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Companies - various
Extracts from
Who's Who in Burma 1927
A History of Rangoon 1939
Wanderings in Burma 1897
Many of the employee's of these companies can be found in the Directories Section
To search this page press ctrl f.
Who's Who in Burma 1927
A History of Rangoon 1939
Wanderings in Burma 1897
Many of the employee's of these companies can be found in the Directories Section
To search this page press ctrl f.
Balthazar & Son.
Established in 1856 as a private company by Balthazar H. Balthazar and his son C. Balthazar and has uninterruptedly continued since.
The principal shareholders are M. Joakim and C.S. Balthazar. The business carried on at the commencement was merely one of commission and auctioneering, (selling imported goods in the market or by public auction.)
Later import business on a substantial scale was included also an estate agency and appraising of properties were undertaken. At the present time the activities are varied and many.
The company imports everything conceivable from Gt. Britain, Ireland, N. America and Europe and exports cutch, tobacco, rubber, hides and a variety of other goods to Europe and elsewhere.
Directors:- M. Joakim and C.S. Balthazar, Carr Joakim. Managing Director:- M. Joakim
Head office 66 Merchant St. Rangoon.
Established in 1856 as a private company by Balthazar H. Balthazar and his son C. Balthazar and has uninterruptedly continued since.
The principal shareholders are M. Joakim and C.S. Balthazar. The business carried on at the commencement was merely one of commission and auctioneering, (selling imported goods in the market or by public auction.)
Later import business on a substantial scale was included also an estate agency and appraising of properties were undertaken. At the present time the activities are varied and many.
The company imports everything conceivable from Gt. Britain, Ireland, N. America and Europe and exports cutch, tobacco, rubber, hides and a variety of other goods to Europe and elsewhere.
Directors:- M. Joakim and C.S. Balthazar, Carr Joakim. Managing Director:- M. Joakim
Head office 66 Merchant St. Rangoon.
Bank of Bengal Established in 1861 Phayre St., Rangoon Moved to its present site about 1870 - (as at 1938 it was the Imperial Bank of India) |
Barnett Bros. Provision dealers. Established 1886 by Capt. P. Barnett, Indian Army, retired. |
J.A. Begbie & Co. General Merchants Established 1892 |
Bombay Burma Trading Corporation (B.B.T.C.)
Forest Lessees and Timber Merchants. This large Corporation was originally founded when Upper Burma was still an independent Kingdom, with its capital at Mandalay. It owed its foundation to the late William Wallace who, in the year 1862, obtained from King Mindon large concessions of Teak Forests. For the working of these in the following year Mr Wallace floated a Company and the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation was accordingly incorporated in 1863 with its local office at Rangoon. The actual work of extraction was placed in the hands of Messrs. Darwood & Goldenberg, who had their origins in the timber trade founded in Moulmein by an officer named Darwood.
For many years the Company worked their concessions under King Mindon to great profit and in an amicable manner, until a dispute arose between them and the King. The latter,in a despotic manner, imposed unjust and heavy fines on the Company and this high-handed act proved one of the contributing causes to the third Burmese War of 1885 which led to the deposition of King Theebaw and the annexation of his former dominions to the British possessions. The Company then resumed their operations under the security of the British Government. During the war a large number of the Company’s European employees lost their lives being killed in their isolated positions, distributed as they were in numerous distant forests. The Company contributed a great deal to the work of keeping the country in a quite condition. During the troubles that followed the war they carried on their business as usual, giving employment to a large number of the native population. The Company’s concessions were duly renewed by the British Government after the war.
The business of the Corporation is forest exploitation for the extraction and manufacture of Teak in Burmah and Siam. Their Sawmills are at Dunneedaw and Dallah in Rangoon. Also at Moulmein. Up to some years ago one of the sights in Rangoon for distinguished visitors was the dragging and stacking of timber by their trained elephants, but the Corporation no longer use elephants in their Mills where the latest methods for handling timber have been installed. A large number of elephants and buffaloes are, of course, employed in the forests.
Managers in Rangoon are: Turner J.R. Wroughton F.H. Prior H.B. Bruce A.A.
Forest Lessees and Timber Merchants. This large Corporation was originally founded when Upper Burma was still an independent Kingdom, with its capital at Mandalay. It owed its foundation to the late William Wallace who, in the year 1862, obtained from King Mindon large concessions of Teak Forests. For the working of these in the following year Mr Wallace floated a Company and the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation was accordingly incorporated in 1863 with its local office at Rangoon. The actual work of extraction was placed in the hands of Messrs. Darwood & Goldenberg, who had their origins in the timber trade founded in Moulmein by an officer named Darwood.
For many years the Company worked their concessions under King Mindon to great profit and in an amicable manner, until a dispute arose between them and the King. The latter,in a despotic manner, imposed unjust and heavy fines on the Company and this high-handed act proved one of the contributing causes to the third Burmese War of 1885 which led to the deposition of King Theebaw and the annexation of his former dominions to the British possessions. The Company then resumed their operations under the security of the British Government. During the war a large number of the Company’s European employees lost their lives being killed in their isolated positions, distributed as they were in numerous distant forests. The Company contributed a great deal to the work of keeping the country in a quite condition. During the troubles that followed the war they carried on their business as usual, giving employment to a large number of the native population. The Company’s concessions were duly renewed by the British Government after the war.
The business of the Corporation is forest exploitation for the extraction and manufacture of Teak in Burmah and Siam. Their Sawmills are at Dunneedaw and Dallah in Rangoon. Also at Moulmein. Up to some years ago one of the sights in Rangoon for distinguished visitors was the dragging and stacking of timber by their trained elephants, but the Corporation no longer use elephants in their Mills where the latest methods for handling timber have been installed. A large number of elephants and buffaloes are, of course, employed in the forests.
Managers in Rangoon are: Turner J.R. Wroughton F.H. Prior H.B. Bruce A.A.
Bulloch Bros. (J. and G. Bulloch)
One of the oldest firms in Burmah having been first established in Akyab about the year 1840, under the name of Halliday MacMillan & Co.
The firm extended to Rangoon in about 1853 as Halliday, Bulloch & Co. and subsequently became Bulloch Bros. Co. Ltd.
They are one of the largest rice millers in the east with mills in Rangoon, Bassein, Akyab, and Moulmein and are large importers of piece goods, hardware, salt etc. and exporters of cutch and sundry products.
They also have a large and well equipped foundry, workshop and shipbuilding yard and supply all varieties of rice mill and general stores.
