Openings for British Trade. RUSSIA-continued. their payments for steam sets over three and four years, and so long as they possess plenty of capital, enjoy favourable banking facilities and deal with honest, trustworthy buyers, this system cannot exactly be condemned. It is much easier for a farmer to spread his investment in a steam threshing set over three or four years, even allowing for the 8 per cent. of yearly interest he pays, than to be compelled to pay the same amount within one-and-ahalf to two years as generally demanded by the British maker. Besides, given good harvests, the farmer, although he has contracted for long credit, in order to save the heavy interest, often pays off the full amount of his debt after the first or second harvest, and in this way the German maker who originally agreed to the long term of credit, actually often comes out on a general margin of credit not exceeding the hard and fast rule laid down by the British maker; but with this material difference, that the German maker has the opportunity of doing the biggest trade, because his original conditions of payment were more acceptable to the buyer. (Foreign Office, Annual Series, 3,128.) NETHERLANDS. A despatch has been received at the Board of Trade from H.M. Consul at Amsterdam, reporting that on Wednesday, 27th April, 1904, the Netherlands Minister for the Colonies will receive tenders for the supply of the following material :— Bridges and Railway Material. Contract 351.--384 tons of steel rails. M 10.-3,450 tons of steel rails, with appurtenances. O 10.-Ten bridges. P 10. Q 10.-Railway material. R 10. Particulars can be obtained from Mart Nyhoff, at the Hague, on payment of : Contracts N 10, P 10, Q10, R 10 ... 2 fl. (3s. 4d.) 9 fl. (158.) Dry Dock Construction. BELGIUM. The "Neue Hamburgische Börsen-Halle" of 26th March, contains a notification to the effect that tenders are invited for the construction of a new dry dock &c. at Ostend. The estimated cost is 120,000l. : a deposit of 12,000l. is required to qualify any tender. Tenders, Openings for British Trade. addressed to the "Direction du Service Spécial de la Côte, 1, Square Stéphanie, Brussels," will be received up to the 24th July, 1904. Specifications &c,, price 4d., and plans, price 58. 3d., may be obtained from "15, Rue des Augustins, Bruxelles." FRANCE. The following information relative to electric tramways and electric power in and near Nice is extracted from the annual report of the United States Vice-Consul at that place:- Electric Tramway and Electric Power Plant. Electric tramways:-The communities on the lines which have already been decided upon by the authorities are clamouring for the beginning of work, but there does not seem to be much anxiety on the part of outsiders to take up the different concessions, while local elements are altogether lacking in the necessary initiative for such enterprises, although there are several such lines which would be good paying investments if properly built and managed. Electric Power.—A group of financiers has in hand a project for the building of an electric-power plant in the upper Roya Valley. They claim that the high prices charged by the existing company render the general use of electric power impossible. They further claim that this results from the high initial cost of the works and that the latest discoveries and systems will greatly reduce this cost. As the existing gas and electric power company has a monopoly until 1913, the new group intends to begin operations by furnishing Mentone. Platform Bridge. PORTUGAL. The "Diario do Governo" of 29th March contains a notice calling for tenders, which will be opened on the 18th May next in the Sessions Hall of the Council of Administration of State Railways (Ministry of Public Works Building), for the construction of a platform bridge at Barreiro. The terms of the competition and the table of requirements are on view in the secretariat of the council named. Metal Bridge. The same "Diario" contains a notice calling for tenders, which will be opened at 1 p.m. on 30th April, in the Directorate of the Minho and Douro State Railways in Companha (Oporto), for the supply of the metal body for the bridge of the Tanha, on the Railway from Regua to Villa Real. A provisional deposit of 350 milreis (or about 587.) is required to qualify any tender. This indicates a total cost of 14,000 milreis (or about 2,3301.). The conditions of competition and table of requirements may be seen in the secre Openings for British Trade. tariat of the Construction Service of the Directorate named, at No. 106, Rua da Estacao, Oporto. The Diario" containing the above notices may be seen on application at the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade, 50, Parliament Street, S.W., any day between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.). SPAIN. With reference to the announcement which appeared on p. 585 of the "Board of Trade Journal" of 31st March, Hemp Cables and it is to be observed that the "Gaceta de Cordage. Madrid" of 30th idem contains a notice fixing the 25th April, at half-past twelve, as the time for opening tenders for the supply of hemp cables and cordage for the Ferrol Arsenal. Purchase of Ammunition. The "Gaceta de Madrid" of the 31st March contains a Royal Order authorising the Minister of Marine to acquire, without the formalities of calling for tenders, artillery cartridges and material requisite for submarine defences for the service of the navy under the extraordinary credit granted by the law of the 14th idem. The same "Gaceta" contains a Royal Order authorising the Minister of Agriculture to acquire, without the formalities of calling for tenders, the supply of insecticides and other articles necessary for Insecticides. combating the locust plague. Water Supply Connecting Works. The same "Gaceta" contains a Royal Order approving the plan for a dam and aqueduct to draw water from the River Guadalix and carry it to the Isabel