Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/763

 MONET, ETC. — DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES 711

Telegraph Company ; the Southern railway telegraph Hues of Peru ; the West Coast of America Telegraph Company ; and also by way of Tupiza and Buenos Aires. Wireless telegraphic stations are being erected at La Paz, Villa Bella, Cobija, Trinidal Santa Cruz, Puerto Suarez, Guayaramerin, Cachnela Esperanza. Cost of administration, 803,678 bolivianos ; receipts, 363,585.

On January 1, 1916, Bolivia had 21,7-47 telephones.

Money, Weights, and Measures.

The net earnings of the Banco de la Nacion (State bank) in 1919 were 2,944,749 bolivianos. After its fusion with the Industrial Bank, the capital of the National Bank is 17,631,225 bolivianos.

On September 14, 1906, a monetary law was parsed providing for the adoption of a gold standard. The unit of account is the gold peso of one-fifth of a pound sterling weighing 15976 grams, "916 fine, thus contain- ing 1 464466 grams of fine gold. There are two gold coins struck, British and Peruvian pouuds and half pounds ; there is no Bolivian gold yet in circulation. Silver coins, '900 fine, are pieces of 50 and 20 centavos. Nickel coins, pieces of 10 and 5 centavos. Gold is legal tender to any amount and English and Peruvian gold coins of corresponding value have legal currency, the rate of exchauge being filed at 12 5 bolivianos = 11. Silver is legal tender up to 10 pesos, and nickel up to 1 peso. Silver and nickel coins are being minted. In 1909 silver coin to the value of 1,000,000 bolivianos (50 and 20 centavo pieces) were coined for Bolivia at Birmingham. There are also paper notes of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Bolivianos. By a new law the banknote issue is confided to the Banco de la NarKn Boliviana. The bank named is by the same law authorised to raise its capital to 4,000,000?, and may issue notes up to 150 per cent, of its capital. 30 per cent, of the note issue must be covered in gold, and, after 1918, the per- centage is to rise 2 per cent annually up to 50 per cent. On December 31, 1919, the notes in circulation of all the banks were to the value of 26,942,094 bolivianos, the gold reserve against this being 60 '7 per cent, of the total.

The metric system of weights and measures is used by the administration and prescribed by law, but the old Spanish system is also employed. The quintal is equal to 101% lbs.

Diplomatic and Consular Representatives.

1. Of Bolivia IK Great Britain.

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. — Adolf Ballivian (appointed March 4, 1918).

First Secretary and Acting Consul-General. — Mamerto Urriolagoitia. Attach^. — Antenor Patino.

2. Of Great Britain in Bolivia. Envoy and Minister. — W. E. O'Reilly.

There are Consular representatives at La Paz, Ornro, Sucre, Santa Cruz, Uyuni, Cochabamba ; Concepcion de Velasco, and Potosi.