Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/166

 I 30 GERMANY — PRUSSIA.

The produce of coal during the year 1869 was retained to the amount of 79 per cent, for consumption within the kingdom, while 21 per cent, were exported.

The production of coal in Prussia has enormously increased within recent years, as will be seen from the following statement, given after official returns. There were raised: —

Tons

In the four years, 1838-41 2,901,713

In the five years, 1842-46

1847-51

1852-56.

1857-61.

In the year 1862

In „ 1863

In „ 1864

In „ I860

In „ 1869

3,817,190 5,027,690 8.571,070 13.037,015 16,903,520 18,330,779 21,197,266 25,615,968 29,775,781

fhe coal pits in the Ruhr-Diisssldorf district extend over more than ten miles in length, and are calculated to be able to continue their present supply for 5,000 years. The coal pits of the river Saar, situated in the extreme south-western angle of the Rhenish Provinces, and which extend their strata into Bavarian and French territory, furnish about the sixth part of the coal produce of Prussia.

Prussia has a very large and complete system of railways. Of these railways, twelve main lines, of a total length of 454 German miles, are State property ; and three others, of a total length of 255 German miles, are under government control, having been partly constructed by state loans or subventions. The re- maining railways of the kingdom, of a total length of 803 German miles, representing 24 different lines, are the property and under the management of private companies. The guarantees undertaken by the Prussian Government to facilitate the construction of private rail- ways in the kingdom are to the total amount of 106,780,000 thaler, or about 15,000,000/. For the construction of railways in general, a debt had been incurred, in 1869, to the amount of 183,312,12s thaler, or 27,496,864/., of which total the sum of 131,703,812 thaler was on behalf of the old provinces of the monarchy ; 16,868,730 thaler, on behalf of the former kingdom, now province of Hanover; 15,207,600 thaler, on behalf of the former electorate of Hesse, now district of Cassel ; and 16,532,286 thaler, on behalf of the former duchy of Nassau, now district of Wiesbaden. All the lines of the former territories of Hanover, Hesse, and Nassau are owned by the state, and at a period not far removed the whole of the railways of Prussia will be national property.