The postal statistics of the empire are as follows (Bavaria and "Wurtemberg retaining their 

 own postal administration) : 



The extension of electric telegraphs is shown 

 by the following table (in kilometres j 1 kilo- 

 metre = 0.02 mile): 



The fourth and last session of the first Ger- 

 man Reichstag was opened by the Emperor in 

 person on March 12th. The speech from the 

 throne enumerated the subjects which would 

 engage its attention. The Emperor again cx- 

 preWed his confidence in the peaceful develop- 

 ment of France, and announced that in con- 

 eaaence of the earlier payment of the war 

 indemnity her territory was likely to be evac- 

 uated before the stipulated time. The contin- 

 uance of the ainii'.'iiili- relation! with tin- Em- 

 peror* of Austria and Rnsnin was represented 

 to be a guarantee of the continued peace of 

 Europe. The Reichitag reflected by acclama- 

 tion I)r. Simson as President, and Prince 

 Hohenlohe and Hcrr von Bennigocn M Vice- 

 President*. In accordance with the proposi- 

 tion of the Federal Council, the law on the 



imperial mail was so amended as to reduce con- 

 siderably the postage on money-letters. Two 

 new postal treaties had been concluded with 

 Italy and Sweden, which the Reichstag rcadily 

 ratificd. They extend the uniform postage of 

 2J Silbergroschen (= 6 cento) now prevailing 

 for all letters to any place within the German 

 Empire to the postal intercourse with these 

 two countries. How largely the former rates 

 are reduced by these treaties may be seen from 

 the fact that only a short time ago the postage 

 on a letter to Naples was 18 Silbergroschen 

 (= 81 cents). The provision of postal cards 

 and money orders has been included in the 

 trviity with Italy. Communications from the 

 imperial Postmaster - General Stephan an- 

 nounced it as probable that similar treaties, 

 accepting the uniform postage of 2J Sillirr- 

 groschen, would be concluded with Spain, Por- 

 tugal, France, and Greece. It was even BM-I r- 

 tained that preparations had already IM, n 

 made by the Postmaster-General, whom tin- 

 ans frequently call "our post-Moltke." 

 for an international congress to deliberate on 

 the introduction of an "international" or 

 "world's postnpe." 

 Of equal importance for the commerce of 



