Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/827

 SHIPPING AND COMMUNICATIONS — MONEY, ETC. 775

stuffs (3,593,351 pesos in 1919), drugs (2,099,410 pesos in 1919), metals (8,664,176 pesos in 1919), and cotton goods (16,377,404 pesos in 1919).

The customs reveuuis in 1919 (Man h 1 to December 3D amounted to 3,177,273 p.-sos. as compared with . r >, 832, 816 pesos in 1918 (whole year).

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

Imports from Colombia into U.K. Exports to Colombia from U. K..

1816 i 1917 1918

£ £ * *

- >,178 41,709 i 581,093

' 1,167,300 1

Shipping and Communications.

At Cartagena in 1918 there entered 263 vessels of 428,625 tons. Of these, 110 of 320,971 tons were American, and 26 o» 66,242 tons Biitixb.

In Colombia there are 15 lines of railway (10 national, and 5 British companies), with ■ total length (1920) of 891 mile?. Of the total, 466 miles have a gauge of 3 it. ; the rc-t a metre gauge. The roads of Colombia are generally simple mule tracks, but the Government continues to improve the main roads, which can be used now by automobiles. There are many cart roads besides. Much of the inland traffic is by river, and the work of clearing and canalising the lower and upper Magdalena is being carried ou. That river is navigable for 900 miles ; steamers ascend to La Dorada, 592 miles from Barranquilla. Tributaries supply 215 miles more of navigable water, and on these rivers 41 steamers, with a total tonnage of 7,696, regularlv ply.

Postal facilities between Barranquilla and foreign countries are stated to be excellent, but as to internal services there are no recent statistics. In 1915, in the internal service there were 3,417,564 letters and post-cards transmitted, and 2,389,786 packets of printed matter, samples, and business papers. Number of offices, 843. A British river-transport company has contracted with the Government to convey mails and passengers to and from the interior every three days. Other companies, British, German, and native, ply on the rivers.

There were 13,640 miles of Government telegraph lines in July, 1920: number of offices, 700 ; 46,709,066 telegrams were despatched in 1919.

Money, Weights, and Measures.

Under the Law of June 12, 1907, the monetary unit is a gold dollar equal to one-fifth of a pound sterling and of proportionate weight, the fine- ness being the same. Gold coins are 2£. 5, and 10 dollars. Silver coins are (900 fine) the half-dollar, and 20 and 10 centavos. Nickel coins for 1. 2, and 5 pesos (centavos) are legal tender. There are also notes representing g >ld dollars of 1, 2, 5, and 10 dollars respectively. Colombia has a gold coinage, and mintiug has already begun at the Mints in Medellin and Bogota. In December, 1916. a law was promulgated authorising the Government to coin gold pieces in the mints of Bogota and Medellin free ot charge On June 30, 1920, the total currency ot Colombia was given as follows : — gold coinage, 23,948,492 pesos ; paper money (gold