EUROPE: GERMANY. 117 



Hamburg. Business from other countries is effected as directly 

 and as cheaply as practicable, usually by water to Hamburg and 

 then by the River Elbe, so far as this mode of transportation offers 

 an advantage. 



The banking, mail, and telegraphic facilities are good. The 

 countries mentioned are all within the General Postal Union. 



OPENINGS FOR AMERICAN PAPER, ETC. 



There is most decidedly an opening for fine grades of American 

 writing and note paper; also all kinds of coated art-printing paper. 

 A prominent art-printing establishment tells me that American art- 

 printing paper is considered superior to the German. The principal 

 compe'titor is England, and the only sensible course to pursue in 

 order to introduce American paper into Germany is to send technical 

 men here, who must visit the wholesale dealers or appoint local 

 agents. It is, in my opinion, a loss of time and money to send 

 samples by mail to a dealer with price list, unless it is a quality of 

 paper which is not known or not made in Germany. While several 

 dealers with whom I conversed on this subject tell me that they will 

 only be too glad to see new kinds of paper, the paper manufacturers 

 will do anything to prevent foreign paper from coming into Ger- 

 many, and it therefore requires personal and continual attendance 

 to gain a foothold for American paper in this country, where the 

 industry has gained practically the foremost rank in the world. 



Blotting paper and linen-lined paper are of very poor quality 

 here. These two classes are far superior in America, and I think 

 would sell readily here. 



I do not believe, however, that there is an opening for articles 

 made of paper, as the wages here are so low. 



EXPORTS. 



All classes and kinds of paper are exported from Germany to 

 foreign countries. The principal kinds from this district are: Col- 

 ored, gold, and silver paper, packing paper, photographic paper, 

 writing paper (cheap classes), printing paper, cigarette paper, paper 

 and pasteboard fancy goods, wall paper. 



The following table gives the amounts and values of the different 

 kinds of paper and articles made of paper exported from Germany 

 to foreign countries for the years 1888, 1892, 1896, and 1897. This 

 table shows that printing and writing and packing paper take the 

 lead in weight, and colored, gold, and silver paper rank first in 

 value. 



