Italy 



261 



It will be seen that competition has given the capital lower 

 rates than prevail in the chief provincial towns ; also that the 

 endeavours of the concessionaries to adapt themselves to local 

 circumstances have brought about a nearly regularly descending 

 scale of subscriptions in sympathy with the population, until, in 

 the small towns, the point reached is almost Norwegian or Dutch - 

 like in its moderation. 



2. Public telephone stations. These are not numerous in 

 Italy, the Government tax of 2/. per annum for each station 

 deterring the concessionaries from opening any that are not quite 

 certain to pay. In Rome there are eight ; in Milan two ; in 



