between 5,000 and 6,000 tons; 72 (61 in 1902) are from 4,000 to 5,000 tons; 80 (same as 1902) are from 3,000 to 4,000 tons; and 465 (444 in 1902) are between 1,000 and 3,000 tons. FRANKFORT, GERMANY, July 31, 1903. RICHARD GUENTHER, Consul-General. POSTAL, TELEGRAPH, AND TELEPHONE STATISTICS. Postal and telegraphic statistics for 1900 have just been printed in the Statistical Yearbook for the German Empire. POST-OFFICES. Germany had in that year 44,775 post-offices, following next to the United States, which had 77,957. Great Britain had 22,194; France (including Algeria), about 11,000; Italy, nearly 8,000; Austria-Hungary and Russia, about 6,000 each. In the number of persons employed in European postal departments, Germany stands first with 222,809; Great Britain, 173, 184; France, 77,245; Italy 74,958; Russia, 56, 217; and Austria-Hungary, 67,584. Letters and postal cards forwarded by the public mails in 1900 were taken, in round numbers, as follows: Nearly one-third of the total for Germany consisted of postal cards, while only one-twelfth of the total figures for the United States were postal cards. This difference is attributed to the saving spirit of the Germans. TELEGRAPHS. In 1900 Germany had 24,471 telegraph offices, with 36,000 instruments in operation; Great Britain, 11,512 offices and 38,000 instruments; and the United States, 22,954 offices and 81,000 instruments. The number of telegraphic dispatches transmitted in 1900 was: Great Britain.............. United States..... France..... Germany. 92, 000, 000 46, 000, 000 TELEPHONES. In Germany there were 2,411 cities or towns having public municipal telephone systems, with 305,795 connections. France had . 1,199 public telephone plants with 72,480 connections. FRANKFORT, GERMANY, July 23, 1903. SIMON W. HANAUER, Deputy Consul-General. FRENCH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.* A chamber of commerce in France may only be established by act of the Government. They are only created after a thorough investigation as to the utility of such an institution in the district where it is demanded. There are 137 chambers of commerce in France, including those in Algiers and Tunis, and 28 in the French colonies. There are also 27 French chambers of commerce in foreign countries. The duties of a French chamber of commerce are to furnish the Government with such advice and information as may be required concerning commercial and industrial facts and interests. The chambers must make a thorough study of all the conditions surrounding public works, harbors, river navigation, post-offices, railroads, etc., in their respective districts, and be able to furnish the Government with reliable information at any time. Especially has this been the case in aiding the Government to prepare tariff legislation and commercial treaties. The chambers are often called upon by the Government to provide part of the funds necessary for the execution of such public works as harbor improvements, the equipment of working plants of ports, construction of telephone and telegraph lines, etc. In such cases, the chambers are authorized by special acts of Parliament to contract loans for this purpose. The cost of the improvements now under construction in the port of Havre, for example, is estimated at $5,790,000, of which the Government provides $3,332,750 and the Chamber of Commerce in that city $2,457,250. French chambers of commerce also take a lively interest in the founding of commercial and industrial schools. French chambers of commerce in foreign countries are to a certain extent independent organizations. Their object is to protect French interests in furnishing to the Government and the chambers of commerce in France such reports and information as may tend to promote the commerce and industry of France. They are also called * For other reports of this series see ADVANCE SHEETS Nos. 1136 and 1659. I am indebted for the facts in this report to Bulletin No. 21, issued by the American Chamber of Commerce in Paris for the month of April, 1903. upon to furnish statistics, to organize museums of samples, to serve as tribunals of arbitration and conciliation concerning commercial disagreements between resident Frenchmen, and to keep in touch. with the French consular representatives. The yearly subvention budget of the French Government to-day includes $19,300 for the purpose of helping these chambers of commerce in every part of the world. These institutions are placed on an equality with the home chambers, with which they maintain regular correspondence. When requested, they appoint reliable agents in foreign countries and give information concerning the standing and credit of business houses. The chambers of commerce in France, and as a rule those in the colonies, receive no subventions from the Government directly; but by virtue of the laws existing they receive a portion of the special tax paid by merchants and others engaged in business. Every year chambers of commerce present the budget of their receipts and expenditures, and the Minister of Finance increases or decreases,.as the cases may be, the special tax on merchants in order to meet the requirements of the budgets. The bulletin issued by the American Chamber of Commerce in Paris says: Chambers of commerce in France report to and correspond directly with the Minister of Commerce. Those of Algeria report directly to the Minister of Commerce, sending, however, copies of their communications to the prefect of the Department and to the governor-general; those of Tunis communicate with the French resident. Those of the colonies correspond directly with the Minister of Colonies, informing, however, the local administration of the communications they send to the Government. Chambers of commerce in France, in the colonies, and in foreign countries, as far as can be ascertained by their published reports, accomplish very good work in promoting the industry and trade of the country, and, judging from the requests for reports