MILAN.

From United States Vice and Deputy Consul Smith, Milan, Italy.)

The warehouses in Milan which receive merchandise in transit or in bond, and from which goods may be withdrawn for shipment elsewhere without paying the custom dues, are known as the "Maggazini Generali della Lombardia." I inclose a copy of the articles of association of the society to which these warehouses belong, as it contains information not covered by the special interrogatories contained in the circular of the Department. I also inclose the official tariff,c which contains the regulations in vogue, and other important information.

The original cost of the warehouses was 450,000 liras ($86,850), but with subsequent additions it is estimated that the cost has been increased to 600,000 liras ($115,800). The total area is about 13,000 square meters (15,548 square yards). The magazines are owned by a limited liability company and are conducted by an administrative council which delegates one of its members to act as manager.

The service is particularly useful to those who import goods on speculation, or who desire to stock for their own consumption, but are not willing to pay the custom dues until the goods are sold or ready to be disposed of in the ordinary way of business. Goods introduced into the warehouses remain there as foreign merchandise, and can be reexported from Italy if they should not be sold or otherwise disposed of. The scale of charges for storage is according to tariff sent herewith," in consulting which it should be noted that for goods in bulk, or for goods stored for long periods of time, the manager may accord certain discounts, as also he may make a special agreement in which all expenses and payments are included.

The goods stored consist chiefly of cereals, other agricultural produce, and wines. Liquors, alcohols, and other inflammable goods are admitted only in a determinable proportion to the total quantity of goods in deposit. This restriction has to be observed to satisfy the conditions of fire insurance. So long as the expenses incurred for storage, etc., do not amount to more than the presumed value of the goods in deposit the management does not fix a time limit beyond which the goods are not allowed to remain. In practice, the length of time goods remain in bond varies from a month or so to four or five years.

So far Americans have never made use of these warehouses. The treatment of goods by the administrators is equal in all respects and no distinction is made, whatever be the nationality.

The printed tariff shows the facilities for and the cost of the removal of the goods from boat to warehouse, and vice versa, but special arrangements can be made for different goods according to the quantity and to length of time they are to remain in deposit, and the whole cost can be provided for in the agreement.

Inasmuch as the customs officials have to exercise supervision in the warehouses, which are in a way private, they carry it out with the utmost rigor; and the administration, on its own part, in order to respond to the confidence which the Government reposes in it, pays

a On file in the Bureau of Statistics, Department of Commerce and Labor.

special attention that the greatest regularity and correctness is maintained. Were this not so, and were the custom-house to learn of any abuses of its confidence, the concession accorded to the company would be withdrawn.

H. P. SMITH, Vice and Deputy Consul.

MILAN, ITALY, August 4, 1904.

MALTA.

(From United States Consul Grout, Valetta, Malta.)

It would be difficult to state when the warehouses used for storage of goods at rental or in bond were erected and I do not believe it would be possible to ascertain the cost of construction, inasmuch as all now in use, both public and private, were built originally by the Knights of Malta in the latter part of their control here many years ago. Some of the buildings were constructed for the purpose of storage while others were intended for other objects. There are a few warehouses in the hands of private firms, but nearly all are owned by the local government, being conducted by the customs branch. The administration of the service is regarded as very satisfactory. Many officials are employed as guards and custodians, and goods are transferred from ship to warehouse, or vice versa, in a simple manner, but according to an efficient system.

No regulation is made as to length of time goods may be stored, a parcel paying the same charge for a day or two as for a much longer term. Beer pays a rental of 2 cents per barrel. Wines having not more than 15 per cent of alcohol are charged 4 cents per barrel, while classes containing from 16 to 23 per cent of alcohol pay 8 cents per barrel. Petroleum pays 3 farthings (13 cents) per 8 gallons. For each 112 pounds, or 64 rotoli, sugar is charged a little over 2 cents. A rent of 6 cents is charged for 100 boxes containing 100 cigars each. Cavendish or other manufactured tobacco is charged 12 cents per 100 pounds weight.

According to the last annual report of the local government receipts on account of warehouse rentals amounted to $8,251.36. It would be impossible to even estimate the actual cost of the service, on account of the diversified duties of the officers in charge.