Head office – Strand Rd. Rangoon. Branches – Akyab, Bassein, Moulmein. Mergui and Tavoy.
Directors:- C. Findlay, E.O. Anderson, P.B. Sime and C.J. McNeil.
One of the oldest firms in Burmah having been first established in Akyab about the year 1840, under the name of Halliday MacMillan & Co.
The firm extended to Rangoon in about 1853 as Halliday, Bulloch & Co. and subsequently became Bulloch Bros. Co. Ltd.
They are one of the largest rice millers in the east with mills in Rangoon, Bassein, Akyab, and Moulmein and are large importers of piece goods, hardware, salt etc. and exporters of cutch and sundry products.
They also have a large and well equipped foundry, workshop and shipbuilding yard and supply all varieties of rice mill and general stores.
Head office – Strand Rd. Rangoon. Branches – Akyab, Bassein, Moulmein. Mergui and Tavoy.
Directors:- C. Findlay, E.O. Anderson, P.B. Sime and C.J. McNeil.
Book & Map Sellers, 1897 Miles Standish & Co., Merchant St. A.B. Mission Press, 35th St. British Burma Press, 76 Merchant St. Government Central Press, Strand Rd. |
British India Steam Navigation Co. Agents Bulloch Bros. Asiatic Steam Navigation Co. Agents Gillanders Arbuthnot |
Burma Co-Op Society Ltd. Sule Pagoda Rd. |
Burmese Curio Shops (1897)
Jail Sale Rooms, Commissioner's Rd.
Beato & Co. Phayre St.
Watts & Skein, Sule Pagoda Rd.
oomanal Parasram, 20 Merchant St.
Maung Thit, 25 Godwin Rd.
Tha Maung, Godwin Rd.
Maung Kyaw Yin, Godwin Rd.
Jail Sale Rooms, Commissioner's Rd.
Beato & Co. Phayre St.
Watts & Skein, Sule Pagoda Rd.
oomanal Parasram, 20 Merchant St.
Maung Thit, 25 Godwin Rd.
Tha Maung, Godwin Rd.
Maung Kyaw Yin, Godwin Rd.
Burma Corporation Ltd.
One of the leading Lead, Silver and Zinc producers in the world. Its property comprises a group of ancient mines at Bawdwin, in the Northern Shan States, 60 miles from the frontier of the Province of Yunnan, China and about 46 miles from Namyao Station, on the Lashio Branch of the Burma Railways. The property has an area ten square miles and is held under lease from the Government, for thirty years from January 1st 1920. The mines are connected by the Company’s own railway with its smelters at Namtu, 13 miles distant and the Burma Railways at Namyao, 46 miles distant.
The plant at Namtu consists of up to date equipment capable of dealing with 1,000 tons of ore per day, most of the power for which is derived from a Hydro-Electric plant at Mansam. This plant also supplies power to the mine at Bawdwin. The Ore body is situated in the centre of a big hill and the main avenue of extraction is the Tiger Tunnel which is 7,250 feet long. This tunnel contains a double line of rails and the ore is withdrawn from the mine by means of electric traction. The mine is also supplied with a well equipped Circular Shaft which has been sunk to a depth of 990 feet.
The Ore reserves at 30th June 1926 were 4,140,571 tons assaying 22.3 ounces Silver, 25.2% Lead, 16.6% Zinc, 1.3% Copper. The production as at that date from 356,222 tons of Ore mined was 51,270 tons refined Lead, 719 tons Antimonial Lead, 5,236,730 ounces refined Silver, 9,869 tons Copper Matte and 33,643 tons Zinc concentrates, the revenue from which amounted to over Rs. 4 crores.
Directors:- Sir Robert Horne, A. Chester Beatty, C.F. Clifton, A.R. Finlay, John R. Govett, John Hogg, Capt. O. Lyttleton, P.E. Marmion, A.T.W. Paine, William S. Robinson, Sir Henry Strakosch, Sir T.R. Wynne.
General Manager:- E. Hogan Taylor
Secretary:- Henry Ponsford
Office:- 11 Strand Rd. Rangoon
One of the leading Lead, Silver and Zinc producers in the world. Its property comprises a group of ancient mines at Bawdwin, in the Northern Shan States, 60 miles from the frontier of the Province of Yunnan, China and about 46 miles from Namyao Station, on the Lashio Branch of the Burma Railways. The property has an area ten square miles and is held under lease from the Government, for thirty years from January 1st 1920. The mines are connected by the Company’s own railway with its smelters at Namtu, 13 miles distant and the Burma Railways at Namyao, 46 miles distant.
The plant at Namtu consists of up to date equipment capable of dealing with 1,000 tons of ore per day, most of the power for which is derived from a Hydro-Electric plant at Mansam. This plant also supplies power to the mine at Bawdwin. The Ore body is situated in the centre of a big hill and the main avenue of extraction is the Tiger Tunnel which is 7,250 feet long. This tunnel contains a double line of rails and the ore is withdrawn from the mine by means of electric traction. The mine is also supplied with a well equipped Circular Shaft which has been sunk to a depth of 990 feet.
The Ore reserves at 30th June 1926 were 4,140,571 tons assaying 22.3 ounces Silver, 25.2% Lead, 16.6% Zinc, 1.3% Copper. The production as at that date from 356,222 tons of Ore mined was 51,270 tons refined Lead, 719 tons Antimonial Lead, 5,236,730 ounces refined Silver, 9,869 tons Copper Matte and 33,643 tons Zinc concentrates, the revenue from which amounted to over Rs. 4 crores.
Directors:- Sir Robert Horne, A. Chester Beatty, C.F. Clifton, A.R. Finlay, John R. Govett, John Hogg, Capt. O. Lyttleton, P.E. Marmion, A.T.W. Paine, William S. Robinson, Sir Henry Strakosch, Sir T.R. Wynne.
General Manager:- E. Hogan Taylor
Secretary:- Henry Ponsford
Office:- 11 Strand Rd. Rangoon
Burmah Oil Co.
The growth of commerce showed its effect in the formation in this period of new mercantile houses. The most notable of which was an undertaking which formed the foundation of the Burmah Oil Co. in 1871 the Rangoon Oil Co. was founded in Glasgow to undertake the refining of crude oil and refining works were established at Dunnedaw, but it proved impossible to depend on a regular supply of oil and the price of this commodity was subject to great variations according to the commercial policy of the Burmese Government at any time. In consequence the company was wound up in 1876 and the property came into the possession of David Sime Cargill, a shareholder of the Company who later developed it into the Burma Oil Company.
