From Seriphies and Thermia 208,300 tons of iron ore were exported in 1903. At Zea there are lead mines, little worked; from Milo in 1903 the mineral exports consisted of manganese (4,310 tons), sulphur, gypsum, potters' earth, and millstones. Lignite is found in many parts of Greece and in the islands; other minerals worked are copper, silicate of magnesia, barytes, salt, kaoline, emery, gypsum, and marble. In 1903, 5,813 tons of emery were exported from Syra where the International Control has a depôt for Naxos emery. Marble from various quarries in Greece and the islands was extracted to the amount of 5,104,350 cubic mètres in 1903. Santorine earth (volcanic cement), lava, and pumice are exported from Santorini. Magnesite ore is worked in Euboea, about 27,500 tons being exported annually. Chrome ore was exported from Volo in 1903 to the amount of 7,900 tons. Commerce. The value of the commerce for Greece in the last 5 years was as follows (in gold drachmai): Imports 93,802,812 102,738,871 Drachmai Drachmai Drachmai Drachmai Drachmai 93,993,818 The special commerce for 1901 and 1902 was as follows with the leading countries (25 drachmai = 17.) : The following table shows (provisionally) the principal special imports and exports and their values in 1903 : The The customs revenue amounted in 1903 to 34,377,222 drachmai. revenue from excise in 1902 was 10,571,245 paper drachmai; from the State monopolies, 13,971, 191. Duties (nearly all specific) are levied on most imports, the exceptions being specified raw materials, machinery, scientific instruments, and printed books. The duties on ironwork range from 8s. to 648. per cwt., but on cutlery up to 132. On cotton and linen yarns they are from 168. to 488.; on woollen yarns 64s. to 172s. 10d. per cent., but raw wool is free. On cotton tissues they range from 6s. 5d. to 1928. per cwt.; on woollen, from 32s. to 3848. per cwt.; but on cotton or woollen made up clothing are as high as 480s. per cwt. On many articles the duties were increased in 1903. The commercial treaty of 1886 provides for "the most favoured nation" treatment between the United Kingdom and Greece. The countries of origin are those from which the goods are imported into Greece, and the countries of destination are those to which the goods are ultimately exported. The values are determined by a special commission appointed by the Ministry of Finance, and represent the official values according to a scale drawn up in 1889. The value of the imports into the United Kingdom from Greece, and of the domestic exports from the United Kingdom to Greece in each of the last five years, according to the Board of Trade returns, was : Imports into U. K. from Greece. Exports of British produce to Greece. 1,155,915 1,054,851 1,679, 138 1,716,317 1,649,116 The staple article of import from Greece into the United Kingdom is currants the value of which amounted in 1901, to 1,025,9137. ; in 1902 to 1,170,4987. ; in 1903, to 953,8301. Other articles of import in 1903 were :-iron ore (including chrome), 258,8887. ; raisins, 59,2937. ; sponges, 64,3967.; valonia, 22,1107.; olive oil, 3,8531. Of the exports from the United Kingdom to Greece in 1903, cotton goods and yarns were valued at 502,2547.; woollens and worsteds, 109,7587.; coal, 299, 4237.; iron, 49,2137.; machinery, 55,4187. Navigation and Shipping. The merchant navy of Greece on January 1, 1904, had, of sea-going vessels, 1,035 sailing vessels of 145,118 tons, and 206 steamers of 198,681 tons; total, 1,075 vessels of 320,620 tons. In 1903, 6,931 vessels of 4,705,392 From Seriphes and Thermia 208,300 tons of iron ore were exported in 1903. At Zea there are lead mines, little worked; from Milo in 1903 the mineral exports consisted of manganese (4,310 tons), sulphur, gypsum, potters' earth, and millstones. Lignite is found in many parts of Greece and in the islands; other minerals worked are copper, silicate of magnesia, barytes, salt, kaoline, emery, gypsum, and marble. In 1903, 5,813 tons of emery were exported from Syra where the International Control has a depôt for Naxos emery. Marble from various quarries in Greece and the islands was extracted to the amount of 5,104,350 cubic mètres in 1903. Santorine earth (volcanic cement), lava, and pumice are exported from Santorini. Magnesite ore is worked in Euboea, about 27,500 tons being exported annually. Chrome ore was exported from Volo in 1903 to the amount of 7,900 tons. Commerce. The value of the commerce for Greece in the last 5 years was as follows (in gold drachmai):— Imports 1899 1901 1902 1903 1900 The special commerce for 1901 and 1902 was as follows with the leading countries (25 drachmai = 17.): The following table shows (provisionally) the principal special imports and exports and their values in 1903 : The The customs revenue amounted in 1903 to 34,377,222 drachmai. revenue from excise in 1902 was 10,571,245 paper drachmai; from the State monopolies, 