As a rule only goods liable to duty are stored in the Government warehouses. They chiefly comprise beer, spirits, wines, grain, flour, canned meats, coffee, and petroleum. As a rule goods do not remain in bond for any great length of time, one year being considered something unusual. Perhaps one month might be considered a fair aver age. Very little use is made of the warehouses here by Americans. All nationalities are treated alike, there being no discriminating charges. On account of rapidly increasing cost of labor it would be impossible to give any fixed charge for handling. Recently as high as 36 cents per small cartload from boat at water's edge to warehouse has been asked. JOHN H. GROUT, Consul.

VALETTA, MALTA, July 19, 1904.

MONTENEGRO.

(From United States Consul Chester, Budapest, Hungary.)

The "Hungarian Commercial Museum" publishes a consular report to the effect that the Montenegrin minister of finance in Cetinje has caused government as well as private warehouses in the port of Antivari to accept merchandise in bond or transit, and has relieved such merchandise from all payment of dues and customs pending notice on the customs collector of their intended withdrawal.

FRANK DYER CHESTER, Consul-General.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, June 27, 1904.

NETHERLANDS.

ROTTERDAM.

(From United States Consul-General Listoe, Rotterdam, Netherlands.)

For centuries past numerous warehouses have stood on the quays at Rotterdam, on the right side of the river Maas. These warehouses, however, are not directly accessible by steamers but only by trucks. In Rotterdam mercantile establishments of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the warehouses are always found on the ground floor, behind the offices, while the merchants' residence quarters are above the offices and warehouses. After the introduction of steam power, warehouses to fill other needs had to be constructed. At the present day a steamer remains in port as short a time as possible; the cargo must therefore be discharged quickly. When the cargo is not destined for Rhine or Maas ports and therefore can not be immediately discharged into Rhine or Maas lighters, there must be sufficient room on the quay to deposit a whole cargo. In modern ports as a rule the storage places on the quays are covered so far as practicable, at least for merchandise that might suffer from rain, and this is the case along the quays of the left side of the Maas. No sheds are found along the quays of the right side of the river, though the steamers of numerous lines to England, France, and northern Germany discharge their cargoes there; but the establishment of modern facilities for these lines is contemplated. At present these steamers discharge their cargoes on the quays in the open air, whence they are distributed to the warehouses situated in the vicinity. When it rains the merchandise is protected by canvas.

CLASSES OF WAREHOUSES.

The warehouses are designated, according to the amount of supervision exercised by the customs authorities, as follows:

(1) The free entrepôt (public bonded warehouse); (2) the private free entrepôts (private bonded warehouses); (3) the entrepôts fictifs (fictitious warehouses); (4) the warehouses over which no customs supervision is exercised.

The free public warehouse is treated in detail on later pages,

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The private free entrepôts are for the storage of goods which are subject to the highest rates of duty, as spirits, wines, etc. These warehouses belong to private persons or companies, but are entirely under the control of customs officers and are arranged in accordance with their directions, so that nothing can be introduced or altered without their authorization.

The entrepôts fictifs (fictitious bonded warehouses) are destined for articles subject to the lower rates of duty, like petroleum, cotton seed, tobacco, and mineral water. The only supervision exercised by the customs authorities over these warehouses is the controlling now and then of the quantities of goods stored therein.

In the warehouses over which no customs supervision is exercised free goods or goods on which the duty has already been paid are stored.

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A special category of warehouses is formed by those under the management of the corporations known as veemen. These corporations charge themselves with the transportation and the storage of merchandise and issue warrants for the merchandise stored. Under these warrants they hold themselves responsible for the quantities of merchandise mentioned in the warrants, and the warrants can be pawned or sold. Besides the smaller warehouses occupied by these corporations on the right side of the Maas in the old city, large modern establishments have been built by them on the left side of the river. The principal veemen are the following: "Pakhuismeesteren," "Vriesseveem," "Blaauwhoeden veem," "Leydscheveem," "Nederlandscheveem," "Wilhelminaveem," "Hollandsveem," and "Handelsveem." Certain parts of the warehouses occupied by some of these companies can be used as entrepôts fictifs for the storage of goods subject to minor rates of duty in transit or in bond.