In 1878 David Syme Cargill developed his oil refinery at Dunneedaw into the Burmah Oil Co. with Messrs. Finlay Fleming as managing agents.
The Company was registered on the 15th May 1902 for the purpose of, inter-alia, acquiring and taking over as a going concern the undertaking an all assets and liabilities of its predecessor registered under the same name in 1886, which had been working concessions of petroleum bearing lands in Burma and carrying on business a producers and refiners of crude petroleum and exporters of and dealers in petroleum products. A 10 inch pipe line of some 300 miles with four pumping station connect the company's main producing fields with its extensive refineries at Rangoon where the whole range of petroleum products is manufactured.
The company owns Tank Steamers of an aggregate of over 30,000 tons deadweight and at the port of Rangoon it has large modern installations for the receipt in bulk of its liquid products. The company produces Kerosene and Jute Batching Oils, lubricants and greases. Since the incorporation in 1902 its crude petroleum producing and refining operations have been quadrupled and there has been continuous improvements in the refining process. From the Twingone and Beme Reserves of the Yenangyaung Oilfields, an area of about half a square mile, the company has hitherto drawn a great part of the crude oil required to serve its refineries and although there is keen competitive drilling in these reserves the company holds a commanding portion and it confidently anticipates securing considerable quantities of oil from them for many years to come.
The growth of commerce showed its effect in the formation in this period of new mercantile houses. The most notable of which was an undertaking which formed the foundation of the Burmah Oil Co. in 1871 the Rangoon Oil Co. was founded in Glasgow to undertake the refining of crude oil and refining works were established at Dunnedaw, but it proved impossible to depend on a regular supply of oil and the price of this commodity was subject to great variations according to the commercial policy of the Burmese Government at any time. In consequence the company was wound up in 1876 and the property came into the possession of David Sime Cargill, a shareholder of the Company who later developed it into the Burma Oil Company.
In 1878 David Syme Cargill developed his oil refinery at Dunneedaw into the Burmah Oil Co. with Messrs. Finlay Fleming as managing agents.
The Company was registered on the 15th May 1902 for the purpose of, inter-alia, acquiring and taking over as a going concern the undertaking an all assets and liabilities of its predecessor registered under the same name in 1886, which had been working concessions of petroleum bearing lands in Burma and carrying on business a producers and refiners of crude petroleum and exporters of and dealers in petroleum products. A 10 inch pipe line of some 300 miles with four pumping station connect the company's main producing fields with its extensive refineries at Rangoon where the whole range of petroleum products is manufactured.
The company owns Tank Steamers of an aggregate of over 30,000 tons deadweight and at the port of Rangoon it has large modern installations for the receipt in bulk of its liquid products. The company produces Kerosene and Jute Batching Oils, lubricants and greases. Since the incorporation in 1902 its crude petroleum producing and refining operations have been quadrupled and there has been continuous improvements in the refining process. From the Twingone and Beme Reserves of the Yenangyaung Oilfields, an area of about half a square mile, the company has hitherto drawn a great part of the crude oil required to serve its refineries and although there is keen competitive drilling in these reserves the company holds a commanding portion and it confidently anticipates securing considerable quantities of oil from them for many years to come.
The Chartered Bank Established 1858, Phayre St., Rangoon soon moved to a site on the Strand approx. where the Port Trust now stands, (1938) |
Chartered Mercantile Bank (of India) A branch was opened, 1879, in Rangoon next to the office of the Chartered Bank on the Strand; but the collapse of the Chartered Mercantile Bank involved closing the this branch in 1892. |
Consulates, 1897:- the following countries have representatives Persia, Siam, Peru, Brazil, France, Netherlands,Denmark, Austro-Hungary, U.S.A., Greece, Germany, Norway , Sweden, Belgium and Italy. |
Crisp & Co.
Timber and Rice Merchants. - The original firm of Crisp had ceased to exist on the death of Capt. May Flower Crisp in 1866; but in 1878 it was revived in Moulmein by one of his sons, A.B. Crisp, in conjunction with his nephew E.T. Low. They were later joined by two other sons of Capt. Crisp, M.F. Crisp, who had been in the employ of Messrs. Foucar at Moulmein, and Edmund Crisp, who had been employed by the Aga Syed Co. In 1890 Crisp and Co. extended their activities once more to Rangoon.
Timber and Rice Merchants. - The original firm of Crisp had ceased to exist on the death of Capt. May Flower Crisp in 1866; but in 1878 it was revived in Moulmein by one of his sons, A.B. Crisp, in conjunction with his nephew E.T. Low. They were later joined by two other sons of Capt. Crisp, M.F. Crisp, who had been in the employ of Messrs. Foucar at Moulmein, and Edmund Crisp, who had been employed by the Aga Syed Co. In 1890 Crisp and Co. extended their activities once more to Rangoon.
Dinckgreve, Mack & Co. Trading firm, founded about 1870's, known from 1898 onwards as Stork & Co. ceased to exist in 1921. |
Messrs. DuBern Established 1892. Ice and mineral-water manufacturers. Not until Ashley Eden became Chief Commission in 1872 was ice manufactured locally, for Eden, finding life without ice intolerable, induced a Frenchman named Jarry to set up an ice factory in Sule Pagoda Road, Rangoon where DuBern later established his business. |
Edmund Jones & Co. Auctioneers & Retail Co. Established c. 1855 |
Ellerman’s Arracan Rice & Trading Co. Ltd. Formerly known as Diekmann Barkhausen & Co.
in 1885 John Halliday, formerly a partner in the firm of J. & G. Bulloch, took over certain mills which had been managed without much success by his brother under the name of Halliday Bros. and formed the Arracan Company to develop them; not till 1915 did this concern develop into Ellerman’s Arracan Rice and Trading Company, when Sir John Ellerman bought the bulk of the shares. Sir John Ellerman and C.H. Bart were principal share holders.
From 1885 to 1915 the concern traded under the name of Arracan Co. but upon amalgamation with Ellerman’s Rice Mills ( 1915 - formerly known as Diekmann Barkhausen & Co.) the present title was assumed.
The business carried on is that of rice miller, groundnut oil millers, dealers in textiles and hardware, cattle feeding cake manufacturers, agents and general export and import merchants.
Rice milling occupies the premier position in the company’s activities. Of the eight mills established, three are at Rangoon, there at Bassein, one at Akyab and one at Moulmein. Their combined output is from 3,000 to 4,000 tons of cleaned rice in 24 hours. Rice and rice offals are exported around the world.
