Evening star., 1928-03-23
CALCUTTA MAKES
STRIDES IN TRADE
Progressive City of India
May Soon Send Radio
Messages to World.

programs from the worlds largest
jute and tea center, featuring weird
Hindu music. may be heard when
American radio fans can tune In on
the new broadcasting station at Cal
cutta, india" says bulletin from the
National Geographic Society.
Calcutta Is one of the most pro-
gressive cities of the East, with all the
modern devices to handle its tremen-
dous commerce and entertain its native
and foreign population. In less than
$50 years It has become the largest city
in India and second only to London IN
the British Empire.
when Job Charnock OF the East
India Co. set up trading station at
Kalikuta In 1890 the insignificant ma
tive village occupied narrow stretch
of dry land on the left bank of the
mud laden Hooghly, with fever-infested
swamps surrounding 1t on the three
other sides" continues the bulletin.
City's Growth Tremendous.
"Charnock knew the products of the
rich Ganges and Brahmaputra valleys
could be routed through Kalikuta and
the swamps would protect his station
from unfriendly Indian neighbors, but
his widest imagination. perhaps, did
not lead him to vision the Calcutta OF
the twentieth century.
TODAY three important railroads
converge at Calcutta. The treacher-
Gus, shifty channel of the Hooghly IL
a parade ground for commercial YES
sells of all sizes, flying flags OF the
world. Nearly 10 miles OF modern
wharves and warehouses, equipped with
all modern devices, receive and export
oF all
tea. hides, oil seed, lac. cotton, coal
and other products of Bengal and sur
rounding provinces. And many acres
of the old swamp land have been re-
claimed, forming beautiful parks and
sites for government buildings and
palatial residences of 'jute kings and
tea kings
ITO the traveller who approaches
Calcutta by water its growth Is mys"
terry. At the mouth of the Hooghly the
indigo-blue water of the Bay OF Bengal
turns to dirty brown. For much OF
the 60-mile trip mud flats and water
logged forests form the riverside seem
cry. with no evidence of civilization
save for the commercial craft plying
the river Only the most skilled pilot
can steer a vessel up the shifty channel.
when almost within sight of CAL
here and there groups Of native
thatched huts break the monotony of
the Journey, and then. rounding a
bend, the great Indian port appears.
Bathing Chats.
/. Bathing CHATS on both banks now
are Allied with Hindus. One of the
popular CHATS is at the botanical gar
dens, where grows the famous CAL
cutta banyan tree. 1t covers nearly
2 acres and has about $50 trunks.
A abort distance beyond. perspiring ma
tives loading and unloading ocean-go-
ingS vessels solve the secret Of Cali
cutta's acknowledgements. Small
boats resembling the Chinese sampans
clustered about the wharves or floating
ieisurely to and from Howrah. CAL
cutta's manufacturing district on the
other side of the Hooghly, handle much
of the local small freight. A l,500-foot
floating bridge also connects the two
river banks.
Like all large cities, Calcutta has its
slums with sQualid houses of mud and
thatch. and sometimes brick, bordering
narrow, dirty streets and inhabited by
half-starved, unkempt natives.
The congestion in this district is in
sharp contrast to the greater portion OF
the city where wide streets and numer-
Gus open spaces, beautified by gardens
and lakes. are bordered by modern
shops, hotels. magnificent temples, pa
latial residences and government and
private buildings that would do honor
10 any Western city The presence of
ragged unkempt beggars at every turn,
however, Is constantly suggestive OF
India.
"Dalhousie square, few blocks from
the Hooghly. is an attractive parkway
The post Office, which faces its lake,
bears a tablet designating the vicinity
o. the famous Calcutta Black Hole
episode.
MADAM Sport Center.
''T'he MADAM, Calcutta's Mall with
It's race track, cricket fields and gardens,
is the rendezvous for sport lovers and
promenaders In the evening the
who's who OF Calcutta are there. Col
orfui Indian raiahs with their servants
In native costume, wealthy natives and