greatest deference, nor are their duties confined to the schoolroom; they exercise a supervision over the selection of books for home reading, and during the summer vacations they accompany the children on excursions, giving them lessons from nature.

Foreign Capital in Baku.-Consul Smith, of Moscow, under date of April 29, 1898, says:

The latest reports from Baku show that foreign capital has entirely taken possession of that district. Foreigners are to be seen everywhere, so much so that Baku will soon be transformed into an English town. The investments are considered good, and, if no objections are raised, no one will be surprised if in the near future the whole naphtha trade gets into the hands of the English.

Bids for Belgian Electric Railway.-Consul Morris sends the following, dated Ghent, May 21, 1898:

Plans and specifications for the overhead electric railway line between Mons and Bossu, in Belgium, have been published by the Minister of Railways; they also include provisions for a complete electric power house. The estimated cost is $125,450, of which $46,320 is for the rolling stock. There is a clause providing that the builder must operate the line for a fixed sum during two years under the Government's control. All the material necessary for the construction of the road must be manufactured in Belgium. The entire work must be completed within twenty-five weeks after the award, and the line must be opened at the latest in February, 1899. line will have a total length of 6.6797 miles, not including the branch lines.

The

New American-Netherlands Steamship Line.-Under date of May 6, 1898, Consul Listoe, of Rotterdam, says:

This week a new steamship service has been opened between New York, Philadelphia, and Rotterdam. Steamers belonging to the company starting the service have already been plying between the aforesaid American ports and Rotterdam since January last, but it is the intention now to make it a regular fortnightly service. The first departing steamer will be the Norwegian steamship Lovstakken, from New York on May 10, followed by the steamship Blaamaanden on May 25. For the Philadelphia service three steamers-the Queenswood, Cresyl, and Avona-will be used. The line will carry freight only.

Swedish Duties on Superphosphates and Velocipedes.Minister Thomas writes from Stockholm, May 4, 1898:

The Riksdag to-day, in joint session of both houses, voted, 187 to 174, to place a duty of 25 öre (6.7 cents) for 100 kilograms on superposhphate imported into Sweden. Superphosphate has heretofore been free of duty. The Riksdag also voted, 210 to 147, to place a duty of 25 crowns ($6.70) each on velocipedes imported into Sweden, and on parts of velocipedes a duty of 2 crowns (53.6 cents) per kilogram. The duty has heretofore been 15 per cent ad valorem.

Bills of Exchange on Danish Banks.-Under date of May 11, 1898, Mr. Blom, vice and deputy consul at Copenhagen, writes:

I have noticed that American bankers' checks contain the words "exchange for" or "first of exchange," and they are on that account subject to the Danish stamp tax of 20 øre (5.36 cents), irrespective of the amount of the check. The checks are mostly for small amounts, but aggregate a very large sum, and, as checks are not subject to the Danish stamp tax, American bankers will do well to eliminate the word "exchange," as the Danish public objects to paying the stamp tax on all bills of exchange (checks) received from the United States.

Exposition of Horticulture at Ghent.-Under date of May 12, 1898, Consul Morris, of Ghent, writes that the fourteenth quinquennial international exposition of horticulture was held in that city from April 16 to 24, inclusive, under the auspices and management of the Royal Society of Agriculture and Botany. The exposition was highly successful, the jury of awards comprising more than two hundred foreign horticulturists and botanists. The full text of Mr. Morris's report has been transmitted to the Department of Agriculture.

Demand for Fire Engines in France.-Consul Jackson, of Cognac, under date of May 23, 1898, writes:

I have to report that several cities in this consular district, which at present have no effective fire department, anticipate purchasing steam fire engines. Cognac already has a fund for this purpose. American manufacturers should address M. E. Jouard, No. 1 rue Louise de Savoie, Cognac, Charente, France.

Horse Meat in Europe (Correction).-The Department is in receipt of a letter from a member of Congress calling attention to an error in CONSULAR REPORTS No. 212 (May, 1898), page 108, in a report entitled "Horse meat in Europe," by Consul-General DuBois, of St. Gall. The statement was quoted from a Swiss newspaper that an American horse-meat company had been organized in Kearny, New York. The name of the town referred to should be Kearney, New Jersey.

Consular Reports Transmitted to Other Departments.-The following reports from consular officers (originals or copies) have been transmitted since the date of the last report to other Departments for publication or for other action thereon:

Consular officer reporting.

Date.

Subject.

Department to which referred.

H. C. Morris, Ghent........... May 12, 1898 Exposition of horticulture Department of Agriculture.

FOREIGN REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS.

Trade Conditions in Peru.—In the December editions of the Moniteur Officiel du Commerce, Paris, appears a series of letters. from Lima, describing commercial conditions in Peru. Credits, says the correspondent, are from sixty to ninety days. He gives the following details of trade in articles of import:

Groceries, an important line of commerce, comprise the most varied productions, such as spices, provisions, preserved foods, wines, liquors, candles, wrapping paper, etc. Household utensils, crockery, glass, etc., are sold in the same establishments.

There is an important consumption of the so-called Swedish matches, of which there is no manufactory in the country. The greater part of the wax matches comes from Italy. Those made in the country are of an inferior quality. They are kept by grocers. Starch is manufactured locally.