The oil mill erected in 1922 is one of the most up to date, being capable of producing 20 tons of oil and 50 tons of cake in 24 hours from 70 tons of groundnuts. The nuts are grown locally, and the tins used for the product are made by the companies own plant. The oil is consumed locally and the cake shipped to the Gt. Britain.
The company imports cloth, fancy cotton and woollens, yarns and hardware, Italian rugs, shawls, Meltons etc. Swiss manufacturers are obtained from Europe and enamel earthenware and piece goods from Japan.
Exports – Considerable exports of beans, cutch, timber and other country produce are made to Europe and elsewhere.
Shipping – The company acts as agents for Ellerman City and Hall Lines. American Indian Line, Ellerman & Bucknall Steamship Co. and Nippon Yusen Kaisha.
Branches:- Bassein, Akyab and Moulmein
Directors:- F.G. Burt, J.W. Jones, R.W.R. Halliday, Jas. Henderson and J.G.O. Halliday.
General Manager:- A.E. Donaldson, 74 Phayre St. Rangoon (office)
in 1885 John Halliday, formerly a partner in the firm of J. & G. Bulloch, took over certain mills which had been managed without much success by his brother under the name of Halliday Bros. and formed the Arracan Company to develop them; not till 1915 did this concern develop into Ellerman’s Arracan Rice and Trading Company, when Sir John Ellerman bought the bulk of the shares. Sir John Ellerman and C.H. Bart were principal share holders.
From 1885 to 1915 the concern traded under the name of Arracan Co. but upon amalgamation with Ellerman’s Rice Mills ( 1915 - formerly known as Diekmann Barkhausen & Co.) the present title was assumed.
The business carried on is that of rice miller, groundnut oil millers, dealers in textiles and hardware, cattle feeding cake manufacturers, agents and general export and import merchants.
Rice milling occupies the premier position in the company’s activities. Of the eight mills established, three are at Rangoon, there at Bassein, one at Akyab and one at Moulmein. Their combined output is from 3,000 to 4,000 tons of cleaned rice in 24 hours. Rice and rice offals are exported around the world.
The oil mill erected in 1922 is one of the most up to date, being capable of producing 20 tons of oil and 50 tons of cake in 24 hours from 70 tons of groundnuts. The nuts are grown locally, and the tins used for the product are made by the companies own plant. The oil is consumed locally and the cake shipped to the Gt. Britain.
The company imports cloth, fancy cotton and woollens, yarns and hardware, Italian rugs, shawls, Meltons etc. Swiss manufacturers are obtained from Europe and enamel earthenware and piece goods from Japan.
Exports – Considerable exports of beans, cutch, timber and other country produce are made to Europe and elsewhere.
Shipping – The company acts as agents for Ellerman City and Hall Lines. American Indian Line, Ellerman & Bucknall Steamship Co. and Nippon Yusen Kaisha.
Branches:- Bassein, Akyab and Moulmein
Directors:- F.G. Burt, J.W. Jones, R.W.R. Halliday, Jas. Henderson and J.G.O. Halliday.
General Manager:- A.E. Donaldson, 74 Phayre St. Rangoon (office)
Foucar Bros. A timber firm originally established at Moulmein by Ferdinand Foucar in 1878, it was extended to Rangoon in 1886. Emile Foucar was also in partnership with his brother. In 1897 the firm was granted their first forest leases. |
Frank Watson Opened a business on a modest scale in Barr St., Rangoon in 1888. |
French Chamber of Commerce Founded by three members the French Consul, M. Goze, and one other in Rangoon c. 1884 - to promote the influence of France. M. Goze was for some years the Librarian of the Rangoon Literary Soc. |
Francis Medical Hall - Manufacturing Chemists
The late David Francis, who came with his father from Hyderabad to Henzada in 1857 started a general store. Henzada had not attained the state of development which it displays today. The mean houses were built of thatch and an unfortunate outbreak of fire destroyed practically the whole town. After this Mr Francis moved with his father to Myanaung, the official headquarters of the district and started trading. When the elder partner died the firm was carried on by his son. Not content with the original business done, Mr David Francis was appointed Honorary Agent for the Irrawaddy Flotilla Co. in 1869 and five years later he became Agent, whilst he also obtained the Agency of the B.B.T.C. He took a keen interest in the corporate life of the town, and for some years he was a Municipal Commissioner. On his death in 1896, the elder of his two sons John Lazarus Francis took over the business and soon afterwards opened a medical hall, where a qualified doctor is employed. Mr Francis has patented several medicines which are used extensively throughout Burma and India.
The other activities of the firm includes a large printing department, a tailoring department, a general store and a rubber estate covering 200 acres of land. The Agency of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Co. has been retained but since 1907 the Agency for the B.B.T.C. has been removed to Henzada. John Lazarus Francis has followed his father's example in devoting a considerable portion of his time to the public service. Since 1880 he has been a Municipal Commissioner of Myanaung and he has been a Vice-president since 1895, with the exception of only two years. In 1900 he was made an honorary Magistrate and also Chairman of the honorary Magistrates. Mr Francis had four sons and two daughters out of which he lost a son and both the daughters.
On his death in 1916 the business was carried on by the widow Mrs Francisca Francis and the eldest son of John Anthony Francis as joint executors till the minor children had attained the age of majority. Now the business is carried on by the brothers, the eldest is in charge as Manager at Myanaung where manufacturing is carried on. A branch is opened at 49A Sule Pagoda Rd. Rangoon with an up to date dispensary where all kinds of drugs and patent medicines are stocked and sole at the lowest market rates. This branch is managed by John Davis Murray Francis as Manager and John Charles Leo Francis as Asst. manager.
The late David Francis, who came with his father from Hyderabad to Henzada in 1857 started a general store. Henzada had not attained the state of development which it displays today. The mean houses were built of thatch and an unfortunate outbreak of fire destroyed practically the whole town. After this Mr Francis moved with his father to Myanaung, the official headquarters of the district and started trading. When the elder partner died the firm was carried on by his son. Not content with the original business done, Mr David Francis was appointed Honorary Agent for the Irrawaddy Flotilla Co. in 1869 and five years later he became Agent, whilst he also obtained the Agency of the B.B.T.C. He took a keen interest in the corporate life of the town, and for some years he was a Municipal Commissioner. On his death in 1896, the elder of his two sons John Lazarus Francis took over the business and soon afterwards opened a medical hall, where a qualified doctor is employed. Mr Francis has patented several medicines which are used extensively throughout Burma and India.
