The Government owns the entire telegraphic system of the republic, and all the towns of any importance are connected by more than three thousand miles of wire, with seventy offices. The expenditures of this bureau seem to be nearly twice the amount of the receipts, and from the nature of the country the cost of maintenance must be very great, owing to the rapid growth of tropical vegetation and the destruction wrought by insects, especially the _comajen_; yet the tariff is reasonable, and one can, while paying for a message, pay also for the answer (_contestacion pagado_). Both the designs on the telegraph blanks and the paper used are much better than the companies in the United States supply to their customers. By cable Guatemala has communication with South America, Mexico, the United States, and Europe. The mail service is excellent between the principal towns and foreign ports; but owing to the nature of the country the time consumed over the less-frequented roads is very great. As a fair indication of the development of the country since 1871 under the administration of President Barrios, the great increase in the amount of matter sent through the mails may be cited; for in that year the total number of letters, papers, and circulars did not reach fifty thousand, while in 1884 it exceeded three millions. Guatemala has joined the Postal Union, but demands ten cents per rate on letters leaving her ports. While so many of the great nations put upon their postage-stamps the portraits of their rulers or most distinguished men to be spit upon and defaced, this republic, with better taste, submits only the national bird (quetzal) to this rough treatment.[47] What a people imports is always a matter of no slight moment in studying their social condition; and on examining the classified list which I have taken from the official publications, one will see several very curious facts. First a large amount of cinnamon is imported, chiefly to flavor chocolate, when it might readily be raised at home,—indicating that the enormous duty of one hundred per cent does not prevent importation or stimulate home production. The same may be predicated of white wax, wheat, and flour, for bees flourish in the uplands, and the wheat is of the best quality; but mills are scarce, and private enterprise is wanting. Few printed books are imported; and as the domestic publications are unimportant, we must infer that the Guatemaltecans are not a reading people. The table also gives an idea of the duties levied, and is worthy of attention. That the reader may see how little the commerce of the United States brings to Guatemala, I have given a table of imports by countries. Nearer than England or France, it is still cheaper to pass her by and go to the distant markets. CLASSIFICATION OF IMPORTS BY SEA IN 1884.