DESCRIPTION OF WAREHOUSES.

The antiquated warehouses of the right side of the river are not of special importance, and no description of them has been published. The following details of the great storage establishments on the left bank of the Maas at Rotterdam are contained in the publication "Le Port de Rotterdam," by H. A. van Ysselsteyn. These establishments include

(a) One brick warehouse (area 7,400 square meters-8,850 square yards) and three wooden sheds (total area 9,000 square meters10,764 square yards) under the direct management of the free entrepôt (free public warehouse) and situated on the entrepôt harbor. This warehouse is divided into five parts, each part bearing the name of one of the five continents. It consists of a basement and three floors over it. The merchandise can be hoisted to the several floors not only by the exterior hydraulic cranes, but also by one windlass of a capacity of 1.000 kilograms (2.204.6 pounds) and three of a capacity each of 500 kilograms (1,102.3 pounds).

(b) Twelve wooden and four brick and sheet-iron sheds under the direct management of the community's commercial establishments, situated on the Spoorweghaven (railroad harbor), the Rhine Harbor, and the Katendrecht Harbor; total area 27,242 square meters (32,511 square yards).

(c) A considerable number of wooden, iron, and brick sheds be

longing to the community and let to various corporations; total area, 21,950 square meters (26,252 square yards).

(d) A number of sheds belonging to private parties but situated on ground belonging to the community; total area, 20,277 square meters (24,251 square yards).

(e) Sheds and warehouses belonging, with the lots they cover, to private parties. The total area of these is 31,812 square meters (38,047 square yards). They include, among others

The warehouses of the Society for the Managing of Grounds and Buildings along the Wilhelmina Quay, which are let to the Vriesseveem Warehouse Company. There are three warehouses under one roof, named "New-York," "Baltimore," and "Chicago." Each warehouse has a basement and two floors. The area covered is 2,250 square meters (2,691 square yards).

The warehouses of the Blaauwhoedenveem Warehouse Company, situated between the Wilhelmina Quay and the Rhine Harbor on the north side. These warehouses are three in number, constructed of brick, and named "Handel" (Commerce), "Scheepvaart" (Navigation), and "Nyverheid" (Industry), and have each three floors, besides the basements. The area covered by the ground floors is 4,264 square meters (5,100 square yards).

The brick warehouses of the warehouse company "Pakhuismeesteren (warehouse masters), also situated between the Wilhelmina Quay and the Rhine Harbor. There are four warehouses denominated respectively "Java," "Sumatra, ""Borneo," and "Celebes," each with three floors and a basement, covering an area of 3,818 square meters (4,566 square yards).

The brick warehouses of the warehouse company "Leydscheveem," built in line with the warehouses described under a, b, and c. These have, besides a basement, two stories each. They consist of three buildings called "De Ruyter," "Johan de With," and Tromp," and cover an area of 2,020 square meters (2,416 square yards).

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The warehouse "De Molukken," of the warehouse company "Vriesseveem," is situated on the east side of the Rhine Harbor. It has five floors besides the basement. The area covered is 2,624 square meters (3,138 square yards).

Sheds also belonging to the "Vriesseveem" company, in area 2,490 square meters (2,978 square yards).

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The warehouses of the warehouse company 99 Handelsveem are built of brick and of "armed beton." The brick building has two, the beton building three floors. The area covered by the two buildings is 3,146 square meters (3,763 square yards).

The warehouse of the warehouse company "Nederlandsche veem," situated along the Rhine Harbor; it is built exactly like the brick warehouse of the Vriesseveem company. The area covered is 1,950 square meters (2,332 square yards).

A brick warehouse on the south side of the Rhine Harbor, belonging to the Blaauwhoedenveem and called "Santos," consisting of six floors; area, 1,140 square meters (1,364 square yards).

The iron sheds of the Holland-American Cotton Oil Company, serving principally for the storage of cotton seed; they cover an area of 4,000 square meters (4,784 square yards).