B254
SIAM
11th, 1932 and the currency was linked to Sterling. A triennial poll-tax used to beimposed upon Chinese, but this has now been changed to an annual capitation-tax paid by all under Siamese jurisdiction. In 1933 income and business taxes were introduced. Siam entered the Universal Postal Union on the 1st July, 1885.
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The first railway line, from Bangkok to Paknam, was opened by the King on the 11th April, 1893. Another railway, a Government line vid Ayuthia to Korat, was the first important line completed. The first section, from Bangkok to Ayuthia, a distance of about 50 miles, was opened on the 26th March, 1897. Another section, to Gengkoi, was opened on November 1st, 1897, a third, to Hinlap, on April 1st, 1898, and the whole line was opened to traffic in November, 1900. The construction of a line branching off the Korat line near Ayuthia and intended to open up the country to Chiengmai was commenced in June, 1898, and the first section (42 kilometres) to Lopburi was opened to traffic on 1st April, 1901. The next section, Lopburi-Paknampo (118 km.), was opened to traffic in November, 1905, the section to Pitsanulok in 1907, and the last section to Chiengmai on January 1st, 1922. The line running south-west to Petchaburi, via Ratburi, 152 km. long, was opened to traffic in the early part of 1903. In 1909 the construction of this Southern line was continued from Petchaburi, and has now been completed to the Kedah frontier at Padang Besar and to the Kelantan frontier at Sungei Golok. A through rail service between Bangkok and Penang was opened on July 1st, 1918, and the journey only takes 26 hours. The Eastern line from Bangkok to Petriew was completed in 1908.
It has now been continued to Aranya Prades near the Cambodian frontier. The Korat line is being continued to Ubon. A further section of the North line, to Ban Dara, was opened in November, 1908, and a section to Utaradit and Pang Ton Phung, with a branch line to Sawankalok, at the end of 1909. By November, 1913, the line was open to traffic as far as Pak Tha, and the survey of the route to Chiengmai had made good progress. The war delayed the completion of the Northern line, but through traffic was opened to Chiengmai towards the end of 1921. The total length of State railways open to traffic on March 31st, 1935, was 3,100 kms. A line from Kon Kaen to Udorn is at present under construction. The private railway companies comprise the Meklong and Phrabad Companies. A fleet of steam and motor launches runs from the metropolis in all directions up-country. The railway from Bangkok to Paknam has recently been purchased by the State:
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The total value of all imports and exports for the years 1933-37 inclusive are as follows:
Exports
Imports
1933-34 1934-35'
Ticals
{
1935-36
1936-37
92,963,381
101,726,721
Ticals
144,079,014
172,594,870
""
108,754,047
110,081,655
158,218,323 184,886,676
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PRINCIPAL EXPORTS:..
1933-34'
1934-35
1935-36
1936-37
Rice
(Ticals)
82,967,330
98,437,397
90,835,622
96,717,972
Tin
24,542,635,
26,346,610
23,375,205
29,809,389
Teak
4,274,479
4,588,808
75,052,217
8,406,755
Rubber,
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9,305,834
13,218,945
23,465,400
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The Army is small, but in recent years great progress has been achieved in military matters. The land forces of the Kingdom are divided into 21 battalions of infantry, 12 squadrons of Cavalry, 9 groups of artillery, 2 battalions of Engineers and 2 the Allied Powers Siam sent a contingent of volunteers, consisting of aviators and motor transport troops, to France in June, 1918. A form of conscription is in force throughout the country. The Royal Military College, in Bangkok has been one of the principal factors in the improvements effected in the Army. The Navy is small, but additions are constantly being made to its strength from time to time.
batof Signallers. At the invitation of
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The last census was taken on May 23, 1937, when the total population of Siam was found to be 14,464,489, as compared with 11,506,207 in 1929, when the previous census was taken. Detailed particulars of the subdivision by race of the population are not yet available.
On June 24, 1932 a successful coup d'état took place in Bangkok, the result of which was the acceptance by the King of a form of constitutional government.
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