From Eski-Shehir a main line runs southwards past Kutahia to Afium Karahissar, whence a branch runs to Smyrna. From this junction it continues to Konia and Adana across the Taurus range. Just east of Adana it enters Syria and so continues to Cairo on the one hand and in the direction of Mosul and Baghdad on the other. Through connections can now be made from Paris to Cairo by coaches which are ferried across the Bosporus from Stamboul to Haidar Pasha.
From Smyrna a line runs north to Panderma on the Sea of Marmora and south to Odemish, to Sokia, to Aidin and Egirdir.
A light line existed before the war from Erzingan to Erzerum, Kars and Alexandropol, but it is not known whether it is still in use.
The main policy of the Turkish government at present is to construct lines which will favour the commercial development of Anatolia and the export to ports of its produce. Guarantee bonds to a maximus of LT 200,000,000 have been issued to cover this railway, port development and survey scheme.
Shipping and Commerce.—By the Lausanne Treaty the right of cabotage (coastwise shipping) is confined to Turkish ships, and as a result of this provision Turkish ships have increased in numbers, but their progress is hindered by the shortage of credit. In 1925 the number of Turkish steamships was 170 of 95,286 tons and the number of sailing vessels 3,745 of 115,767 tons. In 1927 the former total had increased to 186,986 tons.
The following table sets out the port traffic in 1924 at the prin cipal ports:— root. Corn is not yet produced in sufficient quantities to permit of export and there are no manufactured articles made in Turkey which are required by other countries.
State monopolies are as follows : tobacco, sugar, petroleum and benzine, all forms of alcohol, salt, sporting gun cartridges, in dustrial explosives and matches. The tobacco monopoly is of pre-war date, but that in sugar and petroleum began in 1926. These last do not mean that there is any restriction in import but only that the monopoly tax has to be paid on every import of these articles. On the other hand, the import of salt is prohibited, while that of matches is regulated by a Belgian company to whom the monopoly was ceded. The monopoly in alcohol was ceded to a Polish syndicate, but the whole question of this monopoly is now under consideration with a view to revision. Cartridges and explosives are in the hands of a Turkish company, through whom all orders are passed.
The following tables show the values of the chief imports and exports and their distribution in LT:— Ports.—The port of Constantinople consists of a war harbour, an inner and an outer port.
The telegraphic service is under the control of the Postal De partment, and the Eastern Telegraph Company has again estab lished itself after a prolonged dispute. The cables owned by this company that serve Turkey are (I) that from Syra to Chanak on the Dardanelles and so to Constantinople, (2) the Salonika Lemnos-Tenedos-Dardanelles route, (3) that from Chesme to Tenedos and Chios and (4) that from Constantinople via the Black Sea to Odessa.
Three wireless stations exist—at the Ok Meidan above the Golden Horn, at Osmanieh some four miles from Constantinople in the open country west of Pera, and at Angora. wire less sets are now licensed but transmitting sets forbidden. The annual private license costs some three English pounds.
There is only one commercial aeroplane service, namely that from Rome via Brindisi, Athens and the Dardanelles to Con stantinople. It is manned by hydroplanes, which harbour in the Bosporus near Therapia. It is, weather permitting, a daily service. A Turkish aviation league, primarily with military objects, exists for the purpose of stimulating interest in aviation.
The telephone service of Constantinople is controlled by an Anglo-French company under an English director, with a capital of £450,000, of which £250,000 is paid up. The Turkish Govern ment exacts a percentage of 5% on gross revenue. There are some 4,000 subscribers in Constantinople and its suburbs. Angora enjoys an automatic telephone system and the rest of the country is covered by a State system.