Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/712

704 704 TWENTIETH CENTURY IMPRESSIONS OF HONGKONG, SHANGHAI, ETC. and other entcrtaiiimeiils. The hotel is con- nected with the telephone, and for a telegraphic address has adopted the word "Astor." In short, the arrangements for the convenience of the guests are as complete as possible. Mr. Briol, has spent tifteeii years in the East, and was formerly manager of the Hotel des Colonies at Shanghai. The Terminus Hotel, however, has become inadequate lo the needs of the Settlement, and Mr. Saint Hoi has the end of 1909. It should be nienlioned that extensive cellars have been laid down in connection with the Terminus Hotel, wines being imported direct from Kiirope. • DEUTSCH-ASIATISCHE BANK PREMISES. INDUSTRIAL. TH£ HANYANG IBON AND STEEL WORKS. The first sod of the Hanyang Iron and Steel Works was cut in the sixteenth year of His Majesty Kwangsu, corresponding to the Christian era of 1890. The first lot of machinery and furnaces, ordered from Eng- land by Viceroy Chang-Chih-tung, of Hupeh (now Grand Secretary), was to have been erected in Canton, for the Viceroy was then presiding over the Liang Kwang Provinces, but, upon being transferred to Wuchang, he directed the shipment of machinery to be sent to Hupeh and, as the magnetic ore of Tayeh is among the richest in the world, containing 60 to 65 per cent, of metallic iron, he was certainly right in selecting this province. Unfortunately, no suitable coal for making coke could be found in the whole of Hupeh, and this fact was respon- sible for the difliculties encountered in the first stages. As to the site, the late Viceroy has often been blamed for choosing Han- yang, instead of Tayeh where the ore is, but he had good reasons for making his selection. It must be remembered that it is still an unsettled problem even in Europe and America at the present day as to which is the more suitable location for ironworks — the market where there are all the facilities and advantages that a market offers, or the home of the raw material, where there is everything at hand and cheap. Hotel representatives with carriages meet the passenger trains and incoming steamers, and, as often as required, parties are organised with competent guides engaged to visit the places of interest in the vicinity. In the season enjoyable trips can be made to the upper reaches of the Yangtsze. and sportsmen coming to Hankow will find an abundance of game, both large and small, as well as good hunting. The arrangements for participation in all these forms of amusement may be made at the Astor House, and the advice of the proprietor, Mr. Schroeder, may safely be relied upon, for it is based on long experience and sound knowledge of local circumstances. WA60KS UTS HOTEL TERMINUS. Though only established in 1901 the Wagons Lils Terminus Hotel has gained much popu- larity with tlie travelling public as well as with the residents of Hankow. It occupies a fine site in the French Concession, close to the Kund, with frontages to the Hues Dau- tremcr des Missions and Saigon ; and it lies within easy distance of the Peking-Hankow Railway Terminus and of the steamer landing places. Both trains and steamers are met by representatives from the hotel wiih carriages and luggage coolies. There are thirty-two bednxjms. besides public and private dining rooms, drawing, sitting, and reception rooms. The proprietor, Mr. Saint Pol, has had a long experience in the management of hotels in Europe and in the East. A member of the French Cook S<Kiety of Paris and of the London Cook Society, he has an expert knowledge of cuisine which ensures that his patrons are well catered for. The manager. THE ASTOR HOUSE HOTEL. A. SciUioKDKK (Man;ijit-i). therefore made arrangements lo replace it by a modern three-storeyed building, with eighty living rooms, bathrooms and all the usual appointments on a superb scale. The plans have been prepared, and it is expected that the new building will be in readiness towards After the arrival of the plant at Hanyang it took fully three years to instal it, and in the course of installation many additions were made to it, these being obtained chiefly from Belgium. When the works were ready for occupation, the dilficulty of getting