and information which are made by the Government, their services must be considered of value. Besides the chambers of commerce already mentioned, there exists the National Office of Foreign Commerce, which was created by convention between the Minister of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce of Paris and by virtue of the law of March 4, 1898. The objects of this office are to furnish French manufacturers and merchants commercial information of a nature tending to increase the outlets for French trade in foreign countries and in the French colonies and protectorates. The Minister of Commerce and the president of the Chamber of Commerce in Paris are, respectively, president and vice-president of this organization. The managing director is appointed by the Minister of Commerce. This office is well equipped, well managed, and does efficient work in the way of giving information. The Moniteur Officiel du Commerce is edited and published by this office and always contains valuable information. In all the Departments of the French Government there are certain special councils or commissions, in some of which chambers of commerce are represented by their delegates. For example: By virtue of the laws of October 13, 1882, and December 1, 1894, there was created in the Ministry of Commerce a superior council of commerce and industry, which is under the supervision of the Minister of Commerce and is composed of 60 members, two of whom are vice-presidents. The council is divided into two sections: (1) Section of commerce; (2) section of industry. Each of the sections consists of 30 members, 15 of whom are chosen among the presidents of the chambers of commerce. The systematic work of the French chambers of commerce is of great value, while the 27 chambers established in as many emporiums of trade in different parts of the world may well serve as models for other countries contemplating the organization of similar institutions. The chambers of commerce in the colonies have been of valuable service in giving information to the Government and colonists about the climate, cost of labor, the capital necessary to exploit concessions of various kinds, natural resources, native products, cost of inland freight, etc. They have also done much to assist the mother country in introducing public works, and have taken the initiative in starting all sorts of enterprises, such as railroads, plantations, and mines. EIBENSTOCK, GERMANY, July 22, 1903. ERNEST L. HARRIS, MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS IN GERMAN CITIES. In Germany there is a very strong tendency on the part of the State or municipal authorities, as the case may be, to secure control of all the works which contribute in any way toward the public welfare. It is usually the custom on the part of local authorities to grant a concession for a certain number of years, providing that when the time expires the city shall assume control of the enterprise. In the majority of cases it has either been private enterprise. or a stock company which has taken the initiative in German cities in introducing the most advanced technical and scientific improvements. This has been the case in small towns as well as in large cities. The water and gas works of Eibenstock, for example, were built a few years ago by a stock company organized by the citizens of the town. The ownership of both, however, was recently acquired. by the municipal government and the company liquidated. Government control of all such enterprises has led to a great rivalry among the large cities of the Empire in striving to be first in the application of the newest methods and latest inventions known to science. The exhibits of the different cities of the Empire at Dresden afford a striking opportunity to study the progress made in industrial science and its application in Germany to-day. The exhibition is divided into two parts. In the first section are the exhibits of the large German cities with regard to the progress made in recent years relating to municipal management of waterworks, sewerage canals, underground wires, telephones, electric railways, gas and electric-light works, etc. One of the most interesting features of the exhibition is the crosssection street of the city of Dresden. In the second section of the exhibition many of the large industrial concerns of the Empire are represented. EIBENSTOCK, GERMANY, July 20, 1903. ERNEST L. HARRIS, FRENCH BUILDING-TRADES EXHIBITION. An exhibition of arts connected with the building trades will open at the Grand Palais, Champs Élysées, on July 30. The ex hibits will be divided into six groups and each of these groups is subdivided into classes. The groups are as follows: I.--Cheap habitations and social economy. II.--Architecture. III.-Hygiene and health. IV.--Building industries. V.--Civil engineering, public works, and transport. VI.-House decorations (fixed or movable), furniture, and industries connected therewith. The chief subjects comprised in the various classes are: Architecture as applied to houses, factories, farms, cycling, and automobiling; cheap furnished lodgings for the working classes; external and internal decorations; heating, lighting, and ventilation; excavations, construction of sewers and drains; building materials: stone, marble, plaster, lime, cement, bricks, pottery, artificial stone, pressed cork, and mosaics; wood: stairs, flooring, and parquetry; iron: verandas, balconies, elevators, locks, etc.; heating: stoves, hot air, and steam; lighting by gas, electricity, alcohol, and acetylene; roofing: tiles, slates, zinc, lead, copper, cement, and tarred paper; plumbing: pipes, siphons, traps, water-closets, sinks, baths, etc., for private or public buildings; painting and glazing: lead and zinc paints, varnishes, damp destroyers, glue, enamel paints, window and floor glass, mirrors, frames, and gilding; furniture and decoration and all connected therewith; and machinery and tools for the manufacture of furniture. |