AMERICAN LUMBER IN FOREIQN MARKET^. 101 



ture. A very few of the modern build ings' 'are havfrig' wotfdeh floors 

 and ceilings. For this purpose pine is generally used. There is no 

 reason why native woods should not be grown to an extent to supply 

 the local demands. The present administration cares nothing for tree 

 culture or economy of forests. On this account, 99 per cent of all lum- 

 ber used is imported from foreign countries or from other districts of 

 Turkey. 



The native woods are olive, oak, orange, and fir, which are used 

 almost entirely for fuel. 



Quite a box trade has grown up at Jaffa, boxes being necessary for 

 the shipping of the oranges grown there. The kinds of lumber wanted 

 for this, and also for the small demand for building purposes, are pine 

 and fir. 



IMPORTS OF LUMBER. 



The value of the lumber annually imported at the port of Jaffa is 

 from $60,000 to $100,000. This lumber comes from Austria, Sweden, 

 and other parts of Turkey. Austria controls the great bulk of the 

 import trade, sending to Jaffa nearly three-fourths of all the lumber 

 entered there. From Jaffa it is distributed to such other places as 

 desire it. 



DUTIES AND PRICES. 



The amount of duty upon imported lumber is 8 per cent ad valorem. 

 The price ranges from $8 to $10 per cubic meter. From 6,000 to 

 10,000 cubic meters are imported annually at Jaffa. 



CLIMATE. 



The climate of Palestine is generally warm. There is a wet and dry 

 season. The wet season corresponds to the winter months in our 

 Northern States. The summers are very dry and hot. 



GENERAL BUILDING. 



There is some activity in general building, but there is no ship or 

 railroad building now going on in this district. 



EXTENSION OF LUMBER TRADE. 



2Sb American wood has as yet found its way into Palestine. This is 

 probably due to the long transportation necessary 5 but there seems to 

 be no reason why, with direct communication between American ports 

 and Jaffa, our dealers should not compete successfully with those of other 

 countries, and acquire their share of the lumber trade of Palestine. 



EDWIN S. WALLACE, 



Consul. 

 JERUSALEM, February ?, 1894. 



