132 Telephone Systems of the Continent of Europe 



apparatus, and afterwards contributes a modest annual amount to 

 cover the cost of working and maintenance. In the capital, 

 Helsingfors, where, with a population of 64,641, there are, in 

 March 1895, 2 > I 5 subscribers, and also in Abo (population 

 31,671, subscribers 575) and Wiborg (subscribers 670), there is 

 competition between co-operative societies and companies which 

 work on an inclusive annual subscription. Free intercommuni- 

 cation is, however, allowed between the subscribers to the rival 

 systems. The rates in force in these towns are as follow : 



The co-operative rates in the last two towns may be taken as 

 typical of those prevailing in the remaining thirty-two exchanges 

 of Finland, the most northern of which is Uleaborg. 



It will be seen that the telephones in Helsingfors number 3*3 

 per 100 inhabitants, a proportion which gives it a prominent place 

 amongst the best-telephoned cities of the world. There is no 

 telephoning of telegrams, as the Russian Posts and Telegraphs 

 Department cannot be induced to concur in the necessary linking 

 up with the various companies. The telephonogram service is 

 also wanting. Helsingfors and Wiborg exchanges are always 

 open, and several others can be used at night on payment of a fee 

 to the attendant. 



Enterprise is not confined to local exchanges, for a company, 

 bearing a name which means, being translated, the Southern 

 Finland Interurban Telephone Company, acting under a Govern- 

 ment concession, has connected by metallic circuit trunk lines all 

 the coast towns from Wiborg to Abo, nine in number, and spread 

 over a distance of 400 kilometers, the actual length of the circuits 



