Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-05-08

common and central treasury. The
sum thus collected is periodically divi-
ded amongst the various governments
which form the Zollverein.
In the early progress Of the union,
the difficulty of making the division
equitably and fairly, opposed great
obstacleIto thefuilment ofthe scheme.
After much deliberation, the following
plan was resorted to, and appears to
work to the satisfaction Of all parties:
"A basis of the calculation for appor-
tloning the gross amount of dues is
formed by the amount ofthe population
Of each territory,in proportion to the
amount of which the revenues are, In
the main, allotted to each state; but this
calculation is wisely checked by the
respective accounts keptin the line of
custom houses established upon the
frontiers within which the confederation
exists. These calculations and pay
ments are made once in every three
years, when each government sends
to the centre Of management in Berlin
an envoy or deputy to assist at the set
Element ofthe accounts, and to propose
such notifications or alterations in
commercial taxation as time Or change
circumstances may have rendered
necessary in his particular district.
1t is now necessary to say word
on the nature and amount ofthe duties
levied by the Zollverein. In the first
place, instead ofpublishing cumbrous
and inconvenient list of the scarcely
Vulnerable subjects of commerce, the
! trainers Of the Prussian tariff went on
more comprehensive principles: they
divided all articles of trade into five
grand sections, ranging in each such
| things as had similar origin or use.
The first division includes foreign ma
terials, which cannot be produced
within the countries of the Zollverein;
the second, foreign produce, which Is
! produced within the Union; the third,
articles necessary to industry andm
ufactures; the fourth, manufactured
goods; and the fifth, small wares. u
pom the articles included in each of
these sections uniform duty is levied;
but every three years those rates are al
tered-if possible, diminished. The
tariff now in force having been settled
on the fist of January 1S43, expires
with the present year. Thelist of pro.
hibited articles of import, which previ-
Gus to the union, was very great, is now
reduced to two--salt and playing cards.
The liberal commercial principles
/ which guided and were carried into eff
feet by the Zolverein, have given a
great impetus to German industry and
I commercial prosperity. Amongst
other reforms, this useful league has
swept away all tolls and other impede
ments which formerly obstructed the
free navigation of Rhine and the Elbe;
and many mischievous monopolies held
by companies and city guildsno longer
obstruct the healthy working OF compe-
tition.
The Zollverein has concluded trea.
ties of commerce and navigation with
every power in the world with whom a
/ trading intercourse is worth having, and
its flag is already flying in all the most
important ports throughout the globe.
Since 1884, the amount of dues collec-
ted has trebled. In 1913, the duties
paid into the common treasury amour
ted to %, l21,324 thalers, equal to
nearly f3,5oo,ooo sterling. The
commercial power which increasing
prosperity gives, willin all probability
force those states who have not yet
joined the confederation to form part
oft, and at no distant day we may ex-
pect to find the union extending
throughout the whole of the Germanic
empire.