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in all the commercially important cities, but communication between these various places was established. In February, 1899, the first long-distance line was opened between Tokyo and Osaka, a distance of 350 miles.

The central exchange and the public telephone-offices were under the control of the Ministry of Communications. In 1890—that is to say, in the first year of the opening of the service—there were central exchanges only in Tokyo and Yokohama, and there were only 16 public telephone-offices open for public use. In 1898–99 there were 16 exchanges and 46 public telephones. In the year 1890—the public not yet being fully alive to their advantages, and the system not being extensive—there were only 334 private subscribers; but at the end of the fiscal year 1898–99 there were 8,064 houses supplied with telephones. The demands increased so rapidly that some 6,915 applications were still waiting to be supplied. The development is shown from the fact that in 1890–91 there were 2 central exchanges, 16 public telephones, and 334 subscribers; and in 1898–99 there were 16 central exchanges, 46 public telephones, and 8,064 subscribers. In 1902–03 there were 318 public offices, and 111,597,714 messages sent.

Telephone-lines are constructed and maintained by the State. They are constructed to meet the increasing demands, but within the limits of the Budget. In the towns the extension of lines develops slowly in proportion to the increase of wires demanded. There are numerous posts charged with more than 300 wires. To avoid all danger, the Administration has begun to lay these underground.

Telephone communication can be held between subscribers, or subscribers and the public, or any two persons. In the first case subscribers pay no extra charge, as they pay a fixed annual rent. In the second case the public pay for each call a charge determined by the Administration. A subscriber pays an extra charge for long-distance calls.

Copper wire being universally recognised as the best transmitter, the Administration tried the manufacture of a hard copper wire, which when perfected was adopted. The great difficulty of putting extra wires on to already existing posts was overcome in 1891 by beginning to employ underground cables for the lines already too burdened with wires. Ordinarily wooden arms to the posts were employed for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 wires, according to the number of subscribers; but these being felt insufficient, iron arms, supporting many wires, are being preferred.

Porcelain insulators made in Japan are used. There are three kinds of apparatus in use: Standard Telephone Switch-