The other activities of the firm includes a large printing department, a tailoring department, a general store and a rubber estate covering 200 acres of land. The Agency of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Co. has been retained but since 1907 the Agency for the B.B.T.C. has been removed to Henzada. John Lazarus Francis has followed his father's example in devoting a considerable portion of his time to the public service. Since 1880 he has been a Municipal Commissioner of Myanaung and he has been a Vice-president since 1895, with the exception of only two years. In 1900 he was made an honorary Magistrate and also Chairman of the honorary Magistrates. Mr Francis had four sons and two daughters out of which he lost a son and both the daughters.
On his death in 1916 the business was carried on by the widow Mrs Francisca Francis and the eldest son of John Anthony Francis as joint executors till the minor children had attained the age of majority. Now the business is carried on by the brothers, the eldest is in charge as Manager at Myanaung where manufacturing is carried on. A branch is opened at 49A Sule Pagoda Rd. Rangoon with an up to date dispensary where all kinds of drugs and patent medicines are stocked and sole at the lowest market rates. This branch is managed by John Davis Murray Francis as Manager and John Charles Leo Francis as Asst. manager.
M. Frassinet (of Marseilles)
Managed by Leon Hernandez, who continued in employment after it was sold in 1870 to Messrs. Gillanders and became the Burma Company. Among the assets were certain grants of forestry rights made by the Government of the province and the practice then was, as now, (1938) that a forestry officer marked with a hammer those teak trees that might be cut down, while the actual felling was done by Burmese labour paid by the firm, which made advance payments to its employees and adjusted the accounts of the foresters after the logs had been floated down the Pegu river to the Government Timber Depot and the necessary royalty had been paid. When the new Company sent its forsters to commence felling, it was found that the forestry officer, by name Graham, had neglected to mark any tress; and the foresters went to Graham and bribed him with, it is said, the sum of £2,000 to lend them his official hammer, with which they proceeded to mark as many trees as they wanted. But unfortunately many of the trees which were thus unlawfully hammer-marked were not fit for felling and when they were placed in the water they sank. The foresters therefore lighted fires under the immature logs to dry them out; but when this timber reached the Forest Depot the situation was at once perceived.
All the Company's logs, good or bad, were then confiscated; and the Company not only lost its timber but also fined the amount of the royalty and in addition was unable to recover its advances from the employees. An order for Graham's arrest was issued, but he fled the country.
The result of this unfortunate incident was that the Burma Company went into liquidation. The reason for the severity with which Government treated the Company was that its manager, Hernandez, was strongly suspected of complicity in the crime and colour was lent to this suspicion by his suicide soon afterwards.
Messrs. Gillanders had another equally disastrous subsidiary, the Burma Agricultural Company which was formed in 1873 to cultivate jute on land which had been granted to the Burma Company; but unexpected floods ruined this enterprise also, and after losing some four lakhs the Agricultural Company went into liquidation also. During its short career the Burma Company had engaged in other work as well, such as ship-building and had built four stern-wheel steamers for King Mindon; and had prepared, through Hernandez, a scheme for a model farm which the King had some idea of establishing; but the scheme was never put into operation.
Managed by Leon Hernandez, who continued in employment after it was sold in 1870 to Messrs. Gillanders and became the Burma Company. Among the assets were certain grants of forestry rights made by the Government of the province and the practice then was, as now, (1938) that a forestry officer marked with a hammer those teak trees that might be cut down, while the actual felling was done by Burmese labour paid by the firm, which made advance payments to its employees and adjusted the accounts of the foresters after the logs had been floated down the Pegu river to the Government Timber Depot and the necessary royalty had been paid. When the new Company sent its forsters to commence felling, it was found that the forestry officer, by name Graham, had neglected to mark any tress; and the foresters went to Graham and bribed him with, it is said, the sum of £2,000 to lend them his official hammer, with which they proceeded to mark as many trees as they wanted. But unfortunately many of the trees which were thus unlawfully hammer-marked were not fit for felling and when they were placed in the water they sank. The foresters therefore lighted fires under the immature logs to dry them out; but when this timber reached the Forest Depot the situation was at once perceived.
All the Company's logs, good or bad, were then confiscated; and the Company not only lost its timber but also fined the amount of the royalty and in addition was unable to recover its advances from the employees. An order for Graham's arrest was issued, but he fled the country.
The result of this unfortunate incident was that the Burma Company went into liquidation. The reason for the severity with which Government treated the Company was that its manager, Hernandez, was strongly suspected of complicity in the crime and colour was lent to this suspicion by his suicide soon afterwards.
Messrs. Gillanders had another equally disastrous subsidiary, the Burma Agricultural Company which was formed in 1873 to cultivate jute on land which had been granted to the Burma Company; but unexpected floods ruined this enterprise also, and after losing some four lakhs the Agricultural Company went into liquidation also. During its short career the Burma Company had engaged in other work as well, such as ship-building and had built four stern-wheel steamers for King Mindon; and had prepared, through Hernandez, a scheme for a model farm which the King had some idea of establishing; but the scheme was never put into operation.
Messrs. Gillanders Arbuthnot & Co.
Established a branch at Rangoon c. 1854. Dealing in timber and piece-goods. Closed down c. 1859 but and agency was established by F. Burot. In 1868 the firm re-opened its branch which has been maintained every since (1938) and after a few years moved from Fytche Square to the Strand.
Established a branch at Rangoon c. 1854. Dealing in timber and piece-goods. Closed down c. 1859 but and agency was established by F. Burot. In 1868 the firm re-opened its branch which has been maintained every since (1938) and after a few years moved from Fytche Square to the Strand.
