BICYCLE TRADE AT MALTA.

The roads of Malta, as a rule, are hard and smooth, and, with the exception of the period from May to November-during which time most of the people who ride wheels are away-are well patronized.

The wheels are chiefly of English manufacture. There are a few American bicycles used, but they have been specially ordered, and their presence is not due to any influence of our manufacturers. American wheels are well regarded, the fact that a wheel is from the United States being sufficient guaranty of its reliability. By a little enterprise it is possible to gain a good market here for our wheels. At the beginning of the season, October 1, people are returning for the winter months, and from that time on there is quite a brisk business done, both in the way of new wheels and in sundries, the assortment of the latter being somewhat limited. There seems to be no disposition to discriminate in the way of nationality of manufacture, and, while English wheels at present hold the market, American wheels are not sold only because the dealers here have not been brought into direct communication with our manufacturers.

It is advisable to select a local dealer as an agent, giving the best of terms in order to encourage him to push the goods. After a market has been secured, arrangements may be made of a more permanent nature.

There are many lines of bicycle sundries that would go well here. I would suggest that, in corresponding, our manufacturers would save time by sending samples, together with illustrated price lists. The price lists are all very well, but with a sample at hand the Maltese dealer knows what he is dealing in, and the purchaser what he is ordering.

In the matter of tires, I would say that the kind most in use is that known as the Dunlop Tropical, an English product, which costs. the dealer $15.80 per set, including all charges. I think some of our manufacturers will see a chance for their goods in this direction. Another make of tires used here is known as the "Clincher," which costs the dealer $12.16, including all charges. An Austrian concern has lately been trying to introduce its goods, but thus far has not met with much success, notwithstanding cheapness, owing to inferiority of articles. Malta wants well-made goods, and at as low prices as is consistent, therefore, I would not advise any of our manufacturers to attempt to introduce inferior goods, as it will only have No. 2168.

the effect of damaging the high reputation which American goods now have. Very few single-tube tires are used here. The demand seems to be for rough-tread double tubes. I know of one or two makes at home that would be a success.

The 28-inch wheel seems to be the favorite. Lamps are not much used, but this may be due to the fact that there has been a poor assortment from which to select. Quick-mending kits should find a In the matter of pedals the American article is almost

good market. wholly used.

The average retail price at which bicycles are sold here is $50. Among firms in a position to handle our goods are Melita Cycle Company, 27 Strada Mezzodi, and C. Breed Eynaud & Co., 17 Marina Barriera; the latter make a specialty of American goods of all kinds.

One of the chief obstacles to the increase of American trade at Malta is the lack of direct communication, and it would be advisable for our manufacturers not to rely upon their foreign agents to push their goods at Malta, but to send samples and price lists directly to the Maltese dealers. If a European agent is handling the goods, it would be well to mention his address on the printed matter. The samples and price lists having been examined, it is an easy matter. for the dealer to order by agent if he prefers. It seems to me that the present moment, when business is dull at Malta, should be taken advantage of by our manufacturers in making preliminary arrangements for the introduction of their goods.

JOHN H. GROUT, Jr.,

MALTA, May 31, 1898.

Consul.

RAILWAY SUBSIDIES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.

Consul Smith, of Victoria, under date of June 4, 1898, says: The provincial legislative assembly of British Columbia adjourned on May 20, having enacted sixty-five laws, of which twenty-one grant charters for building various railroads. The law which will perhaps attract most attention abroad is the "public works loan act," providing for a loan of $5,000,000 for railroad purposes. Half this amount had already been authorized, but was not utilized. Last year a loan of $2,500,000 was authorized, out of which the proposed railways from English Bluff to Boundary Creek, via Penticton, and from Bute Inlet to Quesnelle were to be subsidized, although they had not been built. The present act continues these subsidies and adds $4,000 a mile for a railway from Boundary Creek to Robson, a distance of 80 miles, and a like amount for a railway from the west coast of British Columbia to Teslin Lake, 400 miles. A total of

1,040 miles of new railway is thus subsidized, which will call for $4,160,000.

This important act, which, if carried out, bids fair to open a new era in British Columbia, reads:

1. This act may be cited as the "British Columbia public works loan act (1897) amendment act, 1898."

2. Section 2 of the "British Columbia public works loan act, 1897," is hereby repealed, and the following is substituted therefor:

"2. The lieutenant-governor in council may (in addition to all other moneys authorized to be raised or borrowed by any other act of the province) borrow or raise from time to time, in such amounts, in such manner, and at such times as may be deemed expedient, any sum of money not exceeding $5,000,000 by the sale of debentures, or by the issue and sale of 'British Columbia stock' under the provisions of the 'inscribed stock act, 1891,' or partly in one way and partly in another, or otherwise: Provided, however, that no moneys shall be borrowed under this act before the 1st day of July, 1898."

3. Section 8 of the said act is hereby repealed and the following is substituted therefor:

"8. There is hereby granted for and in aid of the construction of the following railways, subject to the conditions hereinafter contained, and to be paid out of the moneys raised under this act, a sum not exceeding $4,000 for each mile of rail way, viz:

"(a) For a standard-gauge railway from Penticton to the Boundary Creek District, approximately 100 miles in length.

