34 PAPER IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



abolishing the newspaper and calendar stamp tax and permitting 

 the free sale of newspapers. The paper trade is principally con- 

 trolled by Austrian citizens. 



PRODUCTION. 



The fuels used are wood and coal, the price for wood being 6 

 florins ($2.40) per cubic meter (35.316 cubic feet) and the price for 

 coal being 47 kreutzers (equal to about 18^ cents) per 100 kilo- 

 grams (220.46 pounds) at the factory. 



The raw materials for the manufacture of paper are wood pulp, 

 cellulose (of pine or straw), and rags; but the available quantities 

 are not ascertainable. There is but one establishment in Bohemia 

 which manufactures paper machinery exclusively, that of M. Nebrich 

 at Smichew; but there are a number of others which manufacture 

 parts of such machinery and do repairing. The wages in paper 

 mills run from 30 kreutzers (12 cents) per day up to 1.60 florins (64 

 cents) per day, except for the chemist and machinist. 



The tendencies in production at present are that the factories, 

 under a general agreement, are reducing their output, and a fall in 

 prices has resulted. It is claimed that the competition from Ger- 

 many, France, and Sweden, and of late from the United States, has 

 considerably cut into the trade, formerly controlled by the manufac- 

 turers here. 



IMPORTS AND TRADE FACILITIES. 



The import of paper into this district is confined to a small quan- 

 tity of the very finest writing, blotting, and colored tissue paper. 

 It is impossible to ascertain market prices. This paper is produced 

 principally in Germany, France, and England ; but as to the several 

 amounts imported from each country, there are no statistics kept 

 here. The banking facilities and financial connections with the dif- 

 ferent countries are good. 



The mail and telegraphic facilities with each country from which 

 paper is exported to Austria are good. 



Some of the German, English, and Swedish manufacturers have 

 established depots and agencies here, and their salesmen visit the 

 city regularly. 



It is my belief that in the better class of writing papers our man- 

 ufacturers could secure quite a trade in this country; but to do so 

 someone conversant with all the branches of paper manufacturing 

 should be sent here to study the situation. There is no question 

 that every obstacle which can be thrown in the way of the American 

 manufacturer will be resorted to to keep him out of this market. 

 The daily newspapers warn people not to give any information about 

 the local industries to anyone, giving as a reason that the American 



