from three to twelve months, and the prices are so low that if a person uses the cars over three times a day, a commutation means a saving— in some cases the fare for each trip amounting to less than 1 cent. Prices for commutation tickets are as follows:

In addition to this, combination tickets may be had for the use of one specified line and part of one other line, and, also in this in

stance, prices are extremely low. issued for children going to school.

costing about 4 pfennigs (0.95 cent).

Further, very cheap tickets are
These tickets are personal, a trip

The cars stop only at fixed halting places to take on and let off passengers. These halting places are generally at street crossings, marked by a white sign affixed to lantern poles, on which is printed the word "Haltestelle" (halting place).

The trolley cars offer seats for 20 to 28 persons, 10 to 14 on each side. Besides, 4 persons are allowed on the front and 5 persons on the back platform. The full number of passengers being on the car, the conductor lowers a sign, "Besetzt," which means “occupied," and a car can not take more passengers than the above number. The regulations in this respect are very strictly observed. Say, for instance, a lady steps on the car at a halting place, while the conductor is front, collecting fares, the car being already "occupied" when the lady stepped in; but there being no conductor to prevent, she goes inside, and a gentleman offers her his seat, the gentleman then taking a stand on the platform. The conductor returns to his post, when the gentleman is requested to step off the car at the next halting place, having forfeited his seat and the car being fully occupied. Should he refuse to leave the car, he is put off. The policemen on the streets have instructions to watch the cars sharply when passing their posts; and if they detect a car carrying one person more than the fixed number, they note the number of the car, and the company receives word that the said conductor has been fined 3 marks (72 cents), to be deducted from his wages and to be paid to the police board. If a comptroller of the company steps on the car No. 229 3.

and detects a surplus of passengers, he notes the number of the conductor, who is fined 3 marks (72 cents), which are paid to a charity fund and divided once a year to employees of the company requiring support.

All cars not only the trolley cars, but also the smokers—are supplied with hand and electro-magnetic brakes; the latter are applied in case of danger, and afford a sudden halting of the car. There are no fenders in use on the cars, but accidents are few. Experiments are being daily made with all sorts of safety appliances to test their reliability; but up to the present the company has not decided to introduce any particular system on all cars. There is certainly an opportunity here for a good American device, as the different appliances now in use are not fully satisfactory to the company or to the authorities.

The Hamburg Electric Street-Car Company must be considered a model institution, and its system worthy of careful study.

HAMBURG, July 18, 1899.

HUGH PITCAIRN,

Consul.

EXPOSITION AT GHENT.

An exposition of the industries and arts of this province was opened in this city on the 1st day of June and is to continue until the 1st of September.

Ghent, with its suburban towns, contains a population of 214,000. The exposition grounds, comprising 41 acres, are situated in a portion of the city park, ten minutes' ride by electric tram from the heart of the city. The floor space for exhibitors (some 2,300 in number) covers a total area of 57,812 square feet.

All foreign displays are made through local agents. They consist almost entirely of machinery, such as weaving, spinning, artificial ice, steam laundry, feed cutters, boilers, engines, steam pumps, coffee grinders, etc., and of carpenters' and machinists' tools. The foreign countries represented are the United States, England, Germany, and France. The following American manufacturers are

represented:

The Henderson Manufacturing Company, Geneva, N. Y.
Enterprise Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, Pa.
William P. Kellogg, Troy, N. Y.

The Dean Steam Pump Company, Holyoke, Mass.
The Aermotor Company, Chicago, Ill.

Carter Densmore & Co., Boston, Mass.

Hibbard & Ajax Cycle Works, Chicago, Ill.

The last-mentioned firm makes a very creditable display of bicycles and shows the only American wheel here. At this booth our flag is majestically displayed, but nowhere else is it to be seen on the exposition grounds.

An English company makes a good exhibit of some fifty different pieces of hand and steam laundry machinery and utensils, from the ordinary clothes wringer to the heaviest and largest steam washers. and ironers. A German manufacturer of steam-laundry machinery also makes a fair display. Reference is made more especially to this class of machinery as it applies to an industry yet in its infancy in this section of Belgium, which, I am informed, is gaining rapidly in popularity. I am told that the agents of the English company have within the past two years furnished two complete steam laundries in this city and some ten in this vicinity, and that they have just closed a contract with one of the largest local hospitals to furnish the machinery for a complete steam laundry. The agent of the German firm has just closed a contract to furnish the machinery for a laundry at Antwerp.

One

It is admitted by dealers here that American laundry machinery is far superior to either the English or German makes, and it would not be difficult to find an energetic, reliable house to accept an agency; in fact, I am quite sure such an agency would be sought for. apparently serious complaint made by dealers is that they can not succeed in doing business directly with the manufacturers, and that to deal through middlemen brings the cost so high that they can not introduce the machinery in competition with English and German makes. Our manufacturers should give this their attention.

A very novel exhibition is made by one of the industrial schools. It comprises a set of maps representing the different cantons of this province. River, canal, and railroad routes and principal cities are carefully noted, and miniature manufactured articles are attached. to indicate the production and industry of the various cities or localities. On the spot where Ghent is indicated there is attached a piece of loaf sugar, a bottle of beer, a bunch of flowers, a spindle of cotton, a spindle of flax, samples of linen and cotton goods. To the city of Lokeren there is attached a piece of rope, a package of cordage, and a bottle of wheat; to the prairies of East Flanders, cattle and sheep. Maps containing manufacturing centers have miniature. locomotives, cars, wagons, chairs, tables, etc., attached.

The Kongo Free State display is made in a separate building. It is rather small, consisting of goods manufactured for the Kongo, as well as native products, weapons, implements, and photographs. The principal exhibits are cotton, linen, and woolen fabrics, to show the quality of goods in use and the manner of putting up packages

of convenient size and weight for shipment. There are four sizes, as follows:

These packages are covered with heavy burlaps and bound with. four hoop-iron bands 14 inches in width.

This city is the center of a very large textile industry, and has a heavy export trade of such goods to the Kongo.

The exhibition as a whole is a credit, not only to the province, but to the Kingdom. The displays are effective and the decorations in excellent taste.

GHENT, June 21, 1899.

RICHARD LE BERT,

Consul.

IMPORTS OF COTTON GOODS FROM MAN

CHESTER.

I give below a table of the exports of cotton yarn, cotton velvets, cords, and fustians from this district to the United States for the first half of the years 1898 and 1899, shipments recorded monthly, which I think will be of interest to a large class of our manufacturers and merchants.

EGG INDUSTRY IN GERMANY AND RUSSIA.

The egg trade in Germany and Russia has grown astonishingly within the past few years. The following tables will show the extent of this growth:

Nine-tenths of this import came from Russia and Austria, smaller quantities coming from Italy, the Netherlands, and Roumania. Russia's increased export in eggs, however, is something enor

The raising of poultry for the production of eggs has become an important factor in Russian husbandry. Not only is this the case in districts which border on the frontier, but in the interior of the country as well. In 1894, freight on the Russian railroads was reduced. This gave the infant industry a new impulse. The completion of the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal enables the dealers to ship eggs direct to Hamburg without change of bottom. From this port, transshipments are immediately made for England, Belgium, and the Netherlands. JNO. F. WINTER,

ANNABERG, June 19, 1899.

Consul.

ADVICE TO IMPORTERS OF SICILIAN ESSENTIAL

OILS.

I would suggest to all dealers in essential oils who purchase under chemists' certificates to take a sample in the presence of witnesses, immediately upon arrival of the goods, seal it, and send, in the little bottles made for that purpose, to the chemists Messrs. G. H. Ogston & Moore, of Messina (who put goods under their seal after