EUROPE: FRANCE. 89 



pulp. The consumption of paper is certainly likely to increase with 

 the population, and I should judge that if good papers, at reasonable 

 prices, were to be found here (such as are manufactured by the large 

 American manufacturers) a very considerable trade might be done. 

 Up to the present time, French manufacturers dominate the paper 

 trade. There is a certain amount of fine stationery imported from 

 England, but almost, if not entirely, through second hands. 



PRODUCTION, FUEL, LABOR, ETC. 



I am certain that there is a considerable amount of undeveloped 

 water power in the Department of the Alpes-Maritimes, but gener- 

 ally at good distances from railway communication (there are no 

 navigable streams), from markets, and from sources of materials for 

 paper. A company (see my report in Commercial Relations, 1898, 

 Vol. II) is developing water power on the Var, and expects to have 

 about 5,000 horsepower. In large towns, the fuel used is English 

 coal, costing here about $8 per ton. The only facilities for trans- 

 portation are the two railways. Wood is burned in the smaller 

 towns and in the villages. There are no special materials used for 

 paper making, and I am informed that what pulp is used by the firm 

 at Pont de Peille, mentioned above, is imported from the neighbor- 

 hood of Genoa. 



There are no manufacturers of paper machinery. There is a firm 

 of machine makers that could manufacture such if required, but at 

 much higher price, of course, than such machinery could be laid down 

 from the United States. 



Labor in the paper mill mentioned above is paid for at the rate 

 of 2.50 to 6 francs (48.25 cents to $1.158) per day. 



The quantity and value of paper produced can not be ascertained, 

 but I can state that the quantity produced is but a small proportion 

 of that consumed. 



In this mill water power is used, and hand and machine made 

 paper is manufactured. The processess and methods are not modern, 

 and the production is not likely to increase. 



IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. 



The paper imported consists almost entirely of writing paper and 

 stationery from England, with small quantities of paper hangings. 

 For these, no market price can be mentioned, as they come through 

 second and even third hands in Paris, Lyons, or Marseilles. 



The banking facilities with all countries are of the best, as there 

 are several large banks and bankers competing for exchange. 



