Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 11.djvu/53

* ITALY. 37 ITALY. Imports 8192,739,688 245.128,834 275,457,286 238.916,321 340,047,133 Exports $217,091,913 226,457.838 192..52U.070 211,801,939 267,649,250 the Kingdom, and were to be de.signated as the pean power. In 1900 it amounted to $607,696,- Wediterranean, the Adriatic, and the Sicilian 383. The growth of Italian commerce during the Railway companies. By virtue of this agreement last three decades of the century was as follows: these companies have the operation of the Gov- ^ ernment lines for a period of sixty jears. either ye.ir side, however, to have the right to terminate the — ;; contract at the expiration of twenty-year periods. J^^J- ;;;;;;;;;; The companies pav the Government the total isgo.... ....... sum of .$53.000.000— .«2S.800.000 to be rebated 1895 by the latter for the extension and improvement '^"" of existing lines, and the remainder to be spent for the purchase of additional rolling stock and The above figures apply to special commerce the construction of new lines. The companies only, i.e. imports for home consumption and ex- pay all operating expenses, and. in addition, from ports of domestic products. The transit trade 10 to 15 per cent, of the gross revenue of each is equal to about one-tenth of the special com- road is put into a resene fund to offset the wear merce. In 1SS8 a law was passed regulating the and tear on roads and rolling stock. The State foreign commercial relations of Italy. This law, receives, moreover, 27 V2 per cent, of the gross with some additional clauses, has remained in revenue of the continental roads, and 3 per cent, force down to the present time, and is of a protec- on the .Sicilian roads as rent, besides an equal tionist character. In 1891 and 1892 special trea- share of all profits in excess of an annual ties were concluded with Germany, Austria-Hun- dividend on the capital stock of 7'i per cent. gary. and Switzerland. They have proved beneficial The Government may demand from the companies to Italy. On the other hand, the commerce with an annual expenditure of not more than $20.- France has fallen off considerably. Coal, raw 000.000 for new railway construction. The money cotton, wheat, and other cereals constitute three- is raised by issuing 3 per cent, bonds guaranteed tenths of the import trade. Next in importance by the Government. When the lines revert again are machinery, silk ( unbleached, raw, or twisted), to the Government, the companies are to be reim- timber for building purposes, hides (raw or bursed the sums originally paid by them for the dried), raw wool, and fish. Silk constitutes a railways, with due allowance tor the depreciation little over one-fourth of the total exports. Xext of the property. in the order of importance are: Wine, eggs, sul- This scheme has not resulted in a more rapid phur, raw hemp and flax, olive oil. and fruit, development of the railway system of Italy, the The United Kingdom occupies the first place in cost of construction having proved so high that the Italian import trade, with 21 per cent, of it has involved the Government in financial its total imports. The United States follows difficulties. A Parliamentary commission ap- with 13 per cent. Then come Germany, Austria- pointed in 1895 to investigate the method em- Hungary. France, and Russia. The largest ex- ployed in the construction of nine lines elieite 1 ports go to Germany and Switzerland, about 16 per the information that the actual expense incurred cent, and 15 per cent, respectively. Switzerland exceeded the amount originally authorized by .secures its high rank in the export trade of Italy $30,000,000. the respective figures being .$70,600,- by virtue of its large importation of raw silk. 000 and .$40,600,000. making an excess of 74 Xext in order of importance are France. Austria- per cent, over the sum authorized. Hungary, Great Britain, and the United States. The total cost of the railway system up to In our o™ foreign commerce. Italy holds the 1898 was $993,933,000. The nimiber of passen- tenth place in the import trade and' the eighth gers carried annually increased from 34,040,515 place in the export trade. The table lielow shows in 1881 to 54.415.294 in 1897. the development of Italian-American commerce in HIGHWAT.S. Italy has an elaborate system of the last decade of the century: highways, divided into national, provincial, and communal, according to the source of their main- tenance. At the end of the centurv' the Icngtli of the roads was about 65,244 miles, of which 4297 miles were national, 24,810 provincial, and JJO.990 communal. Cojistrxic.vTiox. The postal and the telegraph systems are both in the hands of the Government, though certain concessions are granted to rail- way and tramwav companies in the telegraph .,.,,. -^ c ^ ^ n,„ t-„:*„j c*„*„= serVice. For the vear' ending .Jime 30. 1899, . The largest item of export to the United States the number of letters and post-cards trans^ 1^^ raw s.lk amounting ,n 1900 to over one-th.rd mitted. not including the governmental official of the total e.xports to this country. Leinons and letters, was 276.921.8.50. The number of private sulphur ranked next in importance. I nmanu- telegrams inland for the same vear was 7.896.- factured cotton annually makes tip about one-half 081. and an additional 1.164.403 were sent or of the total imports from the I nited States, received from abroad. The telegraph svstem Shipping axd Xavigatiox. Italy has a large includes a large number of submarine cables and active merchant marine. In 1900 it num- which connect different parts of the country. A bered 409 steamers of 315.000 tons capacity, and net revenue is realized annually from the opera- •'''>6o sailing vessels of 558.000 tons. The ton- tion of the postal and telegraph systems. Both nage of sailing vessels is on the decrease, while systems have been greatly extended and their the steam tonnage is increasing, as is shown by use increased in recent years. the table below. The peninsular position of Italy Commerce. The volume of Italian commerce fits it admirably for a commercial nation. In the is less than that of any other great Euro- uiedia;val times, when the Oriental trade was TE.4R Exports to United States Imports from United States 1S91 1893 S21, 678,208 26,250,241 20,851,761 19.067,352 24,832.746 27,9-24,176 S16.046,925 13.019,5.39 1895 16,363,125 1897 21,.502,423 1899 25.0,34,940 1900 .33,256,620