George Gillespie & Co. General Merchants, Established in 1878. Gillespie & Co. General Merchants Established in 1886 |
Galbraith Dalziel & Co. developed into Messrs. Findlay Fleming & Co. when Kirkman Findlay, an assistant in the firm and Tarbett Fleming, took over the business on the death of Mr Dalziel and the retirement of Mr Galbraith about 1875. |
Gerber Christien & Co. (c. 1870's) Gladstone Wylie (c. 1870's) |
Harperink Smith Founded in 1890 |
Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corp. Opened their Rangoon branch in 1888 in Shafraz Rd., Rangoon. |
Hotels, 1897:- Rangoon Sarkies' Hotel, Merchant St. Barnes' Family Hotel, Merchant St. Evershed's Hotel, Strand Rd. Oriental Hotel, Strand Rd. British-India Hotel, Sule Pagoda Rd. |
Herg & Wijtenhorst. (c. 1868)
Founded by William Noordhock Hegt and an old sea-captain named Wijtenhorst who had long traded to Rangoon, he died not long after the company was formed. Their offices were on the site where the Strand Hotel now stands (1938.) They dealt originally as retailers in wines, provisions and ship's stores, later confined itself to wholesale affairs, and transferred the retail trade to Messrs. Cotton Hertz & Co. Hegt & Co. as the firm came to be called, was transformed into a limited liability company in 1897 as The Trading Company and it is by that name that it now known. (1938)
Founded by William Noordhock Hegt and an old sea-captain named Wijtenhorst who had long traded to Rangoon, he died not long after the company was formed. Their offices were on the site where the Strand Hotel now stands (1938.) They dealt originally as retailers in wines, provisions and ship's stores, later confined itself to wholesale affairs, and transferred the retail trade to Messrs. Cotton Hertz & Co. Hegt & Co. as the firm came to be called, was transformed into a limited liability company in 1897 as The Trading Company and it is by that name that it now known. (1938)
Indo-Burma Petroleum Co. ( formed by Steel Bros.)
(the following description is taken from an advert in 1927)
Registered in Rangoon in Feb. 1909 and established for the purposes of acquiring and taking over as a going concern the business of Mineral Oil mining and refining carried on in Rangoon, Yenangyaung, Syriam and elsewhere under the style of Messrs. A.S. Jamal & Co.
The company has extensive drilling rights in the Yenangyaung oil fields and holds considerable areas under Mining Lease and Prospecting License. The proved fields in Burma supply the crude oil for the refining manufacturers in Syriam, Rangoon and Pantha on the Chindwin river.
The Indaw oilfield in the Upper Chindwin district produces a crude oil which is quite unique for the manufacture of high class lubricants.
The production of crude oil from the fields is refined into the usual finished petroleum products such as kerosene, petrol, lubricating oils, jute batching oil, diesel fuel oil, mineral wax etc. The well known white spirit sold under the proprietary name of “Globe Turpentale” is a product of this company.
A large up to date candle factory at Rangoon turns out candles in large quantities, all shapes, sizes and colours.
Managing/sole selling agents:- Steel Bros. Rangoon.
Directors:-
W.T. Howison, 25 Merchant St. Rangoon
R. Sinclair, Phayre St. Rangoon
A. Chandoo, Merchant St. Rangoon
(the following description is taken from an advert in 1927)
Registered in Rangoon in Feb. 1909 and established for the purposes of acquiring and taking over as a going concern the business of Mineral Oil mining and refining carried on in Rangoon, Yenangyaung, Syriam and elsewhere under the style of Messrs. A.S. Jamal & Co.
The company has extensive drilling rights in the Yenangyaung oil fields and holds considerable areas under Mining Lease and Prospecting License. The proved fields in Burma supply the crude oil for the refining manufacturers in Syriam, Rangoon and Pantha on the Chindwin river.
The Indaw oilfield in the Upper Chindwin district produces a crude oil which is quite unique for the manufacture of high class lubricants.
The production of crude oil from the fields is refined into the usual finished petroleum products such as kerosene, petrol, lubricating oils, jute batching oil, diesel fuel oil, mineral wax etc. The well known white spirit sold under the proprietary name of “Globe Turpentale” is a product of this company.
A large up to date candle factory at Rangoon turns out candles in large quantities, all shapes, sizes and colours.
Managing/sole selling agents:- Steel Bros. Rangoon.
Directors:-
W.T. Howison, 25 Merchant St. Rangoon
R. Sinclair, Phayre St. Rangoon
A. Chandoo, Merchant St. Rangoon
Irrawaddy Flotilla Co.
One of the most interesting of its kind that ever existed. This article contains photos and extracts from the Irrawaddy Magazine.
One of the most interesting of its kind that ever existed. This article contains photos and extracts from the Irrawaddy Magazine.
In the Cantonments, Rangoon:- Croton Lodge Allandale |
Kruger & Co. (c. 1870's) Became the Burma Rice & Trading Co. in 1907 |
Latham Black & Co. Established 1893. |
Macgregor & Co.
... In 1885 a fresh development took place in the firm of Darwood; Mr Goldenberg had retired in 1881 and had been suceeded as partner by John Macgregor, once in the employ of Messrs. Todd Findlay and latterly n assistant of Darwood and Goldenberg and in 1885, the new partnership having been dissolved, Mr Macgregor carried on the timber business as Macgregor & Co.
... In 1885 a fresh development took place in the firm of Darwood; Mr Goldenberg had retired in 1881 and had been suceeded as partner by John Macgregor, once in the employ of Messrs. Todd Findlay and latterly n assistant of Darwood and Goldenberg and in 1885, the new partnership having been dissolved, Mr Macgregor carried on the timber business as Macgregor & Co.
Misquith & Co. Music dealers Established in Rangoon 1889 |
Mohr Bros. Established in Akyab in 1837 and Rangoon in 1859. |
National Bank of India Rangoon branch opened in 1885 |
Newspapers
On the 5th January 1853, H.W. Lewis, a lawyer from Moulmein, who had owned a newspaper called the Maulmain Chronicle, began publishing the Rangoon Chronicle, which appeared on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Lewis was not an expert journalist and most of his leading articles were written by contributors who had some axe to grind... The Chronicle then passed to other hands and indeed changed hands frequently, one of its owners being R. Godfree, owner of Godfree’s Range.” ... change of name to the Pegu Gazette... led to the papers collapse in 1858. It was however, shortly afterwards revived as the Rangoon Times, (Merchant St.) which was continued in existence till today (1938.) The views of the Times did not always meet the approval of the local merchants who in 1861 started the Rangoon Gazette (Merchant St.,) as a bi-weekly in opposition.
... in 1878 and 1979 two new periodicals were established: the Rangoon Daily Mail, which, however, lasted only about six months and the Daily Review, which also came to a quick end. A Burmese periodical, the Burma Herald, which commenced publication at about the same time, had more success and the two old-established newspapers, the Times and the Gazette, both found it impossible in 1883 to undertake daily issue. Rangoon was also able to support a monthly magazine of a popular nature, Our Monthly, published by the Hanthawaddy Press for several years from 1880 on-wards.
Burma Gazette, Government Central Press, Strand Rd., 1897 - no further info. available.
