18 
WAREHOUSES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 
All nationalities are treated exactly alike by the administration 
of the warehouse. 
Goods are transported to and from the warehouse by boats, which 
usually load and unload at the wharf opposite the principal entrance 
of the warehouse. By this method transportation expenses are 
greatly reduced, being but 5 to 6 francs ($0.96 to $1.15) per 100 bags 
of 100 kilos (220.46 pounds). Transportation by cart or wagon and 
unloading increases the cost 12 to 14 centimes ($0,023 to $0,027) per 
100 kilos. 
Customs officers are stationed at the entrances and exits of the ware 
house for the purpose of certifying that goods taken out of bond con 
form in every particular to the description contained in original bill 
accompanying the merchandise at time of entry. Independent of 
this verification goods are subject to a detailed verification before 
and after being taken out of bond, according to circumstances. 
Warehousemen strictly guard every floor and allow access to no 
unauthorized person. An annual verification is made of all merchan 
dise remaining in the warehouse. 
Geo. W. Roosevelt, Cons id. 
Brussels, Belgium, August 4, 1904' 
GHENT. 
(From United States Consul Mowrer, Ghent, Belgium.) 
BUILDINGS AND MANAGEMENT. 
The warehouses in Ghent are 210 feet long by 134 feet 6 inches 
wide, and cost approximately $125,450. They are the property of the 
city (article 35 of law of March 4, 1846). Wherever it is necessary 
the General Government may establish a warehouse. The common 
council furnishes the buildings decided to be necessary by the General 
Government. It is also charged to keep the warehouses in good con 
dition and make necessary repairs without delay. In case of delay 
the General Government can make the necessary repairs and pay for 
them out of the receipts of the warehouses. 
The warehouses are under the direction of a commission (commis 
sion administrative de l’entrepôt) composed of three members of the 
common council, appointed by the King upon the recommendation of 
the minister of finance, who receives nine nominations from the gov 
ernor of the province. The directeur des contributions directes 
douanes et accises, at Ghent, and the receveur des douanes complete 
the commission. The term of office of the three members appointed 
by the King is three years; each year one member retires, but may be 
reappointed. 
The custody and superintendence of the warehouses are intrusted 
to the management of the customs. The bonded warehouse keeper 
specially authorizes (1) the admittance to the warehouse of persons 
not members of the administration; (2) the surveying of samples; 
(3) deviations from the regulations which particular circumstances 
require in the interest of importers. The warehouse keeper is respon 
sible for the placing, handling, and preservation of the merchandise