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ITALY
In 1896 there entered Italian ports 89,808 Italian vessels of 16,286,138 tons, and 10,807 foreign vessels of 10,508,257 tons; in all 100,615 vessels of 26,794,395 tons. There cleared from Italian ports 89,371 Italian vessels of 16,197,822 tons, and 10,787 foreign vessels of 10,480" 130 tons ; in all 100,158 vessels of 26,777,952 tons.
At the principal Italian ports the number of vessels entering and clearing in 1896 were :—
Port
Entered
Cleared
No.
Tonnage
No.
Tonnage
Genoa Leghorn . Naples . Messina . Palermo . Venice .
6,255 4,028 5,803 3,198 3,588 2,993
4,171,136
1,546,055 2,699,632 1,628,597 1,576,252 1,091,064
6,005 4,022 5,815 3,172 3,604 3,064
4,049,688 1,540,996 2,698,238 1,628,806 1,588,213 1,099,485
Of the Italian steam tonnage, more than half belongs to the ' Italian General Navigation ' (Societa Florio e Rubattino — Genoa and Palermo).
Internal Communications. 1. Railways.
A large portion of the Italian railways belong to the State, but in accord- ance with a law of April 27, 1885, the working of the State lines has been transferred to private enterprise. The contracts are for 60 years, but at the end of 20 and 40 years they may be terminated.
On January 1, 1893, there were 5,364 miles of State railway, 96 miles jointly State and companies', and 3,216 miles of companies' railway ; in all, 8,676 miles. The length of the principal lines, January 1, 1897, was : — Mediterranean, 3,580 miles ; Adriatic, 3,479 miles ; Sicilian, 679 miles ; Sardinian, 643 miles ; various, 1,212 miles ; total, 9,592 miles.
In 1892 the total receipts were 253,135,975 lire, of which 98.912,077 lire were for passenger traffic. In the same year the expenses were 174,151,182 lire. By slow trains there were forwarded 15,987,792 tons of goods, and by fast trains 10,381,480 quintals of goods. The numlier of passengers was in all 50,248,717.
II. Posts and Telegraphs.
During the year ending June 30, 1896, there were transmitted 217,237,611 letters and post-cards, to which 40,495,849 Government official letters have to be added. There were sent also 5,361,337 manuscript papers, and 249,761,929 periodicals and other printed matter. The money orders numbered 10,484,037, value 873,287,982 lire. On June 30, 1896, there were 7,435 post-offices and collecting-boxes.
The public telegraph service is a monopoly of the Government, certain con- cessions, however, being made to the railway and tramway companies. On June 30, 1896, the length of line and wire on land was, in English miles : — Government lines 23,318, wire 74,758 ; railway lines 2,131, wire 23,560 ; total lines 25,449, wire 98,318.
During the year ending June 30, 1896, there were despatched from Govern- ment and railway telegraph offices 7,214,927 private telegi'ams inland, and there were sent or received from abroad 1,995,312 telegi-ams. Number of State offices, 3,549 ; other offices, 2,236.
