COMMERCE AND TRANSPORTATION. Respecting commerce Finland has been practically inde pendent of Russia. The Finnish manufacturer gets his material much cheaper than the Russian, hence has been able to compete with the latter even in the Russian market. The great difference between the prices on certain manufactures in Finland and in Russia has led to extensive smug gling. These difficulties. however. are being rap idly overcome under the measure instituted by the Czar in 1897, which provides that all articles of Russian origin, except spirits, sugar, salt, to bacco, and beer, are admitted free to Finland; all agricultural and hand-made articles from Fin land are passed free into Russia ; all products of the principal industries are liable to differential duties ; the remainder are treated in the same way as foreign products. Finland's animal imports in creased during IS00-1900 from $28,120,000 to $54.151,000. and its exports from $1S,4S0,000 to $39,546.000. The imports comprise chiefly food stuffs, metal products, and textiles. About 15 per
cent. of the exports consist of animal products, mostly butter, and about 60 per cent. of wood prod nets. including paper and pulp. The trade is mainly with Russia, Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, and Sweden. named in the order of their impor tance. The transportation faeilities are fully ade quate to the demands of the country. Its even sur face greatly facilitates the construction of common roads, of which there are over 30,000 miles. The numerous lakes are utilized freely for transporta tion, and, joined by short canals, they afford continuous waterways. The first railway in Fin land was completed in 1862—a line of about 88 miles between Idelsingfors and Tavastelms. In 1900 there were about 1800 miles, of which only about 170 miles were owned by private com panies. The State lines are well managed, and their income forms an important item in the budget.