On the 5th January 1853, H.W. Lewis, a lawyer from Moulmein, who had owned a newspaper called the Maulmain Chronicle, began publishing the Rangoon Chronicle, which appeared on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Lewis was not an expert journalist and most of his leading articles were written by contributors who had some axe to grind... The Chronicle then passed to other hands and indeed changed hands frequently, one of its owners being R. Godfree, owner of Godfree’s Range.” ... change of name to the Pegu Gazette... led to the papers collapse in 1858. It was however, shortly afterwards revived as the Rangoon Times, (Merchant St.) which was continued in existence till today (1938.) The views of the Times did not always meet the approval of the local merchants who in 1861 started the Rangoon Gazette (Merchant St.,) as a bi-weekly in opposition.
... in 1878 and 1979 two new periodicals were established: the Rangoon Daily Mail, which, however, lasted only about six months and the Daily Review, which also came to a quick end. A Burmese periodical, the Burma Herald, which commenced publication at about the same time, had more success and the two old-established newspapers, the Times and the Gazette, both found it impossible in 1883 to undertake daily issue. Rangoon was also able to support a monthly magazine of a popular nature, Our Monthly, published by the Hanthawaddy Press for several years from 1880 on-wards.
Burma Gazette, Government Central Press, Strand Rd., 1897 - no further info. available.
National Bank of India Established in Rangoon 1885 Phayre St. (1897) |
The Netherlands Trading Soc. Established in Rangoon 1889. |
Niebuhr & Co. (c. 1870's) |
Oppenheimer & Co. Founded in 1885 |
P. Orr & Sons Jewellers Established in Fytche Sq., Rangoon c. 1890's. Moved to Sule Pagoda Rd. |
Other Principal Merchants c. 1860's Aga Ahmed Ispahanee Mahomed Ebrahimjee Doopley Moola Dawood Jamal Bros. Bugwan Dass Rai Bahadur |
Photographers, 1897:- P. Klier & Co., Signal Pagoda Rd. Beato & Co., Phayre St. Jackson & Co., Phayre St. Watts & Skein, Sule Pagoda Rd. Kundan-Dass & Co., Dalhousie St. |
Rowe & Co. Founded by R.V. Rowe in 1867 - in small premises in Mogul St., Rangoon. Moved soon after to the corner of Merchant St. and Maung Tawlay St. on the north side opposite Steel's Office in 1910. |
Messrs. W.Q. Rowett & Co. c. 1860's Timber exporters and importers of piece-goods and other foreign commodities. |
Steel Bros. & Co. - Merchant St., Rangoon
This firm found its origins in William Strang Steel, who first came to Rangoon in 1862 as an assistant of Messrs. Gladstone Wylie; when a well-known Indian merchant, Nanabhoy Burjorjee, died in 1870, Steel in conjunction with his brother James Alison Steel, formed the firm of W. Steel & Co., the London house of which was known as Steel Brothers; and took over Nanabhoy's rice mill and timber yard and also his offices which lay at the corner of Merchant Street and Maung Tawlay Street. In 1897 they undertook the extraction of timber from Government Forest. In 1907 the formed the Indo-Burma Petroleum Company,
Associated with The Burma Company and Geo. Gordon & Co. Burma Ltd.
Managing Directors:- B.T. Petley, (Chairman) J.A. Swan and J.K. Michie
Branches:- Rangoon, Bassein, Moulmein, Akyab.
Departments - Rice, Oil, Timber, Mining, Cotton and produce, Imports, Shipping and Insurance.
This company are the leading rice millers of the world, having in all, 8 mills in Rangoon and 3 each in Bassein, Moulmein and Akyab.
As managing agents and large shareholders of the Indo-Burma Petroleum Co. (1907) and the Attock Oil Co. they have important interests in the oil industry.
On the timber side, they own saw mills in Rangoon, Moulmein and Swa and have leases of extensive forest areas all over the country.
Their cotton mills are situated in Allanmyo and Myingyan and in conjunction therewith a large business is done in groundnuts, oil cake and general produce.
Their activities in imports, the original business of the firm and still of great importance, and their connection in this line is old and well established. The imports department, in additional to the ordinary dealings in piece goods, soft goods, hardware etc. are large importers of salt from various sources and are also agent for Bengal Coal Co.
This firm found its origins in William Strang Steel, who first came to Rangoon in 1862 as an assistant of Messrs. Gladstone Wylie; when a well-known Indian merchant, Nanabhoy Burjorjee, died in 1870, Steel in conjunction with his brother James Alison Steel, formed the firm of W. Steel & Co., the London house of which was known as Steel Brothers; and took over Nanabhoy's rice mill and timber yard and also his offices which lay at the corner of Merchant Street and Maung Tawlay Street. In 1897 they undertook the extraction of timber from Government Forest. In 1907 the formed the Indo-Burma Petroleum Company,
Associated with The Burma Company and Geo. Gordon & Co. Burma Ltd.
Managing Directors:- B.T. Petley, (Chairman) J.A. Swan and J.K. Michie
Branches:- Rangoon, Bassein, Moulmein, Akyab.
Departments - Rice, Oil, Timber, Mining, Cotton and produce, Imports, Shipping and Insurance.
This company are the leading rice millers of the world, having in all, 8 mills in Rangoon and 3 each in Bassein, Moulmein and Akyab.
As managing agents and large shareholders of the Indo-Burma Petroleum Co. (1907) and the Attock Oil Co. they have important interests in the oil industry.
On the timber side, they own saw mills in Rangoon, Moulmein and Swa and have leases of extensive forest areas all over the country.
Their cotton mills are situated in Allanmyo and Myingyan and in conjunction therewith a large business is done in groundnuts, oil cake and general produce.
Their activities in imports, the original business of the firm and still of great importance, and their connection in this line is old and well established. The imports department, in additional to the ordinary dealings in piece goods, soft goods, hardware etc. are large importers of salt from various sources and are also agent for Bengal Coal Co.
Messrs. A. Scott & Co. Established c. 1855 Merchant St. (1897) Retail Trade |
Stohmann & Co. (c. 1870's) |
Messrs. Solomon & Co. Established 1871 Principal Importers of Liquor. |
Silver & Goldsmiths (1897)
Beato & Co., Phayre St., Goomanal Parasram, Sule Pagoda Rd., Maung Po Thet, 19 Godwin Rd.
Maung Shwe Yon, 29 Godwin Rd., Ngoon Hung, 54 Sule Pagoda Rd., Eng Goon, 168 Dalhousie St.
Beato & Co., Phayre St., Goomanal Parasram, Sule Pagoda Rd., Maung Po Thet, 19 Godwin Rd.
Maung Shwe Yon, 29 Godwin Rd., Ngoon Hung, 54 Sule Pagoda Rd., Eng Goon, 168 Dalhousie St.
