Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1373

 SHIPPING AND COMMUNICATIONS

1251

The imports iii 1911-12 (in order of value) were chiefly from the United Kingdom (24"5 percent.), Singapore (15'5 per cent.), China (14 per cent.), Hong Kong (12 per cent.). The exports (in order of value) were chiefly to Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, United Kingdom, India, and Holland.

Into Northern Siam from Burma in 1912 the imports (chiefly treasure cottons, silk, apparel, hardware, and jewellery) amounted to 193,593Z. in value, and the exports from Northern Siam to Burma (chiefly treasure, teak, cattle, elephants, and silks) to 227,332Z. There is a considerable trade on the northern frontiers with the British Shan states and Yunnan, carried on by hawkers.

Total trade between Siam and United Kingdom for 5 years : —

—

1907

1908

1909

1910

1911

Imports from Siam into U. Kingdom , Exports to Siam from U. Kingdom.

£

(331,433

881,296

£ 677,332 877,205

£ 539,936 744,055

£ 789,920 667,841

£

421,658 1,038,238

Shipping and Communications.

In 1911, 758 vessels of 647,390 tons (69 of 65,107 tons British) entered and 767 vessels of 662,884 tons (70 of 69,157 tons British) cleared from the port of Bangkok. About half the tonnage visiting Bangkok is German (266 vessels of 271,915 tons in 1911) ; Norwegian vessels have the second place (257 of 207,373 tons in 1911) ; and British the third. In 1909, a Siamese Company instituted a regular service between Bangkok, Hong Kong, and the Southern China Ports, in competition with the North German Lloyd Orient Line. The Company at present charters 9 vessels, 7 Norwegian and 2 German.

The railway from Bangkok to Paknam (14 miles) was opened in April, 1893 ; a railway from Bangkok to Korat (165 miles) was opened for regular traffic on November 1, 1900. A further line to Lopburi was opened in January, 1901, and has been extended northwards beyond Paknampho and Utai'adit to Me Puak, which is the terminus for the present. A branch line from Sawankalok to Ban Dara on the main Northern railway was opened in August, 1909. The total length of the Northern line amounts to some 327 miles. A line from Bangkok to Petriuon the East (39 miles) was opened early in 1908, whilst a line to Petchaburi, 95 miles from Bangkok, was inaugurated in June, 1903. This latter railway is being continued southwards, and is now open as far as Hua Hiu, about 36 miles south of Petchaburi, and thus forms the initial portion of the projected trunk line doAvn the Malay Penin- sula, which will in course of time connect Bangkok with Singapore. A railway across the peninsula, starting from Trang on the west coast, and joining the Bangkok-Singapore line at Singapore, is under construction (39 miles completed). A line to Tachin, 20 miles from Bangkok, was opened by a private company in January, 1905, and has been extended to Meklong, about 20 miles further. The total length of railway open. State and private, is about 680 miles. All the lines except the Korat and Northern lines have a gauge of a metre.

Telegraph lines have been completed to the total length of 2,900 miles, and Bangkok is now in communication with Korat, Nong-Khai, Sisophon, Chantabun, Bangtaphan, and Chiengmai ; with Moulmein, and Tavoy in

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