The Nome nugget., 1938-06-11

" 11H W iioii 8 tOO r { preaching shangha ai O there is little to indl-
 cate that one is enter ing China except for fleets of native fishing junks moving about in the river. The river banks are lined on both sides with oil supply depots, smok- ing factory chimneys, ware houses, silk flatures, repair docks, and strange things of foreign import.
 Shanghai's water front skyline is decidedly occidental in appearance and most strikingly impressive. Un- til the present century, low, commo- dious Chinese buildings or tWo- and three-story structures served a ma jority of the business concerns; but the introduction of excellently equipped modern offices initiated period of extensive building.
 The tendency of Shanghai's build ing program has been distinctly skyWard in the last few years be- cause of the congestion in the busi- ness areas occasioned by its me- teoric expansion in trade.
 Construction of tall buildings, however, even those of eight and ten stories, presents considerable difficulty to the architects because of the nature of the footing upon which the foundations must be laid. The soil is entirely alluvial deposit; but, in spite of the obvious handi- caps, architects are exploring new heights for Shanghai with 10 and l5- story structures.
 The Chinese. quick to appreciate this upward direction of city-build- ing, have begun erecting tall de- partment stores, tea houses, guild halls, and other structures which bring them financial advantage and moderniZe the appearance of Shang- hai.
 Radical indeed are the changes that have taken place in architec- tural expansion in the last decade, including vast alterations in the sky line of the metropolis.
 In the Old Native City.
 In a few minutes walk from the most up-to-t moment districts of Shanghai, however, one can be in surroundings that are little altered since the day when the first foreign firm marked out its business site in the muddy concession.
 Within the Mantao district, at the southern side of the city, lies the old Chinese settlement, or Native City. Modernization has been slow to move in this locality, and native life takes much the same course that it followed before steamship screws began stirring up the muddy Whangpoo around the fishing junks
 
 and sampans.
 Even here, however, there have been changes. Since the Republic has come into existence, the old wall that surrounded the city has been demolished. Narrow cobble streets with open sewers running down their centers gradually have given way to more cleanly concrete passages. Loathsome beggars have somehow been reduced in numbers, although there are still more than enough of the pitiable Wretches.
 North of the International Settle ment lies the thickly populated Chi nese district of Chapel. Chapel bor- ders upon the Soochow creek boundary and is just back of the foreign district of Hongkew This district, before the Sino-Japanese battles several years ago, was somewhat more modern and pro- gressive than the Native City re- zion. Here, in Chapel, were located large Chinese business concerns de- voted to exporting and importing. Here had sprung up offices. fac tories, and printing establishments, among the last named the Conner cial Press, largest publishing con- cern in China, valued at one and a quarter million dollars. In this locality, too, is the Shanghai rail- way station.
 Foreign Settlements of Shanghai.
 But the focus of all Shanghai is the foreign settlements. for in them have been the remarkable incen- tive and expanding force that have built this modern seaport. First al- lotted a portion of land on the south side of Soochow creek, following the treaty of Nanking, in l842, when Shanghai was indicated as one of the five treaty ports. British busi- ness established itself and expand ed, digging drains and filling canals to make the concession habitable.