POSTS AND TELEGRAPHS 161 The gross earnings on all railways during 1897 amounted to Rx. 25,595,169, against Rx. 25,366,043 during 1896. During 1897 the number of passengers carried was 151,263,816, the coaching earnings being Rx. 8,858,875, and the passenger mileage 5,930,946,676 ; while during 1896, 160,817,267 passengers were carried, the coaching earnings being Rx. 9,202,289, and passenger mileage 6,427,608,140 miles. The aggregate tonnage of goods, material, and live stock carried during 1897 was 33,698,617 tons, which earned Rx. 15,875,883, the ton-mileage being 4,813,836,667. In 1896 the corresponding totals were 32,471,335 tons, with an earning of Rx. 15,415,151, and a ton-mileage of 4,588,716,024. The total working expenses amounted in 1897 to Rx. 12,511,163, or 48*88 percent, of the gross earnings; as compared with Rx. 12,197,688, or 48*09 per cent., in 1896. The net earnings realised were Rx. 13,084,006 against Rx. 13,168,355 in 1896, giving an average return on the capital expenditure on open lines, includ- ing steamboat services and suspense account, of 5 "04 per cent, against 5 "20 per cent, in the previous year. III. Posts and Telegraphs. In 1897 there were 26,900 post-oflBces and boxes, against 753 in 1856. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 1897, the number of letters, postcards, and money-orders which passed through the post-offices of British India was 397,897,840 ; of newspapers 29,778,291 ; of parcels 2,708,769 ; and of packets 19,341,398 ; being a total of 449,726,298. The following table gives the num- ber of letters, newspapers, &c., carried, and the number of offices and receiving houses, together with the total revenue and expenditure (in tens of rupees) of the Post Office in each of the five fiscal years 1893 to 1897 : — Tear ended Number of Letters. Post Offices and Letter Boxes Total Total March 31 Newspapers, &c. Revenue Expenditure Number Rx Rx. 1893 360,209,076 22,124 1,488,863 1,518,555 1894 379,022,905 22,853 1,557,597 1,558,281 1895 403,525,902 24,245 1,631,746 1,606,033 1896 423,92.0.276 25,515 1,712,961 1,643,316 1897 449,7-2(),298 26,900 1.783,473 1,698,156 In the fiscal year ending March 1870, the mails travelled over ^50,281 miles, of which total 40,580 miles was done by boats and 'runners,' 5,460 miles by carts and on horseback, and 4,235 miles by railways. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 1897, the mails travelled over 86,019 miles, of which total 61,195 miles was done by steamers, boats and 'runners,' 5,414 miles by carts and on horseback, and 19,410 miles by railways. The following table shows the mileage of Government telegraph lines in India, and the number of messages sent, together with the charges on and receipts from all paid messages (including those sent by the Indo-E\iropean Telegraph and Pinsian Gulf Section) : —