The manufacture of furniture has received a certain impetus, so that the importations have become insignificant, and are limited entirely to the finer grades.

Lighting by hydrogen gas is so universal in Lima and Callao that apparatus for its use is sold everywhere. Petroleum lamps are little used in Lima, but find sale in the interior towns, which are deprived of gas. Since the introduction of electric light, its use has spread more and more, not only for public but for private illumination. Petroleum lamps and gas apparatus are sold in the hardware shops. Munitions of war and everything accounted as such-rifles, sabers, etc.—are prohibited as articles of import; this limits the trade in arms to revolvers, fowling pieces, fencing arms, side arms, knives, daggers, etc. The machete, the use of which is so general in the countries of Spanish America, is sold in hardware shops. Formerly there was a considerable importation of candles, mostly from Belgium. Whether the recent installation of the manufactory of Guadaloupe has had any influence on this import is not yet known; this establishment prepares its own stearin.

Ceramic pavements are not in general use, as they should be in a country where marble flagstones are so abundant. The sidewalks of the best streets are of squares of compressed cement. For the streets themselves, various things have been tried; in Lima little, pointed pebble stones, which require frequent repairs, are used. In one street a wooden pavement has recently been laid, excellent for carriages, but very expensive. In a few other streets cut paving stones have been placed, which are very good and more durable than those of wood.

A very large quantity of playing cards, mostly Spanish, is imported.

Silk hats, hard and soft felts with wide borders, are worn in Peru; in summer, imported straw hats (sailor) or the Panama hat of the country.

Almost all the coal consumed in Peru comes from abroad, the mines of the country being but little worked. At Lima, the consumption is large, contrary to the general custom in Spanish America. Railways and manufactories also employ coal.

Although there are several factories of boots and shoes at Lima, and the articles

are good and not too dear, yet a certain quantity of fine shoes, principally for ladies, are imported.

The consumption of cement is increasing; it is found in the hardware shops. Parisian fashions are followed here. Women dress with elegance. Black is much worn. For church toilet, ladies sometimes wear the Spanish mantilla, but oftener the "manta," which is an indispensable part of the morning dress. The manta is the national feminine garment of all classes of society; it is a large, black shawl, light, of wool or of crêpe de chine, plain or embroidered, which is folded diagonally and worn on the head, fastened around the neck by pins.

There are several shops at Lima for men's clothing. Stuffs for summer wear are most in demand; there are days, however, when warmer garments are necessary.

With the exception of corrugated sheet iron, iron has not yet made its appearance in buildings. In Lima, houses are usually of one story; the floor is of brick (sometimes of stone) and the walls of wood covered with clay. This kind of construction has been adopted as much on account of earthquakes as because of the cost of materials. Upon wooden uprights are nailed large bamboos, and a house in process of construction has the aspect of an immense cage. The bamboos are afterwards plastered with clay and form hollow walls about 6 inches thick. Houses are rarely built in any other manner, and I have seen the steeples of churches so constructed. The houses invariably have flat roofs, composed of planks covered with clayish earth about 4 inches thick. This earth absorbs the water; but when the drizzling rain is more abundant or more persistent than usual, it happens that the water penetrates the roof and causes serious damage in the houses. In some few houses the roof is tiled.

Pitch pine, or a white wood called Oregon pine, is used in building. Both come from the United States. In some highly finished buildings oak and maple from the sierras, woods which are very expensive in Lima, are used. For the wainscoting of fine buildings, the cedar of Nicaragua is preferred. Almost all woods, except the cedar and oak, are attacked by insects. When the advantages of metallic beams and corrugated sheet iron are appreciated, doubtless the system at present followed will be abandoned. The belief is often expressed that the dampness of the climate will quickly destroy iron. This fear is absolutely chimerical, and is contradicted by the perfect preservation of iron bridges, light railings, and other metallic constructions which have been in existence for a long time in Lima. Clay is very abundant in the vicinity of the capital and is of excellent quality. This does not, however, prevent bricks 50 by 100 by 210 millimeters (1.97 by 3.94 by 8.34 inches) from costing 25 soles ($10.60) per thousand. Unbaked bricks or "adobes," which are 75 by 150 by 450 millimeters (2.95 by 5.9 by 17.7 inches) and which cost 30 soles ($12.70) the thousand, are almost exclusively used for building. Lime of good quality costs at the present time 2 soles (84 cents) the cahiz (151 gallons).

Umbrellas are never used. Foreigners who carry them attract universal attention. Parasols, on the other hand, are much in favor.

The "poncho" is the national Peruvian garment for horseback riding. It is a plaid or striped shawl, of vivid colors, about 2 yards long and 1 yards wide, with a slit in the middle for the passage of the head. Formerly it was made of silk and was expensive. To-day the taste for riding has decreased in the town, and those still addicted to this kind of sport have adopted the English costume. The poncho is now used only in the country and by travelers. For long trips it is undoubtedly useful. Many of wool, more or less fine, are manufactured in the country, so that importations do not reach a very high figure.

The manufacture of cigars and of cigarettes has not yet reached a high degree of perfection in Peru. For this reason, although this country could become an