Cadastral Reform Survey and Pressure to Reduce Levies

The Cadastral Reform Survey was initiated to enhance revenue through land tax reform. Conducted over a period of several years, the survey aimed to systematically assess land ownership and usage in Taiwan. Despite its intentions, the reform faced considerable resistance, particularly in the southern regions of the island. This opposition stemmed from various factors, including local discontent with tax increases and the perceived inequities in land assessments. As a result, the financial returns from the reform did not meet the anticipated targets, highlighting the challenges of implementing such reforms in a diverse socio-political landscape. The failure to generate expected revenue from the land tax reform underscored the complexities involved in land management and taxation in Taiwan during this period. In addition to the cadastral survey, Taiwan underwent significant infrastructural changes, including the introduction of electric lighting, modern weaponry, and transportation systems such as railways and telegraph lines. These developments were part of broader modernization efforts aimed at improving communication and transportation across the island. However, the implementation of these projects also faced challenges, such as operational issues with the telegraph line, which only functioned intermittently. The mixed results of these modernization efforts, combined with the shortcomings of the cadastral reform, reflect the difficulties faced in balancing economic development with local needs and resistance.