The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-24
THE NEW TOXIC.
Japans Capital Being Made Over sr
Occidental Lines.

-Those familiar with the general aspect
Of Toxic i'm former times would hardly
recognize IL to-day so marvellous anc
rapid transformation has it recently
undergone. writes the chief engineer
of the imperial capital in the nam
Magazine -Of course this magic trans.
formation is not so marvellous as II APP
pears. for the reconstruction OF a city OF
| task a. would the rebuilding OF a stone
city. like London or Berlin
Nothing. perhaps. has done 50 much 10
hasten the moderniza'ion OF Toxic a. RI.
inauguration Of "A modern electric car
system. The electric car lines. traversing
as they do all the chief streets Of IN.
metropolis. necessitst ed the straig htening
and widening OF thes. thorou xhfar-s.
which in turn demanded the removal Of
old buildings and the const ruct ion Of new
In the old days the inhabitants of one
section 81 the vast city might for Who'll.
year know little or nothing Of other sec
tons Of the city Now for the remark
ably low fare Of four sen 1.-TWO Cent-l they
can go To any part Of the Ci'y m com
paratively short time and with comfort
and convenience
The initial movement in the trans
formation of the Japanese capital began
with the issue 81 an imperial ordinance
IN lsss directing that modern improve
ment works should he Inaugurarei. and
suggesting that sum NOT exceeding
i.yo.0o ven Is5NO. OooI he annually ap-
p-oprlated for the purpose But This sum
proved entirely insufficient and the work
tod nj al To-,
accelerate the process Of tran-vorming
the city large loan was fioated in IeDs.
and under the direction Of Shimp.l
rsunoda. a. superintendent Of works
the moderni1ation movement went on ~
such a pac" that IN three years the city
had IN. appearance of being almost
remad..
The work Of Improvement included
the filling up Of old moa's and he dredg-
ing and REVEALING 81 canals and rivers
Most of the old moats. with the exc.p-
ton of the inner one surrounding tho
imperial place grounds. have he.,n NOR"
or loss filled 'hus removing sorr. ~ the
most peculiar and interest " aspects 81 an
Oriental CITY
The work Of repairing and keeping in
order the numerous canals and streams
that thread IN" city blocks of Tok 10
must h- Immens. Yet the~.. ar. m.
highways of t-affic for much 81 the com
merCe Of m" metropolis and ar. there
fore arteries Of trade that cannot he
neglected Their" ar- no fewer than
hf'vsIN Of tines. streams and canals run
ming through Toxic. and IN" numb..
" bridges spanning them ~ some ,sI
q az -,
iron and go Of wood, all requiring repair
Of reconstruction from tim" - time
Tn" most famous OF thes. bridges
sknown rs NIhonbashi. or Japan Bridge.
all distances in the Fmpir" ar. measured
from this spot This bridge j. now under
r""on-lruc'ion. and when completed "A
wear hence II q" ~ be- a magnificent double
arch.d struotiIr 81 granite Isr feet long
bv ~ feet wide Al the stream and
canals - III" city rim either into FOX ia
Bay or IN" Sumlda River. a stream some
pp feet wide. div iciing III" rl.trupoIis
iuin two parts The Sinida Is to TnIin
" nat tn" Thames l. TO London and Is
SPAWNED by nv" great iron bridges Of fin.
con-t rrIctIon
-Th. thre" great lungs Of Toxic ar.
parks - considerable acreage. Shiba
Park. where ar. tn. tombs Of The Toku.
Xawa ShoRuur. yenO Park which WAS
also formerly temple enclosure and
hibiya Park. a beautiful trac, lately
planted and laid out in Occidental siyI.
III the heart Of The CITY. Eighteen other
parks Of smaller dimensions hsv. been
designed by the improy ement ccrnmir e~
and IN time will be laid out 10 vsr,ou.
sect ions Of the capital
For hygienic reason the city IL IN need
II better system Of drainag" but hose
IN charg" Of the impro, ern..n' work have
not been indifferent 10 this important
matter and many changes are being made
IN the right direction The plan con
remplat.d ~ said To- involve an outlay
~ some Js.OS.Go yen Owing 10 Lack |
Of funds this plan has had 10 remain
post poned
One Of the most important improve
ments effected in the Japanese capital 4. +,
The magnificent system of water work- /
the city now enjoys n ~ "a Datter of 1
more than ordinary interest to know that !
he metropolis ~ the Tokugawa ShuglIns
had a system 81 water supply not unliL. /
he modern method more than $50 wears
ago and therefore AZ time when many
u the Occidental capitals could not boa., I.
II complete an ~ idenca Of advanced .
,iv ilization
ss.sOO Verdict for an Injured is-r,,