From Ock OWN ConesroxDer a Swatow, Jan. 23. dnd state o2 business in thie pores whatever. may be said abou and great deals said it does not seem as if there can be much wrong the building business. During the past year great progress: hes een made in pushing the new wide thoroughfares" through' the tones, lined "with three or four' storey buildings, and there never scerne be any lack of people ready ferent the shops that form the grtvnd floor, Hotels seem to be teganled. os. a profitable form of investment. "The Jatest' and Targest has during the ast year been run up, (0-a height Of seven storeys, at the beck of the ost-ofice; and shares with a large universal store the glory dominating the town. "They also share the' glory of possessing the frat electric elevators to be installed the port, Two new picture houses have also been opened' recently, one of which at least has put out of date all that have been before it by being fitted up with upholstered tilting rents and everything that a teal picture house ought to have, 'Te if alco, which is more important, satisiae tavily fireproof, 'Phere is a good deal of head-shaking over the' one Parently may structure of "sore of these towering buildings; "and indeed "most of the buildings along these new streets makes one woner whether" those' "responsible for had forgotten' that is a place who typhoons "are to be Yooked for once every few years, and where tone very. violent earthquake' took place between ten and fifteen years ago. Tt is to be feared that the first veally big typhoon will Igave sorry Wreckage behind Another danger lurking in. these new high buildings, was. revealed, when the night before Christmas Eve a, fire. started ina bamboo worker's shop on the ground. floor, and spread with amazing rapidity to the third floor, where six people, five adults and a child, were suffocate: ced by the smoke before any way of rescue could be devised, only one of those. living there escaping by Jumping from the window, suffering serious" injuries by doing so. Practically all these buildings seem to have only, very narrow wooden stairs leading to the upper storeys, and in the ease of fire become mere deathtraps. There was much com= ment on this at the time, but it is not likely. that anything will be done to avoid such disasters in the Suture, cheapness being the main consideration in building: schemes.
'A word should be added in prai of the municipal fire brigade, which seems easily the most efficient ical organization in "the town.
gets to the spot very promptly, fand the firemen ave both skilful and plucky. in taking Also. they oom to. take a pride in, keeping their engine specklessly. clean and shining from, the application of brags-polish, The municipal fire= engine is always well seconded by two others belonging to, the two Jargest charitable guilds, "The police precautions for keeping order in case of fire ave also well organize there seems always to be an adequate force of police and soldiers early on the spot to keep a clear space for the firemen to work in.
Last year the local merchants after much strong official pressure, provided funds to purchase a fight ing aeroplane for the Cantonese air force, It came up a week or two ago to show itself off to its patrons; fand seemed to take a delight in seeing how low it could Ay over the town without hitting anything. Last week it set off to return to Canton, got into a fox, and, following apparently its favorite practise of Aying low, came down in the mud fcrons the bay five or six miles from
Gamaged. that, after being: brought
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