The Berlin correspondent of the Times gives in Tuesday's issue
some interesting figures as to the increase of German trade and prosperity since the war,—figures drawn from the annual reports of the Chambers of Commerce. In 1871, the number of post-offices in Germany did not exceed 7,185, while- in 1889 it reached 235,000. The telegraph-offices also, which in 1871 numbered but 3,801, had increased to 16,069 by the end of the following decade. In the railroads, the advance made is fully as noteworthy, the length of the lines open for -traffic increasing from 21,471 kilometres in 1871, to 42,000 kilometres in 1889. In shipping, the progress made has been even more astonishing. The number of voyages made by German vessels in 1873 was 34,996, carrying cargo amounting in the aggregate to 6,951,000 registered tons, while in 1889 there were 55,934 voyages, and a total of 21.398,522 tons of cargo. Germany now stands next to England in the matter of mercantile marine. We have some 22,000 sea-going vessels, against her 3,811. The figures given as to the increased produce of raw material in Germany are equally striking, but Germany cannot grow rich and prosperous -without benefiting countries which, like us, are willing to trade with her without impediment.
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