13 CEYLON AND ITS ADMINISTRATION.

power station was commenced in September, 1897, and the
line was formally opened for traffic on January 12, 1899.
The total length of the tramway route is 7 miles, divided
practically equally into two routes, one between the Fort
and Kelani river, and one between the Fort and Borella.
There are two classes for travellers, and the fares are
charged by sections and not by mileage. Each route consists
 of six sections, the first and second class fare for any
distance up to three sections being 10 and 5 rupee-cents
respectively. Beyond this distance and up to six sections,
e., the full distance of any one route, the fare is 20 and 10
rupee-cents respectively. The average rates charged per mile
are therefore approximately 6 and 3 rupee-cents respectively
for first and second class passengers. The total number of
pagsengers carried annually is about 7 millions,
There are in the Island 150 post offices, 85 of which are
combined post and telegraph offices, besides 162 village
receiving offices and 23 railway receiving offices.
The revenue and expenditure of the Postal and Telegraph
Department in 1902 was :—
Revenue. Expenditure.
1902 wie Rs. 1,050,014 woe Rs. 1,081,797
There were 1,374 employés in the Postal and Telegraph
Department in 1902.
Local letters posted in Ceylon are addressed in several
languages, but principally in English, Sinhalese, and Tamil.
The mails are conveyed by train, horse coaches, bullock
coaches, and runners, of whom over 200 are employed.
The Telegraph System in Ceylon comprises 1,438 miles of
line and 2,451 miles of wire ; all the principal towns and the
greater number of lesser ones are thereby connected. The
charees on inland telegrams are as follows :—
First Bight Words or Each Additional
Groups of Three Word or Group
Figures. of Three Figures.
Urgent wer 75 cents we 10 cents
Ordinary tin 25 2 5

Oaca

Connection with the Continent of India and the rest of
che world is established by means of submarine cables laid
across Palk’s Strait on the north-west of the Island.
The lines which cross from the west to the east coast are
carried over the mountain ranges which form the backbone
of the Island. They rise from sea-level to an altitude of
8,500 feet for half the distance,and descend from this elevation
to sea-level over the other half. Where the country is rough
and the passes through it tortuous the supports are planted