1070
SWITZERLAND
system, Swiss returns show, as far as can be ascertained, the trade between the Con- federation and Great Britain, though, since direct commercial intercourse is imjiossible, the name of Switzerland does not occur in the trade returns of the United Kingdom.
- .The following table shows the distribution of the special trade of Switzer- land (including bullion but not coin). Much of the trade with the frontier countries is really of the nature of transit trade : —
Imports from
Imports from
Exports to
Exports to
(1896)
(1897)
(1896)
(1897)
Francs
Francs
Francs
Francs
Germany .
30-4,970,622
306,370,949
172,260,751
175,566,627
France
177,612,458
192,416,315
81,016,009
83,648,498
Italy .
137,297,605
149,840,651
39,163,498
38,975,283
Austria-Hungary
71,412,602
66,848,406
40,413,159
41,274,346
Great Britain
51,706,813
54,043,646
147,008,247
146,070,952
Belgium .
24,169,525
24,561,248
11,354,102
13,048,465
Russia
65,150,838
66,915,219
24,394,400
24,451,336
Holland
3,452,670
3,123,370
4,670,222
4,876,044
Rest of Europe . Total Europe.
40,676,838
33,699,511
31,484,418
32,647,887
876.422,971
[897,819,315
551,764,806
560,559,438
Africa
15,607,634
12,895,438
5,585,323
6,020,733
Asia .
31,736,585
38,480,101
31,201,614
29,915,769
America
65,269,624
77,001,063
93,336,428
90,400,383
Australia .
4,822,371
5,023,638
2,492,846
2,930,422
Not stated Total .
—
—
3,907,018
3,346,308
993,859,185
1,031,219,555
688,261,035
693,173,053
Internal Communications.
In January, 1897. 2,351 miles of railway were open for traffic. The cost of construction of the lines, rolling stock, &c., up to the end of 1896 was 1,176,294,358 francs. The receipts in 1896 amounted to 118,393,713 francs, and expenses to 70,514,275 francs. In 1897 there were carried 12,568,109 tons of goods, and 46,231,354 passengers, the receipts from both amounting to 111,155,255 francs. On February 20, 1898, it was finally decided that the railways should be acquired by the State, but the transfer of the lines will not take place before May, 1903.
In 1897 there were in Switzerland 1,501 post-offices and 1,939 letter- boxes ; 3,157 higher functionaries, and 5,702 employes (letter carriers, &c.). By the internal service there were forwarded 84,436,307 letters, 18,592,127 post-cards, 29,943,463 packets of printed matter, 100,968,631 newspapers, and 3,421,280 sample and other parcels. In the foreign postal service there were transmitted 18,107,540 letters, 8,001,027 post-cards, 7,431,619 packets of printed matter, and 1,952,106 samples and other parcels. Internal post- office orders were sent to the amount of 521,947,514 francs, and international sent and received to the amount of 44,863,910 francs. Receipts, 1897, 29,117,203 francs; expenditure, 27,464,177 francs.
Switzerland has a very complete system of telegraphs, which, excepting wires for railway service, is wholly under the control of the State. In 1897 the length of State telegraph lines was 4,410 miles ; the total length of wire being 12,823 miles. Railway and private telegraph lines have a length of 1,204 miles, with 8,065 miles of wire. There were transmitted 1,665,333 inland telegrams, 1,487,793 international, and 576,068 in transit through