13,971,191. Duties (nearly all specific) are levied on most imports, the exceptions being specified raw materials, machinery, scientific instruments, and printed books. The duties on ironwork range from Ss. to 648. per cwt., but on cutlery up to 1328. On cotton and linen yarns they are from 16s. to 488.; on woollen yarns 64s. to 172s. 10d. per cent., but raw wool is free. On cotton tissues they range from 6s. 5d. to 1928. per cwt.; on woollen, from 32s. to 3848. per cwt.; but on cotton or woollen made up clothing are as high as 480s. per cwt. On many articles the duties were increased in 1903. The commercial treaty of 1886 provides for "the most favoured nation" treatment between the United Kingdom and Greece. The countries of origin are those from which the goods are imported into Greece, and the countries of destination are those to which the goods are ultimately exported. The values are determined by a special commission appointed by the Ministry of Finance, and represent the official values according to a scale drawn up in 1889. The value of the imports into the United Kingdom from Greece, and of the domestic exports from the United Kingdom to Greece in each of the last five years, according to the Board of Trade returns, was: Imports into U. K. from Greece. 1,460,855 2,227,212 1,465,985 1,649,648 1,431,889 Exports of British produce to Greece. 1,155,915 1,054,851 1,679,138 1,716,317 1,649,116 The staple article of import from Greece into the United Kingdom is currants the value of which amounted in 1901, to 1,025,9137. ; in 1902 to 1,170,4987. ; in 1903, to 953,8307. Other articles of import in 1903 were:-iron ore (including chrome), 258,8887. ; raisins, 59,2937.; sponges, 64,3967.; valonia, 22,1107.; olive oil, 3,8531. Of the exports from the United Kingdom to Greece in 1903, cotton goods and yarns were valued at 502,2547.; woollens and worsteds, 109,7587.; coal, 299,4237.; iron, 49,2137.; machinery, 55,4187. Navigation and Shipping. The merchant navy of Greece on January 1, 1904, had, of sea-going vessels, 1,035 sailing vessels of 145,118 tons, and 206 steamers of 198,681 tons; total, 1,075 vessels of 320,620 tons. In 1903, 6,931 vessels of 4,705,392 tons entered, and 6,979 of 3,850,103 tons cleared at the ports of Greece. About half the trade is through the port of Piræus. A considerable amount of the carrying trade of the Black Sea and the Eastern ports of the Mediterranean is under the Greek flag. Internal Communications. Recently the internal communication by roads has greatly improved; there are now about 2,870 miles of roads. In October, 1893, the canal across the Isthmus of Corinth (about 4 miles) was opened for traffic. Railways were open for traffic in 1903 for a length of 700 miles. A railway, now under construction, is to run from Piræus to Demerly in Thessaly, and eventually to the Turkish frontier. It is open to Thebes and (by branch line) to Chalcis. Railway receipts in 1903, 10,802,700 drachmai. The telegraph lines in 1902 had a length of 3,830 miles, with 5,590 miles of wire. The number of offices was 243. They despatched 1,041,812 inland telegrams and 119,124 international; total, 1,161,736 in 1902. Receipts, 2,012,124 drachmai. In 1902 there were 94 miles of telephone line with 754 miles of wire, belonging to 3 urban systems, and 13 inter-urban circuits ; 365 telephone stations. Of post offices there existed 523 at the end of 1903, and there passed through the post in that year in the internal service, 7,671,360 letters and post-cards, and 7,045,081 printed papers and samples; in the international service, 3,296,896 letters and post-cards, and 3,044,000 printed papers and samples. The receipts were 2,533, 478 drachmai. MONEY AND CREDIT. The nominal value of the Greek coinage (minted in Paris) put in circulation since 1866 has been: gold, in 1876, 1,000,000 drachmai; in 1884, 11,000,000 drachmai; total gold, 12,000,000 drachmai; silver, up to 1883, 26,262,865 drachmai; bronze, up to 1883, 6,816,065 drachmai; nickel, 1893-95, 2,999,000 drachmai. Since 1884 there has been no issue of coin except the nickel money. In accordance with the Convention of the Latin Union, 1885, the Greek Government may issue fractional silver to the nominal value of 15,000,000 francs. In fact, gold and silver money have disappeared, and their place has been taken by a forced paper currency. The National (with which is now united the Epiro-Thessalian) and the Ionian Banks are authorised to issue notes for forced currency to the amount of 88,000,000 drachmai, including 14,000,000 drachmai in notes under 5 drachmai. This privilege has been extended to December 31, 1930. The situation of the National Bank of Greece on August 31, 1904, was as follows: The gold and silver on hand amounted to 1 per cent. of the notes in circulation. On December 31, 1903, the Savings Bank deposits in the National Bank and the Bank of Athens amounted to 4,845,660 drachmai. |