[16] This classification of houses may perhaps be objected to; but from the above point of view it is correct. Houses represent an annual income of _one hundred and thirty-five million pounds_. Not more than _thirty-five million pounds_ are spent annually in building new houses; whilst the whole are counted as representing a new _one hundred million pounds_ every year. It is plain, therefore, that if we estimate the entire annual value as above, the sum in question stands not for the houses, but for the use of them. Even more clearly does the same reasoning apply to railways and shipping. Whether we send goods by these or are conveyed by them ourselves, all that we get from them is the mere service of transport. On transport and travelling by railway about _seventy million pounds_ are spent annually: by ship about _thirty million pounds_; by trams about _two million pounds_. [17] The total annual imports are about _four hundred and twenty million pounds_. The amount retained for home consumption is about _three hundred and sixty-five million pounds_. [18] The approximate value of the food consumed annually in the United Kingdom (exclusive of alcoholic drinks) is _two hundred and ninety million pounds_. The total value of food imported is over _one hundred and fifty million pounds_. [19] The number of persons fed on home-grown meat was _twenty-three millions one hundred thousand_. The number fed on imported meat was _fourteen millions seven hundred thousand_. In other words, the number of persons who subsist on imported meat now is about equal to the entire population of the United Kingdom in 1801. [20] From the year 1843 to 1851, the annual income of the nation averaged _five hundred and fifteen million pounds_, according to the calculations of Messrs. Leone Levi, Dudley Baxter, Mulhall, and Giffen. [21] The actual figures are as follows:—In 1887 the estimates of the value of agricultural products per each individual actually engaged in agriculture were: United Kingdom, _ninety-eight pounds_; France, _seventy-one pounds_; Belgium, _fifty-six pounds_; Germany, _fifty-two pounds_; Austria, _thirty-one pounds_; Italy, _thirty-seven pounds_. [22] It is understating the case to say that the British operative to-day works one hundred and eighty-nine hours less annually than his predecessor of forty or fifty years ago, and one hundred and eighty-nine hours = three weeks of nine hours a day. To this must be added at least a week of additional holidays. [23] The hours of labour in Switzerland are, on an average, sixty-six a week. [24] The agricultural population in France is about _eighteen millions_; in this country, about _six millions_. The produce of France is worth about _four hundred and fourteen million pounds_; of this country, _two hundred and twenty-six million pounds_.