"(6) For a standard-gauge railway from Robson to the Boundary Creek District, to connect with the railway mentioned in subsection (a) hereof, approximately 80 miles.

"(c) For a standard-gauge railway from the coast, in the neighborhood of English Bluff, near Point Roberts, via Chilliwhack to Penticton, approximately 230 miles. “(d) For a standard-gauge railway from Bute Inlet to Quesnelle, approximately 230 miles.

"(e) For not more than 400 miles of a narrow-gauge railway from Teslin Lake to a seaport in British Columbia, divided by the Stikine River into the northern and southern sections.".

4. Section 9 of the said act is hereby repealed and the following is substituted therefor:

"9. The lieutenant-governor in council may enter into all agreements with any person or company undertaking the construction of any railway to which a subsidy is hereby attached, which may be necessary or convenient for the due construction and operation of such railway, which agreements shall in every instance, in addition to other matters therein provided for, contain the following provisions, viz:

"(1) That unless work is commenced on the railway mentioned in subsections (a) and (b) of section 8 hereof within fifteen months from the 8th day of May, 1897, and on those mentioned in subsections (c) and (d) of said section 8 within two years from the 8th day of May, 1897, and on each section of the railway mentioned in subsection (e) of said section 8 by the 1st day of June, 1898, and is duly and dilipently prosecuted to the satisfaction of the lieutenant-governor in council, all right and claim to the aforesaid subsidy granted by this act shall be canceled and forfeited.

(2) That construction on the railway mentioned in subsection (a) of said section 8 be begun and carried on from Penticton.

“(3) That the aforesaid subsidy shall not be payable until the section of railway for which the subsidy is granted is completed and in running order, to the satisfaction of the lieutenant-governor in council, nor until security or guaranties, satisfactory to the lieutenant-governor in council, is or are given for the continuous maintenance and operation of the railway; and no subsidy shall be payable or paid until after such completion and the giving of such security or guaranties.

"(4) As to the railway mentioned in subsection (e) of section 8, said agreement shall not be less favorable to the province than terms set forth in letter in Schedule A."

5. Section 10 of the said act is hereby amended by adding thereto the following subsections:

"(c) In the case of the line from Robson to the Boundary Creek District being built by a company entitled to a land grant for the construction of such line, the subsidy herein authorized shall only be paid to such company on its giving up its claim to the land grant for such portions of its line.

"(d) In the case of the line from Teslin Lake to the Stikine River being built by a company entitled to a land grant for the construction of such line, the subsidy herein authorized shall only be paid to such company on its giving up its claim to the land grant for such portion of its line."

6. The title to said act is hereby amended by striking out the words "two million five hundred thousand" and substituting therefor the words "five millions."

7. No Chinese or Japanese person shall be employed or permitted to work in the construction or operation of any undertaking hereby subsidized, under a penalty of $5 per day for each and every Chinese or Japanese employed in contravention of this section, to be recovered on complaint of any person under the provisions of the "summary convictions act."

8. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 4 of the "railway assessment act," the land occupied and claimed as the right of way for the railroad mentioned in subsection (e) of section 8, herein before enacted, and other lands occupied for station or engine houses, or other buildings connected with the actual operation of the railway, together with the personal property held in connection with such operation, including the rolling stock, shall be assessed as a whole, and at the sum of $2,000 per mile of track, including sidings, of the railway situate within the province and without the limits of any incorporated municipality.

Accompanying the act is a letter from Mackenzie, Mann & Co., the contractors for the proposed Yukon Railway,* stating that they are ready to undertake the contract, the subsidy to be $4,000 per mile from Teslin Lake to an ocean port in British Columbia, the whole not to exceed $1,600,000; the lieutenant-governor to have supervision of the construction of the wagon road and also of the railway rates. Consul Smith adds that no active steps, so far as he can learn, have been taken under this law, and it is probable that nothing will be done until after the election of July 9.

*See CONSULAR REPORTS No. 210 (March, 1898), p. 319.

CANADIAN IMPORTS FROM THE UNITED STATES.

Figures giving the total of imports into Canada from the United States for the fiscal year are awaited with unusual interest. Canada, in proportion to her population, is the largest consumer of our products. The figures that are obtainable give a forecast that is gratifying.

The following table includes all the leading imports from the United States except iron and steel and gold and silver, and covers the ten months ending April 1, 1897 and 1898, respectively (in 1897 the exports to Canada of gold and silver and manufactures thereof aggregated $5,267,576; of iron and steel and manufactures, $6,441,681):

It will be noticed that twenty-three out of the thirty-two articles enumerated show an increase, some quite marked, and the total is nearly a 20 per cent advance over the same period of 1897, although this was the banner year in exports from our country to Canada, there being a steady increase from $44,858,039 in 1886 to $64,334,800 in 1897. Evidently the totals for 1898 will be anything but disappointing.

The new tariff, giving Great Britain a 25 per cent preferential duty, goes into effect August 1 next, and it will undoubtedly give. that country a portion of the trade that the United States has won; but it is doubtful if the decrease will be as marked as anticipated. Perhaps the lines in which the United States and Great Britain compete most seriously are iron and steel and cotton.