EUROPE: GERMANY. 



99 



Empire was a long way ahead of all others in its paper exports. 

 The following table gives the relative values: 



In other words, Germany has a third of the world's exports of 

 paper. Were it not for the import duties of other countries, Ger- 

 many would have a much larger share of the world's commerce in 

 this article. It is hoped by German paper manufacturers that the 

 imperial commissioners charged with the work of formulating new 

 trade treaties will see to it that this important industry is remem- 

 bered. In the future, as in the past, merchants and manufacturers 

 will neglect nothing that will in any way contribute to the increase 

 of the Empire's exports in this line; they only ask the Government 

 to give such aid as is possible. 



POPULATION AND ILLITERATES. 



The population of the Empire in 1895 was 52,280,000; at present 

 it is estimated at 55,000,000. 



In the recruits of the Empire the percentage of illiterates is 2 in 

 1,000 against 50 in Holland, 55 in France, 708 in Russia, i in 

 Sweden, 5 in Denmark, 22 in Switzerland, 144 in Belgium, 220 

 in Austria-Hungary, 300 in Greece, 390 in Italy, and 793 in Servia.* 

 The people have decided mechanical traits, and the record of inven- 

 tions since the establishment of the imperial patent office in 1878 is 

 remarkable. Nor must it be forgotten that the German patent 

 office is perhaps the hardest in the world to pass. 



CREDITS, ARTICLES OF MANUFACTURE, ETC. 



Sales are made for cash ; thirty, sixty, and ninety day credits are 

 also granted. Cash payments call for 4, 5, or 6 per cent discount. 



Berlin, Leipzig, and Dresden are the great paper making and 

 brokering cities. Their relative importance is perhaps in the order 

 named, except that Leipzig, in some lines /. e. t book making is 

 one of the world's great centers. Frankfort has the famous playing- 

 card factory of Wust. 



The uses and kinds of paper, as well as the chief articles manu- 

 factured from paper pulp, are about the same as with us, except 



*In Saxony, in 1893, of tne 9i35 6 recruits ordered into the army, only i could not read and write; of 

 the 2,386 born in other parts of the Empire, 4 could not read and write a remarkable record. 



