Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-23
Their German cities which have as much as

other German cities which have much as
$40 900 600 each.
In addition to these city banks there
are private savings banks, which are
to a certain extent under the supervision
of the government. In these the deposits
are limited by law to 5000 marks, and the
interest rate is fixed annually by the poaro
of directors 1t is usually low, about
3 per cent In these banks $40 can
be checked out on any one day, but
months notice must be given for the with
drawal of more than that sum UP 10 l,oVO
marks, and six months notice for larger
sums.
The German Mails Help the Farmers.
I have written of the modern postal serv-
ice of Switzerland and France. That OF
Germany is equally good. The government
here works for the people and helps them
do their business. The post office depart
ment forwards all kinds of express, 1nclud-
ing farm produce and merchandise Ihere
are regular wagons for such work l see
them at the stations piled high with crates
and baskets. When l came into the Dig
depot at LeipSig yesterday L heard a hen
cackling and duck quacking. BY ana ny
a rooster crowed and I looked about for a
farm yard in the heart of this city OF
half million people. T found it on the top
of the mail wagons, each of which was
driven by a poStman In UNIFORM Inc
wagons were loaded with crates OF
ducks chickens and other fowls. one
box contained two white pigeons ana
another a dozen big turkeys. There were
hostage stamps on the back of the boxes,
and 1 was told that they had been sent in
from the country through the post at SO
much per pound. / took a photograph OF
the wagons. their helmeted drivers laugh
ing l did So
The German states, with the exception of
Bavaria and Wurtemberg, are in the i'm
perial postal service, which is one of the
largest in Europe. 1t has 100000 employees
and about 81 600 officers. 1t handles Dill
lion copies of printed matter, billion pos
tai cards and about two billion letters eV-
cry year. and it does 1t at profit. Our
Post Office Department annually runs De
hind. That of Germany runs ahead Sne
gives a better service than we do at
lower rate and at the same times makes
profit of 81 100000 out of 1t.
Pneumatic Tubes as Letter Carriers.
Berlin, for instance, has a pneumatic
tube system superior to any quick deliv-
cry system of New York. By it kilograms
letters and postal cards can be sent from
one part of the city to another more quickly
than by telegraph. at a cost of cents
card or ~ cents per letter. II you pay II
cents you can have a prepaid answer This
post is called the rohr, or tube, post. Its
offices are distinguished by a red lamp and
are to be found in all parts of Berlin.
The telegraph and telephones of Germany
belong to the government, and consequently
their charges are lower than ours. Inc
rate for all Germany and Austria-Hungary
is IL. cents a word, while that to Belgium,
Denmark, Holland and Switzerland is only
81 cents You can send dispatch to Eng
land Norway or Italy for less than cents
per word, and to almost any place In Eu-
rope for less than cents.
A Book Metropolis.
1 have spent some time here with Brain
ard H. Warner, IT., one of the youngest and
brightest men in our consular service. He
has been making an investigation of the
book trade. and. through him. | am able to
tell you something of the book metropolis
of Europe.
Leipsig does more book handling than
any other city in the world in proportion
to its size 1t has 800 book stores and pub
fishing establishments. 1t has almost 200
different printing houses and about 5000
publishing firms represented by agents. 1t
has a book publishers exchange and clear
ing house, and its arrangements are such
that books are sent out daily by the thou