INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS

885

belonging to each of the State systems, and the length of private line, were as follows on March 31, 1912 :—

Railway system

Prussian-Hessian

Bavarian

Saxony

Wurtemburg

Baden

Mecklenburg

Oldenburg .

Royal Military

Alsace-Lorraine

Total Private

Grand Total

37,378

1,369

Total

Miles

23,771

5,183

2,058

1,293

1,097

681

404

43

1,301

35,831 2,916

38,747

II. Canals and Navigations.

Length navigable for vessels of draught

Nature of Waterway

Over 16ft. 4-8in.

miles

13ft. l-4in

to 16ft. 4-8in.

miles

9ft. lOin.

to 13ft. 1.4in.

miles

6ft. 6-7in.

to 9ft.l0in.

Under 6ft. 6-7in.

miles

Total

miles

miles

Navigable rivers

220

268

295

1,330

2.876

4,989

Canalised rivers

3

1

116

758

875

Canals

68

2

10

374

861

1,315

Ship canals

through lakes,

&e.

232

520

75

211

309

427 4,922

1,254

Totals

348

517

2,129

8,4361

1 Exclusive of 100 miles of unclassified waterways. " Latest available figures (for 1904).

Up to the end of 1908 there were added 28 miles.

The Kaiser Wilhelm canal, connecting the North Sea and the Baltic, has a length of 61 miles ; breadth at bottom 72 ft., at surface 213 ft. ; depth 29 ft. 6 in. ; cost of construction, 7,800,000^. In the year ending March 31, 1912, 52,817 vessels of 8,478,261 tons net used the canal.

III. Posts and Telegraphs.

The postal and telegraphic services are retained in the hands of their

respective Governments, All parts of the Empire except Bavaria and