia other parts of
the empire and men of high literary
attainments reside there. 1t has
several cotton, paper, and hardware
manufactures. several hundred fac
tories for making porcelaine. and
factories Of blue cloth, screens, and
combs. Near by are productive
lead mines and great tea-growing
district lies within 70miles of thecity.
The commerce of Foo-Choo is prin-
cipally with Japan and the maritime
provinces of China. The chief ex-
ports are black teas, timber, bamboo
fruits, orange peel, tobacco, potash,'
spices, grain, copper, and lead, The
imports are opium, which sometimes
amounts to 100000 in value Tor
year; salt, sugar, and European
manufactures.