(11,023 pounds), the difference in rent depending on the bulk or apparent value of the merchandise. For lots of less than 5,000 kilos the rent is paid according to special agreement. The highest rent is charged for cotton wadding and for feathers in bales and the lowest for grain in bags and for certain metals. For receiving or delivering the merchandise the company charges from 8 öre (2.14 cents) to 30 ore (8 cents) per 100 kilos. The highest labor charges are demanded for cinnamon in boxes and the lowest for flour in bags and for pig iron. For weighing the goods a fee is charged of 3 öre (0.8 cent) for each 100 kilos, but not less than 10 öre (2.68 cents) for each parcel weighed.

The cost of handling the merchandise outside of the warehouses can not be stated, because it varies so greatly. If the goods arrive by a steamer small enough to enter the harbor and moor at the quay or wharf, and if the goods are to be stored in a warehouse located close to the wharf, the cost will be small. If the vessel is too large to enter the harbor proper, the goods will have to be loaded into barges for transportation into the city, which will increase the costs, and if the warehouse to be used is located far from the wharf they will be heavier. For transportation of goods within the city the average charge is about 1 crown ($0.268) per one-horse load, it being more or less according to distance it is to be transported.

As the arrangements in the above respects do not seem to be modern, I do not consider it necessary to go more into details.

ROBERT S. S. BERGH, Consul.

GOTTENBORG, SWEDEN, September 16, 1904.

SWITZERLAND.

GENEVA.

(From United States Consul Washington, Geneva, Switzerland.)

In a preceding report concerning stored goods as collateral for loans,a a I stated that there was in Geneva an association called the "Society charged with running the warehouses of the State of Geneva," organized in 1888, under the control of State authorities and the Federal custom-house, and that this association put at the disposition of Geneva tradespeople its two warehouses, where goods could be stored on their arrival from foreign countries, and left there without paying customs duties until taken out or reshipped.

This association has two bonded warehouses in Geneva-one in the town and the other in the railway station. The first is practically square in shape and measures about 100 yards on each side, while the one in the railroad station (Cornavin) is quite three times as large. The company was founded in 1888, in accordance with a Genevese law, and its capital now amounts to 1,700,000 francs ($328,100). The warehouses are, as stated before, operated under the supervision of the Geneva authorities, by a board of directors. There are also a manager and a submanager.

The net profits for the calendar year 1903 amounted to 94,000

• Published in Special Consular Reports, vol. xxv, page 70.

francs ($18,142). The gross receipts were 202,000 francs ($38,986), and the gross expenses 108,000 francs ($20,844).

All sorts of goods are stored, but chiefly wheat, coffee, sugar, wine, oil, and china. I give the principal charges per 100 kilograms (220.46 pounds), and per month: Wheat, corn, maize, etc., 1.5 cents; coffee, in sacks, 2.9 cents; sugar, in sacks, 1.9 cents; in boxes, 2.9 cents; wine, spirits, oil, in casks, 2.9 cents; in bottles, 5.8 cents; stoves, 5.8 cents; mineral waters, 3.9 cents; china, packed, 3.9 cents; unpacked, 5.8 cents; hardware, 5.8 cents; fruits, in sacks, 2.9 cents; in boxes, 3.9 cents; machines, packed, 3.9 cents; unpacked, 5.8 cents; food preserves, 5.8 cents; furniture, packed, 3.9 cents; unpacked, 5.8 cents.

Persons of all nations are entitled to the use of these warehouses, and the same tariff is applied uniformly. Of course, no merchandise entered can be taken out without paying customs duties, save for transshipment beyond the country or to another custom-house. There is in both places only one exit for goods, and at all other doors customs officials are placed to prevent fraudulent passage of merchandise. HORACE LEE WASHINGTON, Consul.

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, July 25, 1904.

(From United States Vice and Deputy Consul-General Smith-Lyte, Constantinople, Turkey.) Warehouses for the storage of merchandise in transit or in bond and from which goods may be withdrawn for shipment elsewhere without paying the customs dues do not exist in this capital.

There are spacious warehouses in connection with and forming part of the custom-houses in this city. Dimensions can not be obtained. Those of the Galata custom-house are of a very temporary character. When the Constantinople quays (Galata side) were completed in 1897 the custom-house was given accommodation, and sheds and galvanized zinc buildings were erected temporarily. These have remained in use to this day. There are, however, two large stone warehouses in the Stamboul custom-house.