Todd Findlay & Co., Rangoon
Foremost of the European trading concerns of the period (1860's) was the house of Messrs. Todd Findlay & Co. formerly of Moulmein and Akyab, who had their offices at the corner of Phayre Street and Strand Road, Rangoon. They dealt in rice and timber and were importers. Further, the firm inaugurated the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company. A Government flotilla and dockyard had been maintained in Rangoon since 1852, the flotilla being used for the transport of mails and when necessary of troops, through the Delta. In or about 1860, George J. Swann, formerly in the employ of P. Henderson, came to Burma as an employee of Todd Findlay. Having a knowledge of shipping, he preceived the uneconomical management of the dockyard and flotilla and induced his firm to take the matter up with Government; with the result that in 1862 the flotilla and dockyard were made over to the firm, which became the government contractor for riverine mails and transport. Messrs. Todd Findaly, however, having had little experience of such work, were unable to made the contract pay; and in 1865 they made the contract over to Peter Denny of the Dumbarton shipbuilding firm of Denny Bros. and to Messrs. Henderson & Co. and to James Galbraith of the latter firm. The new contractors took over the flotilla enterprise and the flotilla was then linked with Messrs. Henderson's shipping as the Irrawaddy Flotilla and Burmese Steam Navigation Company, with Mr T.D. Findlay as Chairman and Mr Galbraith as Managing Director. In 1872 the riverine and sea-going sections were separated and the latter became the British and Burmese Steam Navigation Company, with Messrs. Henderson as Managing Agents, while the former became the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company. The firm of Todd Findlay broke up at about the same time into T.D. Findlay at Moulmein and Messrs. Todd Findlay at Rangoon.
Foremost of the European trading concerns of the period (1860's) was the house of Messrs. Todd Findlay & Co. formerly of Moulmein and Akyab, who had their offices at the corner of Phayre Street and Strand Road, Rangoon. They dealt in rice and timber and were importers. Further, the firm inaugurated the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company. A Government flotilla and dockyard had been maintained in Rangoon since 1852, the flotilla being used for the transport of mails and when necessary of troops, through the Delta. In or about 1860, George J. Swann, formerly in the employ of P. Henderson, came to Burma as an employee of Todd Findlay. Having a knowledge of shipping, he preceived the uneconomical management of the dockyard and flotilla and induced his firm to take the matter up with Government; with the result that in 1862 the flotilla and dockyard were made over to the firm, which became the government contractor for riverine mails and transport. Messrs. Todd Findaly, however, having had little experience of such work, were unable to made the contract pay; and in 1865 they made the contract over to Peter Denny of the Dumbarton shipbuilding firm of Denny Bros. and to Messrs. Henderson & Co. and to James Galbraith of the latter firm. The new contractors took over the flotilla enterprise and the flotilla was then linked with Messrs. Henderson's shipping as the Irrawaddy Flotilla and Burmese Steam Navigation Company, with Mr T.D. Findlay as Chairman and Mr Galbraith as Managing Director. In 1872 the riverine and sea-going sections were separated and the latter became the British and Burmese Steam Navigation Company, with Messrs. Henderson as Managing Agents, while the former became the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company. The firm of Todd Findlay broke up at about the same time into T.D. Findlay at Moulmein and Messrs. Todd Findlay at Rangoon.
Tramway
Rangoon made some progress in means of locomotion in these years. Horse-drawn vehicles were the only means of transport until the 1880’s but on the 4th March 1884, the same year as the Telephone Company established itself in Rangoon – the first Tramway in Rangoon was opened by Messrs. J.W. Darwood, who ran a steam train on a line from the Stand up China Street and Pagoda Road to the Shwe Dagon. A year later another line was run from China Street westwards along Dalhousie Street to the junction of that street with the Strand Road and eastwards from China Street along Dalhousie Street, up Sule Pagoda Road, and along Montgomerie Street to Pazundaung, while in 1886 the western line was extended to Williams Street and a further line was established from Sule Pagoda along Dalhousie Street and down Judah Ezekiel Street to the Strand. In 1887 the western line was extended as far as College Street. The tramway was tenant of the municipality and paid a rental of Rs. 3,000 a mile in respect of its double tracks and Rs. 2,000 a mile for the single tracks, paying in all Rs. 13,000 a year. In 1889 the undertaking was sold to the Steam Tramway Company of Calcutta, with Messrs. Gillanders Arbuthnot as agents.
In 1902 Messrs. J.W. Darwood re-purchased the tramway system and in the following year their tender for lighting (street lighting of Rangoon) and transport was accepted by the Municipal Committee. On the 15th December 1906 the first electric tramcar ran, under the auspices of the new Rangoon Electric Tramway and Supply Company, from the Surati Bazaar Road at Kemmendine to the Surati Bazaar in the town and during the following year the system of electric tramways as it now exists (1938) was almost completed. In 1907 electric street lighting commenced.
Rangoon made some progress in means of locomotion in these years. Horse-drawn vehicles were the only means of transport until the 1880’s but on the 4th March 1884, the same year as the Telephone Company established itself in Rangoon – the first Tramway in Rangoon was opened by Messrs. J.W. Darwood, who ran a steam train on a line from the Stand up China Street and Pagoda Road to the Shwe Dagon. A year later another line was run from China Street westwards along Dalhousie Street to the junction of that street with the Strand Road and eastwards from China Street along Dalhousie Street, up Sule Pagoda Road, and along Montgomerie Street to Pazundaung, while in 1886 the western line was extended to Williams Street and a further line was established from Sule Pagoda along Dalhousie Street and down Judah Ezekiel Street to the Strand. In 1887 the western line was extended as far as College Street. The tramway was tenant of the municipality and paid a rental of Rs. 3,000 a mile in respect of its double tracks and Rs. 2,000 a mile for the single tracks, paying in all Rs. 13,000 a year. In 1889 the undertaking was sold to the Steam Tramway Company of Calcutta, with Messrs. Gillanders Arbuthnot as agents.
In 1902 Messrs. J.W. Darwood re-purchased the tramway system and in the following year their tender for lighting (street lighting of Rangoon) and transport was accepted by the Municipal Committee. On the 15th December 1906 the first electric tramcar ran, under the auspices of the new Rangoon Electric Tramway and Supply Company, from the Surati Bazaar Road at Kemmendine to the Surati Bazaar in the town and during the following year the system of electric tramways as it now exists (1938) was almost completed. In 1907 electric street lighting commenced.
Whiteaway Laidlaw & Co. Established in Rangoon 1892. |
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