construction board of the Russian navy; Mr. Henry C. Watts, representative of the Marsden Company; Mr. Irving Scott, president of the Union Iron Works, of San Francisco; Dr. H. W. Wiley, representative of the Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.; and many others.

After extracting the cellulose for packing coffer dams and other purposes, the outer envelope of the stalk is ground into an excellent cattle food. This property of the maize stalk is of the greatest importance. It is evident that this waste product of the vast maize fields of America is destined to interest European nations and find eventually a wide market.

Similar trials of maize pith as an obturating material for battle ships have been made in England with favorable results. W. R. HOLLOWAY,

ST. PETERSBURG, July 25, 1898.

Consul-General.

CARTAGE IN LONDON.

At the request of a resident of New Jersey, an instruction was sent to the consul-general at London, June 22, 1898, asking that information in regard to central control over public cartage in that city be supplied the Department. Mr. Osborne sends the following in reply, under date of July 21, 1898: *

After investigation, I find that there is no central control of public cartage. Many years ago there was such control over carts and carmen; but since the introduction of railroads, the latter do most of the public cartage in London. There are two or three large companies, such as Pickford & Co. and Carter Paterson & Co., who independently carry on considerable business and who have a large number of vans of every description scattered over the city.

There is another class of carmen, styled "bonded carmen," who hold a license from the board of customs. The right of ordering and disposing of these carts, cars, and carmen, and all persons working the same within the city, rests with the corporation. The carts are subject to an annual license, and the number licensed last year was one hundred and thirty-six. These and other carts and wagons are widely used throughout the city by warehousemen and others, for the conveyance of goods and other merchandise.

In the city of London, under the authority of various acts of Parliament, the commissioner of the city police has controlling powers for regulating the traffic, and the same applies to cabs and

* Advance Sheets of report have been sent to inquirer.

omnibuses, which are all licensed at Scotland Yard by the commissioner of metropolitan police. In the judgment of the corporation officials, existing arrangements are satisfactory; and the latter have been greatly assisted by recent post-office legislation, which has afforded increased facilities for the distribution of small parcels.

BRITISH STEEL TUBES FOR THE UNITED STATES.

A couple of days ago I received from a firm of merchants in the United States a request for the names of British manufacturers who make seamless steel tubes of 8 and 12 inch bore, walls of one-fourth inch thickness, with 4-inch flange, and the inside of gun-barrel smoothness. These tubes are evidently intended for use in shipbuilding.

In response to letters sent to several manufacturers, I have had calls from their representatives and have given them the address of the American firm making the request. From some of these people I learn that they have received inquiries direct from other American firms for tubes of 4, 6, and 8 inch bore, but the inquiry I have is the only one for 12 inch, and they are surprised that there should be an intention to have the tubes and flange in one piece of metal, as Government requirements here and on the Continent demand that the flange be attached separately by rivets.

The several inquiries for large tubes give the matter importance, and it would be interesting to know whether tubes of the kind described are manufactured in the United States or not; whether the inquiries mean only a question of price; or whether we are really dependent upon Great Britain for tubes for shipbuilding.

I send this report because if there are American manufacturers of large tubes, they are, I believe, entitled to the information I have about possible purchases here.

The manufacturers of bicycle and other small seamless tubes here are in a mild state of excitement, owing to advices they have received from the United States that there is a prospect of the formation of a trade trust with a general increase of price, and they anticipate that this may admit English tubes again to the American market.

MARSHAL HALSTEAD,

BIRMINGHAM, August 8, 1898.

Consul.

MACHINERY

PRIZE COMPETITION IN ITALY.

The Department is in receipt of a note from the Italian embassy, dated August 13, 1898, requesting that publicity be given to the accompanying royal decrees inviting international competition in steam agricultural machinery, and also in machines used for the distillation of wine. The decrees are summarized as follows:

STEAM AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY.

ARTICLE I. The international concourse of steam plowing engines and machines shall be opened at Turin on the 15th of September, 1898, and closed not later than the 15th of October.

ART. 2. Inventors and constructors, both native and foreign, are admitted.

ART. 3. Agents of engines made in Italy or abroad are held to be actual representatives of the respective constructors, and are entitled to obtain the prize.

ART. 4. An executive committee, resident in Turin, will attend to whatever is required in order that this concourse may be successful.

The said committee is composed of two ministerial deputies from the Royal Office of Agriculture and of the presidents of the executive committee in the National Exhibition and of the Agricultural Academy, as well as of the president of the agricultural committee in Turin.

