AMERICAN LUMBER IN FOREIGN MARKETS. 



183 



tonnage of 1,744,993 tons, manned by 58,631 seamen. The greater 

 part of these vessels were built in Norway, and the addition to home- 

 built vessels in 1892 was 105 vessels (78 sailing vessels and 27 steamers), 

 with a tonnage of 25,969 tons. 

 Shipbuilding during the last five years gives the following figures: 



In 1892, 14 steamers of 9,792 tons, and 110 sailing vessels of 58,352 

 tons were bought of foreign countries, at an estimated value of $663,568 

 and $1,120,508, respectively. 



The Norwegian railroads, the greater part of which lie within this dis- 

 trict, had, up to June 30, 1893, a total length of 1,562 kilometers, of 

 which 950 kilometers were of narrow gauge (1.067 meters) and 592 kilo- 

 meters of wide gauge (1.435 meters). Their aggregate cost was about 

 $35,000,000. Eailroad-building is now going on in several districts of 

 southern Norway, and only a few days ago the Storthing voted about 

 $13,500,000 for the construction of new lines in different sections of the 

 country. 



GERH. GADE, 



Consul. 



CHRISTIANIA, March 5, 1894. 



PORTUGAL. 

 THE AZORES. 



NATIVE WOODS. 



Owing to the very limited quantity of lumber imported or consumed 

 there is little to report of interest upon this matter within the Azores. 

 The native woods are scarcely worthy of mention with the exception 

 of the "Faia," a small tree, from which the name of the island " Fayal " 

 is said to be derived. It is this tree which furnishes the firewood of 

 this island. Its grain and its natural color, somewhat resemble the 

 wood of the butternut. As this tree never grows to be much more 

 than a large shrub it is seldom used except for firewood. Some pine 

 is also grown here, but so small in amount and so poor in quality as 

 to be unworthy of consideration. 