In these warehouses goods may be left for a whole year, but after that, unless cleared, they are sold by public auction and the proceeds used to pay accumulated storage. Merchandise intended for the city may remain eight days without paying storage, from the ninth day storage commences, at the following rates per day:

Daily storage rates per package at Constantinople warehouses.

Goods manifested and entered at the custom-house as being in transit are allowed to stay for one month without paying any storage. After this the rates are the same as given above, the first day's storage being charged from the thirty-first instead of the ninth day.

Every class of goods is stored. As a rule, goods remain in bond a very limited time, perhaps quite 90 per cent of the goods imported being cleared within the eight days allowed imports for local use and the thirty days for transit goods.

It is quite impossible to state to what extent Americans make use of these warehouses, no statistics being obtainable, and there being no relationship between the proportion of a country' exports and the peculiar circumstances which lead to goods being allowed to remain in warehouse beyond the eight days' grace. For instance, a large consignment of a cheap line of goods which will not support double cartage (to the importer's store and again to the buyer) may be left for a few days at a nominal storage until the entire parcel is disposed of, perhaps part for transshipment to the interior and the remainder locally. All nationalities are treated exactly alike in regard to warehousing.

As regards facilities for and the cost of removing goods from boat to warehouse, the larger steamship companies bring their ships alongside the wharf and discharge directly onto the quay. Other companies discharge in the harbor into lighters at their own expense and the lighters are then brought alongside the custom-house. Anyway, the importer's charges commence only on the quay, for which dues vary from 2 piasters (8.8 cents) per ton on clay to 551piasters ($2.44) per ton on silks, paintings, feathers, opium, typewriters, surgical and musical instruments, artificial flowers, gloves, essences, etc. On packages weighing from 13 to 3 tons the quay dues are at double these rates. For packages weighing. over 3 tons special arrangements have to be made with the quay company. The custom-house carries the goods into warehouse at its own expense. The warehouses being part and parcel of the custom-house, they are entirely under the care and supervision of the customs administration, which guards them with its own watchmen.

WM. SMITH-LYTE,

Vice and Deputy Consul-General.

CONSTANTINOPLE, TURKEY, September 12, 1904.

UNITED KINGDOM.

ENGLAND.

LONDON.

(From United States Consul-General Evans, London, England.)

I regret that in spite of inquiry among warehouse owners, dock proprietors, and shipping companies, I have been unable to secure details on the points enumerated. The persons interested either can_not answer the questions put forth, will not take the trouble involved, or prefer to keep the information within their own knowledge. From

the London and India Docks Company, however, I have received a copy of its table of rates, charges, and regulations, and I transmit same for such use as it may serve. H. CLAY EVANS, Consul-General.

LONDON, ENGLAND, October 13, 1904.

The above-mentioned table of rates, charges, and regulations of the London and India Docks Company is on file in the Bureau of Statistics, Department of Commerce and Labor, where it may be consulted by persons interested. The following is a summary of the principal regulations respecting imported merchandise, as shown in that pamphlet:

The docks of this company are known as the London Docks, St. Katherine Docks, West India Docks, Southwest India Dock, East India Docks, Royal Victoria Dock, Royal Albert Dock. Tilbury Docks, and Town Warehouses. Certain goods which are considered dangerous or hazardous are only allowed to pass over the quays direct from ship to conveyance.

In order to prevent loss of time in landing, sampling, etc., consignees should give directions for the entry at the custom-house, as soon as the ship is reported, of goods intended for warehousing with the Docks Company. When goods are ordered to be entered for or removed to another of the company's docks for housing or where the Docks Company is unable to warehouse the goods where the vessel discharges, a charge for quay accommodations at the dock of discharge" will be made of from 2 shillings (43 cents) to 3 shillings (72 cents) per ton, according to the nature of the goods (in addition to the rates payable at the dock where the goods are stored), unless the orders to land are lodged at the dock where the vessel discharges before the goods are discharged, so that the company can obtain them direct overside from the vessel into craft.

Lighterage or removal expenses will be chargeable in addition when the rates on the goods are not sufficient to cover the expense.

Bills of lading should be specially indorsed, so as to designate clearly the party to whose order the contents are to be delivered, and will be required to be produced in the following cases: Goods entered by the Docks Company, goods from places to the east of the Cape of Good Hope, goods from the West Indies or United States of America, unless the master of the import ship or the owner's representative sanctions the delivery to the consignees named in the manifest. They will also be required for other goods and in other cases, unless the Docks Company is satisfied that the bills of lading have been produced or are not required as evidence of ownership.