ART. 5. The prizes granted by the Royal Office of Agriculture are: One gold medal and two silver medals.

ART. 6. A special committee composes the jury and is the only awarder of the prize medals.

ART. 7. Exhibitors are charged with transportation expenses (both to and from the exhibition) of their own engines and machines, as well as with the expenses of transportation to the locality where the trials are to take place.

ART. 8. Requests for admission are to be forwarded to the executive committee not later than the 30th of July, 1898.

Each request will be accompanied by an explanation that will enable the machines to be understood. The following points must be stated:

(a) The number and class of plows, harrows, cultivators, etc., with which the steam motor is to be used.

(6) The quality and quantity of fuel required in order to put under tillage I hectare of land.

ART. 9. The executive committee, as soon as it receives requests from the candidates, shall notify each of his admission, and shall send any further information required.

ART. 10. The executive committee is not liable for any damage or detriment which may happen while transferring the engines or during the experiments.

ART. II. Each engine or apparatus ought to be submitted to such experiments as the jury may deem fitting for the purpose, and such experiments shall take place on lands of various sorts.

ART. 12. Each engine and each machine must be managed by its constructor or his legal representative, who is obliged to give whatever explanation he may be asked for by the jury. In case the constructor or his representative is not present, no trial of his machinery can be made.

ART. 13. Every competitor shall supply his own machinist and fireman, as well as his own workmen skilled in plow driving.

ART. 14. The jury shall have full powers in the management of the trials and will establish rules in conferring the prizes; and within three months from the closing of the competition will report to the Royal Office of Agriculture.

MACHINES FOR DISTILLATION OF WINE.

Machines for the distillation of grounds and dregs of pressed grapes and wine must conform to the following conditions:

(a) They must be easily carried through the fields and managed within cottages of limited proportions.

(6) They must be simple of structure, so as to be readily worked and managed by workmen taken from the peasant class.

Applications accompanied by descriptions, such as the exhibitors shall judge necessary to an understanding of the apparatus, must state the space occupied by the machine in length, breadth, and height, as well as the quantity and quality of the fuel employed.

Machines which have already received prizes will be admitted, but can not obtain a new prize unless they offer some capital modifications, and provided the new prize be of a superior degree to those previously obtained.

Machines must be sent to Turin and exhibited not later than the 15th of September, 1898.

The other provisions of the decree are similar to those given for steam agricultural machinery.

THE COMMERCIAL-TRAVELER TAX IN SWITZER

LAND.

For a number of years, there has been a tax levied on commercial travelers who visit Switzerland. Previous to 1892, the different Cantons had different regulations regarding this tax, but in that year a federal law was enacted, by which the department of justice of any Canton may issue a permit to a commercial traveler, this permit costing 150 francs ($28.90) per year, or 100 francs ($19.30) for six months.

Although the population of the whole of Switzerland is scarcely 4,000,000, the various Cantons have realized quite an amount from this tax, which is divided among them pro rata at the end of the fiscal year.

The amount of fees received since the law went into effect is as follows:

It will be seen that the amount received during the first half of the present year is greater than that received during any other full year, excepting 1893, which was the first year of the Swiss tariff.

There are several exceptions to the general law that should be noted:

(1) Commercial travelers selling cognac, rum, arrack, whisky, absinthe, vermuth, bitters, or any intoxicating liquors to the legitimate trade in quantities of not less than 40 liters (10.56 gallons) are exempt.

(2) Commercial travelers selling to the legitimate trade, to stores, or to mechanics who utilize the articles purchased are also exempt. Travelers of the above classes are furnished with a permit which is of a green color.

(3) Travelers, or rather agents corresponding to those who visit private houses selling sewing machines, etc., in the United States, taking orders for the delivery of goods have to pay 150 francs ($28.90) a year, and receive a permit of a red color.

Commercial travelers of the green-card variety who trespass on the privileges of those of the red-card class make themselves liable to a heavy fine. The fact that a man can sell liquors at wholesale and pay no tax, while an ordinary house agent must pay one, seems rather incongruous to our American ideas. In these classes, Swiss and foreigners are treated alike. Ordinary peddling, as we understand it, is prohibited.

The following table, covering the last three years, shows the number of commercial travelers and the countries from which they

It will be noted that of the whole number not one is credited to the United States. In view of the fact that many circulars, catalogues, etc., of goods have been received at this office, with the request that they be "advantageously distributed," I would repeat what has been written by many of my colleagues throughout Europe: it is absolutely of no avail to send circulars or catalogues in