Directory_and_Chronicle_1919 — Page 1262

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NETHERLANDS-INDIA

East-coast, for as much as it forms part of the customs' sphere, the Government Atjeh and Dependencies (Island We not included), the Residencies Western-Division and Southern and Eastern Division of Borneo, the Government Celebes and Dependencies, and in the Residencies Menado, Ternate and Dependencies, Amboina, Timor and Dependencies and Baliand Lombok, but not in the islands of the Riouw Residency and the Assistant-Residency S. N. Guinea. The import duty is fixed ad valorem or according to the weight or the dimensions, most of the goods being separately mentioned in the tariff. Most of the metals, machinery, and raw materials, as lime and wood, and articles of art and science are free of import duty. Export duty is only paid on a few articles according to value or quantity. Transit cargo is free.

An excise is charged on inland arrack (only in Java and Madoera), kerosene oil, gas- oline and benzine, on matches of all kinds and on tobacco exported from Java to Borneo.

Commercial intercourse is much advanced by the Steam Navigation Company, "Koninklyke Paketvaart Maatschappij," possessing 86 occan-steamers and 5 motor-boats plying across the whole Archipelago, and 4 wheelboats for the inland trade. The steamers have splendid accommodation for saloon passengers.

PUBLIC WORKS

On the 1st Jan., 1918, there were 2,801 kilometres of railway in Java and 556 kilo- metres in Sumatra; 2,048 kilometres of tramway in Java and Madoera, and 730 kilometres in Sumatra. The gross earnings during the year 1916 were: (in millions of guilders) Government railways 404, Government tramways 1.7, Private railways 8.2, Private tramways 18. The Government telegraph land lines extend over 11,115 kilometres, the Government telegraph cables over 10,083, together 21,198 kilometres. Government telephone systems were in operation on the 1st January, 1918, in the districts of Batavia, Semarang, Soerabaja, Buitenzorg, Sockaboemi, Tjiandjoer, Bandoeng, Garoet, Tasikmalaja, Djokjakarta, Soerakarta, Madioen, Djombang, Modjokerto, Pasoeroean, Probolinggo, Djambi, Palembang, Benkoelen, Pontianak, Perwakarta, Krawang, Bandjermasin, Tjilatjap, Serang, Rangkasbetoeng, Pandeglang, Menado, Gorontalo, Singaradja, Den Pasar, Ampenan, Kraksaan, Soemenep, Sitoebondo, Telok betong, Malang. Lomadjang, Bangil, Bandjar, Kertosono, Pamekasan, Amboina, Kediri, Blitar, Kendal, Magelang, Rembang, Bondowoso, Sidoardjo, Blora, Djember, Salatiga, Tjepoe, Koedoes, Pati and Bodjonegoro. The Government telephone service extends over 5,553 kilometres. The balance of revenue and expenditure of the Post and Telegraph services showed a loss of £.3,417,968.03; of the Government telephones it showed a profit of f.470,262,46. The number of Post and Telegraph stations was 603 for Java and Madoern and 370 for the other islands. The number of Government telephone exchanges was 173, and that of the subscribers 17,028, with 21,771 telephones.

PRINCIPAL HARBOURS

Island of Java

In

Batavia (Tandjong Priok)-The old harbour of Batavia, which is situated at the mouth of the Tji Liwoeng, can only be used by prahus and small coasting vessels. the years 1877-1883 new harbour works were constructed at Tandjoeng Priok, some miles east of the old harbour. Those works consist of an outer harbour comprising a water area of about 140 hectares, formed by two moles of dumped stone built out into the sea and having a length of 1,700 metres. A channel with a depth of 9 metres at low water runs through the outer harbour in the direction of the inner harbour. The inner harbour is 1,100 metres long and 185 metres broad. Along the western side of the harbour basin, there is a quay 1,000 metres in length, upon which have been built 7 large storage godowns. On the eastern side are screw pile jetties. These serve for loading salt, tin and coal. On the available land adjoining these jetties, stand salt and tin warehouses as well as 12 coal sheds. To the west of the inner harbour is the railway terminus; here is another small harbour basin, which originally served as a coaling harbour. A short time after the completion of the harbour a large part of this basin and the land adjoining it was apportioned to the Tandjoeng Priok Drydock Company, which opened repairing yards and a 4,000 tons floating drydock there. A canal provides a connection so far as lighter traffic is concerned between the harbour and town of Batavia. Altogether a sum of about Fis. 21,000,000 has been devoted to the constructions of the Tandjeong Priok harbour, apart from the cost of the railway connections with Batavia. Since the original completion of the work various additional improvements have been effected. The salt

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