Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/807

 COMMUNICATIONS 685

tin, 2,960, 000^., in 1911 (6 months), 2,012,000^. ; silver, 420, OOOZ., in 1911 (6 months), 225,700Z. ; copper, 143,000^., in 1911 (6 months), 70,200Z. ; bismuth, rubber, 2,200,000^. (more than one third of the total exports), gold, cocoa, 35,000^., in 1911 (6 months), 26,400Z, ; raw hides, 17,450?., in 1911 (6 months), 10,600?.

The commerce (in order of value) is with United Kingdom, Germany, United States, Chile, France, Belgium, and Italy.

Total trade between U.K. and Bolivia for 5 years : —

1907 190S

1909

1910 1911

Imports from Bolivia to U.K. Exports to Bolivia from U.K..

£ £ 967,698 737,279 225,388 177,598

£ 1,246,455 202,904

£ £

1,434,819 1,586,377 239,804 325,313

In July, 1912, a Commercial Treaty was ratified between Great Britain and Bolivia. (Signed August, 1911.)

Communications.

In 1912 the total length of line open in Bolivia was 778 miles, com- prising 300 miles of the older railways, and the rest being operated pro- visionally by the contractors on new lines now being constructed. The principal line is the Antofagasta and Bolivia Railway, from Antofagasta, ou the Pacific coast, to Ollague, thence to Oruro, thence to Viaeha, thence to La Paz (719 miles). Under the Bolivian-Chilian treaty of October 24, 1904, railway construction on a large scale is being undertaken. The Arica- La Paz line (208 miles, of which 186 miles are in Bolivia) is begun from La Paz via Lluta with Tacora and to Corocoro. It is expected that the pro- posed Pan-American Railroad will follow the shore line of Lake Titicaca from Guayaquil to Viaeha, and thence to the Argentine border by way of Uyuni, Tupiza, and La Quiaca, a total distance in Bolivia of 529 miles, of which 361 are already in operation.

Up to the end of October, 1911, 3,301,973?. has been spent on the various lines in the course of construction. Length of lines being con- structed, 413 miles. Length of lines projected, 1,169 miles.

Traffic on Lake Titicaca and on the Bolivian rivers is carried on by steamers, which belong to private owners.

There are about 2,304 miles of cart roads connecting the more important towns.

In Bolivia there are 200 post offices with 248 officials. In 1911, 6,486,572 })ieces of postal matter were handled. The postal receipts amounted (1906) to 810,593 bolivianos and the expenses to 851,102.

In 1912 there were 2,500 miles of telegraph line, including private lines. All the departmental capitals are connected by telegraph. There is tele- graph communication with foreign countries by the lines of the Central and South American Telegraph Company ; the Southern railway telegraph lines of Peru ; the West Coast of America Telegraph Company ; and also by way of Tupiza and Buenos Aires. Despatches (1910) sent, 180,554 ; received, 360,053. Cost of administration, construction, &c., 331,270 bolivianos; deficit, 132,648 bolivianos.

A contract has been made between the Bolivian Government and Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company for the establishment of wireless telegraphy in Bolivia.