Shanghai is slowly but surely "turing the comer"—that dimeult bend in the path to prosperity. which the rest of the world has been trying to negotiate for years. Business is picking up. The call of the broker heard once again in the stock change. Markets are reviving, and inquiries and orders are being received by firms which had almost Torgotten what they looked ik To feel the pulse of Shanghat's recovery, the "North-China Herald on December 11 interviewed—tho heads of the great public utu companies in this city, and invariably' the reports were encouraging. When the public utilities—the Power Company, the Gas Company, the Water works, and the 'Telephone Company' =-are unanimous in stating that there isa steadily increasing industrial demand for their products, then it can bbe safely assumed that industry ts] once again on the up grade, There can be mo more certain. guide.
The utilities in Shanghai all suite ed a severe falling off in demand during 1935 as compared with the previous year. The year 1938 began with only a slight increase. but this Increase has been steadily maintained throughout the year, until now. just the year is about to close, the demand in most Instances had returned to the level of 1934, and is in some ense above it, The Power Company Since June this year the Shanghai Power Ca. has been experiencing a marked improvement in Kilowatt hour output, and each month since then Nas Indicated demands in excess of any corresponding month of previous years. 'The cotton mills, whose operations during 1935 and the beginning of this year were restricted, ture primarily responsible for this increase, 'They are now operating at full Toad, Other industries, however, have also contributed their share' to the' {nerease. Rubber mills, lumber mills, and egg produce factories have Increased their utilization of power. Exceptional increases are shown in an analysis of their figures by the Power Company with Fespect to to-vacoa factories. site mills, cellaneous textile mills, woollen mills, and. metal working establish ments. The analysis also throws an interesting sidelight on the increasing. diversification of industry in Shang: hat.
The following percentages for the month of October, as compared with October last year, give a good idea of the general improvement in con
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.