80

WAREHOUSES  IN  FOREIGN  COUNTRIES.

special  attention  that  the  greatest  regularity  and  correctness  is  maintained. ­
  Were  this  not  so,  and  were  the  custom-house  to  learn  of  any
abuses  of  its  confidence,  the  concession  accorded  to  the  company
would  be  withdrawn.
H.  P.  Smith,  Vice  and  Deputy  Consul.
Milan,  Italy,  August  j,  190J^.

MALTA.
(From,  United  Slates  Consul  Grout,  Valetta,  Malta.)
It  would  be  difficult  to  state  when  the  warehouses  used  for  storage
of  goods  at  rental  or  in  bond  were  erected  and  I  do  not  believe  it
would  be  possible  to  ascertain  the  cost  of  construction,  inasmuch  as  all
now  in  use,  both  public  and  private,  were  built  originally  by  the
Knights  of  Malta  in  the  latter  part  of  their  control  here  many  years
ago.  Some  of  the  buildings  were  constructed  for  the  purpose  of  storage ­
  while  others  were  intended  for  other  objects.  There  are  a  few
warehouses  in  the  hands  of  private  firms,  but  nearly  all  are  owned  by
the  local  government,  being  conducted  by  the  customs  branch.  The
administration  of  the  service  is  regarded  as  very  satisfactory.  Many
officials  are  employed  as  guards  and  custodians,  and  goods  are  transferred ­
  from  ship  to  warehouse,  or  vice  versa,  in  a  simple  manner,  but
according  to  an  efficient  system.
No  regulation  is  made  as  to  length  of  time  goods  may  be  stored,  a
parcel  paying  the  same  charge  for  a  day  or  two  as  for  a  much  longer
term.  Beer  pays  a  rental  of  2  cents  per  barrel.  Wines  having  not
more  than  15  per  cent  of  alcohol  are  charged  4  cents  per  barrel,  while
classes  containing  from  16  to  23  per  cent  of  alcohol  pay  8  cents  per
barrel.  Petroleum  pays  3  farthings  (  1-J  cents)  per  8  gallons.  For
each  112  pounds,  or  64  rotoli,  sugar  is  charged  a  little  over  2  cents.  A
rent  of  6  cents  is  charged  for  100  boxes  containing  100  cigars  each.
Cavendish  or  other  manufactured  tobacco  is  charged  12  cents  per  100
pounds  weight.
According  to  the  last  annual  report  of  the  local  government  receipts
on  account  of  warehouse  rentals  amounted  to  $8,251.36.  It  would  be
impossible  to  even  estimate  the  actual  cost  of  the  service,  on  account
of  the  diversified  duties  of  the  officers  in  charge.
As  a  rule  only  goods  liable  to  duty  are  stored  in  the  Government
warehouses.  They  chiefly  comprise  beer,  spirits,  wines,  grain,  flour,
canned  meats,  coffee,  and  petroleum.  As  a  rule  goods  do  not  remain
in  bond  for  any  great  length  of  time,  one  year  being  considered  something ­
  unusual.  Perhaps  one  month  might  be  considered  a  fair  average. ­
  Very  little  use  is  made  of  the  warehouses  here  by  Americans.
All  nationalities  are  treated  alike,  there  being  no  discriminating
charges.  On  account  of  rapidly  increasing  cost  of  labor  it  would  be
impossible  to  give  any  fixed  charge  for  handling.  Recently  as  high
as  36  cents  per  small  cartload  from  boat  at  water’s  edge  to  warehouse
has  been  asked.
John  II.  Grout,  Consul.
Valetta,  Malta,  July  19,  190.l¡..