and brackets and overhead conductors, at about £2,632 ($12,804) per mile. They further estimate the cost of 20 motor cars at £500 ($2,432) each, and of alterations to depot at £4,000 ($19,460). This does not include cost of alterations required at the generating station or cost of feeders for conveying the current to the trolley line. It is probable the change to electricity will be commenced next spring.

AGRICULTURE.

The total acreage of wheat in Great Britain in the year 1898, as compared with 1897, is as follows:

The acreage of this county (Hants) was 67,079, against 64,735 in 1897. The average price of wheat per quarter (480 pounds) during 1897-98 was 36s. 4d. ($8.84), against 28s. 5d. ($6.90) in 1896-97. In August this year, the average price of wheat per quarter was 33s. 1d. ($8.04), against 30s. 3d. ($7.36) last August. The average yield of wheat per acre in the last ten years has been 29.5 bushels per acre, and this year's yield is slightly in excess of the average. This county stood eighth in England this year in acreage of wheat. The acreages of barley for the years 1897 and 1898 were:

The acreage of barley in this county for the year 1898 was 37,019 against 33,370 in 1897. The average price of barley per quarter (400) pounds) during 1897-98 was 26s. 11d. ($6.54), against 23s. 2d. ($5.62) in 1896-97. During August this year, the average price per quarter was 26s. 6d. ($6.44), against 19s. 4d. ($4.70) in August last year. The average yield of barley in the past ten years was 32.8 bushels per acre, and this year's yield slightly exceeds that. This county stood fourteenth this year in acreage of barley.

In the years named, oats had the following acreage:

The acreage of oats in this county was 72,634 against 72,052 in 1897. The average price per quarter (312 pounds) in 1897-98 was 18s. 4d. ($4.56), against 16s. 9d. ($4.06) in 1896-97. In August this year, the average price per quarter was 18s. 4d. ($4.56), against 16s. ($3.88) in August, 1897. The average yield of oats in the past ten years has been 38.1 bushels per acre, and this year's yield is slightly in excess of the average. The acreage of oats in Hants this year was 72,634 against 72,052 in 1897, this county standing sixth in acreage.

The acreage of hops in this county this year was 2,263, producing 11,256 hundredweight, an average of 4.97 hundredweight per acre. Last year, there was an acreage of 2,306 acres, producing 22,414 hundredweight, or an average of 9.72 hundredweight per acre.

The following is the home production and the imports of grain into Great Britain for 1897-98, as compared with 1896-97. A quarter of wheat (480 pounds) equals a quarter of flour (360 pounds).

An agent here has undertaken the introduction of kafir corn, which comes from Oklahoma. It competes with that grown in Smyrna, the latter commanding a slightly better price, owing to the American grain being broken in the thrashing, which does not occur with the Smyrna product. On the other hand, the Smyrna grain is sometimes weevily and the American grain is not. Another difficulty this merchant complains of in the handling of grain is the uncertain advance in freight rates on western roads, which, with close sales here, makes it too risky to make large contracts for future delivery.

There has been shipped from Poole, a few miles from here, as an experiment, 215 tons of Norden blue clay. The shipment is to the potteries of Ed. M. Pearson, at Trenton, N. J. It is known as Purbeck clay, from the Isle of Purbeck. It is taken from the pits and exposed to the air for from two to three years.

The quarantine rules here do not detain ships over a few hours. In the case of a troopship from India, in September, there were five cases of smallpox on board. They were removed to the hospital, the infected part of the ship fumigated, and the vessel came into port. The five cases recovered, and there was no spread of the disease. This policy would be followed with even more contagious diseases, the greatest care being exercised in disinfection, but the detention being only long enough to purify the vessel. In case of a vessel having widespread epidemic on board, there would be detention until the danger was over.

Goods imported here must be marked to show the country where made. American wares for sale are well put up, as are also those from Germany.

There are no laws or rules at this port which discriminate against American vessels.

Mails leaving New York on American liners Wednesdays reach here the following Wednesday, and are in London inside of two hours. Mails for Southampton, via Queenstown or Liverpool, sailing Saturdays from New York, reach here Mondays.

JOHN E. HOPLEY, Consul.

SOUTHAMPTON, October 31, 1898.

SWANSEA.1

The commerce of Swansea during 1897 shows a large increase when compared with even the best previous records, and the improvement is greater than that of almost any other port in the United Kingdom. In practically every article of import and export, there has been an increase of a very substantial nature. The imports in the aggregate disclose an increase of 82,952 tons, or 11.6 per cent, and the exports 287,865 tons, or 12.3 per cent.

The total imports and exports to and from the port during 1896 and 1897 are as follows:

The quantity of goods imported to Swansea is increasing year after year. The imports during 1897 were: Foreign, 487,875 tons; coastwise, 310,095 tons; total, 797,970 tons. The imports during 1896 were: Foreign, 438,659 tons; coastwise, 276,359 tons; total, 715,018 tons, showing an increase during 1897 of 82,952 tons.

There is an increase in copper and copper ore of 26,355 tons, or 18.5 per cent, and in scrap and pig iron of 36,800 tons, or 43.2 per cent. The importation of grain also shows an increase of 4,582 tons.

The following is a list of the declared imports from the United States to Swansea during 1896 and 1897:

Appended is a report of various articles imported here from all

Agricultural and vegetable produce for food..

Agricultural, vegetable, and animal produce for manufacture.
Miscellaneous...

Increase during 1897, 82,952 tons.

1 In reply to circular or August 5, 1898.

The following is a list showing the various countries exporting the aforementioned articles to this port during 1897, in tons of 2,240 pounds:

Agricultural produce for food—

Greece

Russia, south.

22, 456

The exports from Swansea during 1897 show a large increase over those of the previous year. In coal, there is an increase of over 204,000 tons, and the shipments to San Francisco of anthracite coal show an increase of 21,000 tons.

The export of tin plates and black plates has also increased about 20,000 tons, or 9.3 per cent. To Russia, the shipments of tin plates during last year increased 14,690 tons, or 46 per cent. There is also