II. Canal, for the supply of water to Madrid, at an estimated cost of 648,862 pesetas (or about 18,5391.); also the execution of the works by private contract. The same "Gaceta " contains a notice calling for tenders, which will be opened at 11 a.m. on 11th May, in the Directorate of the Central Establishment for administration of military services, at the "Doks" Barracks, Madrid, for the supply of 4,000 complete iron frames for the barrack bedstead "Areba" model, at the upset price of 25 pesetas (or about 14s. 3d.) each frame. A provisional deposit of 5 per cent. of the amount of the contract at the upset price is required to qualify any tender. Iron Bedstead Frames. The "Gacetas" containing the above notices may be seen on application at the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade, 50, Parliament Street, S.W., any day between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.). A despatch has Premium for Institution of a New Industry at Catania. Openings for British Trade. ITALY. been received at the Foreign Office, from H.M. Consul at Palermo, reporting that in order to encourage local industrial enterprise, the Municipality of Catania has decided to award a premium of 2,000l. to any new Industry which is established at Catania and employing not less than 100 workmen, or individuals, daily. Such an industry which increases its employed shall receive 1,0007. for each batch of 50 individuals so employed in excess of the first 100. The premiums are payable at the end of the year, and in five equal instalments. The Municipality reserves the right by ordinary or extraordinary visits to satisfy itself as to the bona fides of the claims put forth. Any decrease in the numbers of the employed after the first year, or later, shall cause the forfeiture of the premiums due. The Municipality of Catania is further considering the return to Exporters of 60 per cent. of any Municipal Octroi rates which may have been paid on goods re-exported; and also proposes other advantages for materials imported for manufacturing purposes. Application for further and full particulars should be addressed to the Municipality of Catania direct. A recent issue of the United States Advance Sheets of Consular Foreign Firms allowed to Reports states that the Italian Navy Department has just given notice that in future foreign firms will be allowed to compete in all contracts for armour plates and naval supplies, as the Tariff affords the home industry the necessary protection. Compete in Italy. PERU. Adverting to the announcement which appeared in the "Board of Trade Journal" of 3rd March, p. 396, respecting Railway a call for tenders by the Peruvian Government, Construction and for the construction and working of the proWorking. jected railway between Lima and Pisco, the Board of Trade have received, through the Foreign Office, copy of a telegram from H.M. Minister at Lima notifying that the limit of time up to which tenders will be accepted has been extended to 14th July. Railway Construction. Referring to the announcement on pp. 396-7 of the "Board of Trade Journal" of the 3rd March, it may be of interest to note that "El Peruano" (the "Diario Oficial" of Peru) of 14th January, contains a report of the "Comision de Obras Publicas" on the railways alluded to in the said announcement. This report expresses the opinion Openings for British Trade. PERU-continued. that the plan of the Executive Government should be adopted, with the modifications introduced in it by the "Comision Principal de Hacienda," together with the following: 1. To give full power to the Executive to determine, after technical studies have been made, the route by which the railway from La Oroya, or Cerro de Pasco, should take to a navigable point in the East, taking as a terminus the source of the Pachitea. 2. To give similar power to the Government to finish the important work of uniting the capital with the eastern regions of the country, executing the contracts that may be necessary for this purpose, taking into account the greatest advantages which these may severally offer to the Republic. 3. To leave (with reference to the minority report below) as a limit of the subvention with which the Government should contribute to help the constructing companies the following figure: 35 per cent. for the railway to the river region; 15 per cent. for that from Sicuani to El Cuzco, and 20 per cent. for that from La Oroya to Huancayo, upon the amounts of the respective estimates. A minority report is also given which proposes: 1. From the present year to vote, as an annual grant, 160,000Z. to be applied as follows year by year, (a) To guarantee 6 per cent. interest on the capital of the undertaking which may construct a railway between a point on the line from La Oroya to El Cerro de Pasco and a port of the river Pachitea. (b) To the construction of highways of a gradient suitable for automobiles applying 3,000l. annually for each department. 2. The vote for railways and roads, &c., to be included automatically in the ordinary budget. 3. The Executive Power to be authorised to organise a corps of engineers and other specialists, charged with the studies and drawing plans, as well as with the inspection and supervision of everything relative to the service of railways, rates, &c. 4. Prior to the execution of the works, studies should be made and the plans and estimates approved, as well as the bases of the construction contract fixed. BRAZIL. The "Diario Official" of Brazil of 2nd March contains a copy of the instruction approved by the Ministry of Industry, Transport and Public Works for the study and construction of works against the effects of drought in the State of Rio Grande do Norte. Irrigation The "Diario" containing the above notice may be seen by those interested on application at the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade, 50, Parliament Street, S.W., any day between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.). |