Particular attention is necessary to the regularity of the indorsement of bills of lading, as the officers of the Docks Company will not pass any bill on which the authority from the shipper to the holder is not deduced by a complete and accurate chain of indorsement.

In cases of informality in or loss of bills of lading provision is made for indemnifying the Docks Company.

Orders lodged for the delivery or transfer of goods before the goods to which they relate have been landed will be received and held for the convenience of the persons lodging them only, but without liability.

Previous to the transfer or issue of any warrants (except prime warrants), and before the delivery of any goods can take place, the rates and charges on the whole mark or parcel must be paid.

When goods placed in the custody of the Docks Company have been stopped for freight or charges, or for both, the owner may liberate them by making a deposit with the Docks Company of the amount claimed, in accordance with the provisions of the merchant shipping act. 1894.

A warrant is the only document issued by the Docks Company entitled to be considered a legal symbol of the goods therein described, and the goods may be transferred by indorsement thereon without the warrant being produced at the dock office.

Warrants for goods are issued on written application in favor of such person as the owner may direct (subject to the conditions specified on the documents), and when lodged, duly indorsed, entitle the holder to transfer or obtain delivery

66

of the goods. No warrant will be issued until the stop for freight (if any) has been removed, or a deposit equal to the amount claimed on account of such stop is made with the Docks Company, nor until the landing and other charges are paid, except a prime warrant," which carries landing as well as other charges. Certain charges are made for these warrants, and the contents of one warrant may be divided into others for smaller quantities, at the will of the holder. If more than one warrant should be required for a pile of goods in bulk, the goods will be unpiled and repiled in accordance with the contents of each warrant, and charges made for all operations consequent thereon must be paid before new warrants can be issued.

In the event of warrants being lost, they must be advertised in such public newspapers as may be directed by the Docks Company, and seven days must elapse subsequently to the advertisement, and the Docks Company be indemnified, before any delivery can be effected, but whenever the delivery of the goods is pressing the parties may obtain it immediately upon depositing the estimated value. Under no circumstances will duplicate warrants be issued.

Forms of authority to sign orders, etc., for merchants or brokers may be obtained at the general office, dock house. Brokers possessing general authorities in writing from merchants to inspect or sample goods must produce them for the purpose of being recorded. The inspection or samplings of goods will take place upon orders signed by the owners; but when warrants have been issued the numbers of the warrants must be stated on the orders.

The customary marking for sale of all goods will be proceeded with immediately on their being landed, unless notice to the contrary be given by the owner or consignor. Goods withdrawn from a sale after being shown will be subject to an extra charge on being shown again.

As regards merchandise, other than wines and spirits, the Docks Company will not be answerable for any losses or deficiencies which may be due to natural causes or to vermin, and they will not be answerable for any losses or deficiencies on goods of any description (including wines and spirits) unless the extent of such losses or deficiencies is agreed prior to the removal of the goods from the premises of the Docks Company.

Empty casks, mats, and packages of every description not removed within three months from the date of the landing account of the goods shall become the property of the Docks Company.

No person not being a servant of the Docks Company is permitted to be employed in any work or labor to be performed within the dock premises or town warehouses, whether on ship, vessel, lighter, jetty, quay, or shore, without the previous permission of the superintendent or other qualified officer, with the following exceptions:

(a) Persons employed by shipowners in discharging cargo; (b) stevedores and their men employed in stowing cargoes for export; (c) lightermen and carmen delivering or receiving goods and lightermen navigating their craft ; (d) men employed in removing, mooring, or rigging vessels. The Docks Company takes no responsibility with respect to goods delivered overside.

Rent on merchandise commences on the day the import ship breaks bulk, or in the case of goods by craft or by land from the receipt of the first portion of the goods. When the charge is by weight, it is levied on the gross weight. A week's rent is charged for a fraction of a week. When the rent is reckoned from the first landing, the first day is counted as a day, but when the rent is from or after the final day of landing or weighing, the final day is not counted as a day.

No allowance will be made by the company in respect of any payment made by merchants or others to shipowners under the London clause in the American bills of lading, or bills of lading containing the Havre clause, or any other clauses in bills of lading which entitle shipowners to land goods at the expense of the consignees.

BRISTOL.

(From United States Consul Lathrop, Bristol, England.)

The docks of Bristol, which have a very extended quay line, are owned by the city, and are governed by a committee of the elected city council. It is believed that these conditions are unique, and that