There were many proposals as to the way in which more housingaccommodation could be secured at moderate rentals， among thembeing the suggestion of the advisability of the erection of flats， andthe development of a Garden City in the western suburbs. The formerplan proved more practicable， and resulted later in bringing apartmenthouses or flats in increasing numbers to Shanghai. It is still， however，a fact that the salaried man in Shanghai has to pay a much higherrcentage of his income In rent than he would in the homeland.
Formation of Union ClubIn order to foster friendly intercourse between the foreign andChinese merchants of Shanghai， a Union Club was founded. Itwas inaugurated on October 2nd， 1919， in quarters in the formerChartered Bank Building. Mr. H. H. Girardet （Acting Chairmanof the British Chamber of commerce） presided， and in his addresscalled attention to the importance “of closer and more intimate socialrelations between Chinese and foreigners.“The establishment of this Club has proved to be of considerablevalue， inasmuch as it has provided a meeting ground for the twosections of the community. In 1924 the Club moved into morecommodious quarters on Avenue Edward VII.
War Activities
Even after the Great War， help was still needed for the soldiers，especially for the White Russians fighting against the Bolshevists inSiberia， and for the Czechs who had come into conflict with the “Reds”
and been reduced to serious straits in their endeavour to return to theirown country by crossing Siberia and taking ship at Vladivostok forEurope. The British Women"s Work Association and the American RedCross continued their good work for many months after the signing ofthe Armistice and the Treaty of Versailles.
An Appeal to CharityThe large number of Russian refugees from Siberia made anappeal to the sympathy and charity of the whole community. Mostof these people were in dire necessity both for food and clothing， asthey reached Shanghai in a penniless condition， and were practicallystranded. Not only were they unable to raise the fund for returning toRussia， but they feared to put themselves and their families under thereign of terror in the homeland. It was difficult to find employmentfor these immigrants， and for the first time the Chinese beheld whitemen undertaking menial work， and becoming hawkers， and sellers ofnewspapers on the streets. Shanghai responded liberally to the call forhelp and much was done to relieve the situation.
The American School
A vigorous campaign was conducted in 1919 for raising ＄100，000
for the purchase of land for the Shanghai American School. It metwith success， and the fine property on Avenue Petain was bought forthe site of the new school buildings. Two years later another successfuleffort was made for raising an additional Tls. 150，000 for the schoolbuildings.
Fortieth Anniversary of St. John"s UniversityIn the educational world of Shanghai one of the interestingevents was the celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the foundingof St. John"s University on November 15th， 1919， The occasionbrought together a large number of friends and former students of theUniversity to express their congratulations on the completion of fortyyears of successful work in advancing the cause of modern education inChina.
Farewells
Shanghai is essentially a place of “comings” and “goings” andmost years bring their quota of farewells. In 1919 there was onedeparture that left a big gap in the life of the community. It was thatof Lady de Sausmarez， who had carried on in a very able manner theBritish women"s work in connection with war relief. At a meeting heldin November a presentation， consisting of a very beautiful ring andan address， was made to her as a token of the affection and esteem inwhich she was held by those who had been privileged to work underher leadership.
commerce and Trade
Contrary to expectations， according to the report of theStatistical Department of the Inspectorate-General of Customs， theport of Shanghai showed during 1918 unmistakable outward signs ofincreasing material prosperity.
The big staple industries—cotton mills， docks， shipping—hadnever had a more prosperous year. Piece goods importers， however，were severely handicapped by shortage of stocks. Japanese merchantsreaped the biggest harvest， and on account of the proximity of themarket， found Shanghai a veritable El Dorado.
The scarcity of cotton throughout the world， and the greatdemand for it， created a cotton boom and the number of cotton millsincreased rapidly. Twenty-one mills were in operation and there wasconsiderable speculation in the purchase of cotton shares.
In Shanghai， the Japanese acquired two more large cottonmills， the International and the Yu-yuan， and purchased three wharffrontages， two at Pootung and one at Yangtszepoo， and the number ofJapanese banks increased.
The high rate of exchange which ordinarily stimulates importsand discourages exports， in this instance did not have a deleteriouseffect on exports. This was due to the fact that Chinese exports broughtexceptionally high prices in the foreign market. The gross value of thetrade in 1918 was 627 million Haikwan taels， an increase of nearly 47
million over the 1917 total. In 1919 the net value of foreign trade inChina amounted to Hk. Tls. 1，277 ，807，092， a great advance on thepreceding year. The gross value of trade in Shanghai reached the recordtotal of Hk. Tls. 768 ，000，000. There was a revival of British piecegoods and large importations were made of motor cars and cigarettes.
In the report of the Maritime Customs， we find the year 1920