EUROPE: ITALY. 163 



Michele Messina fu Carmela, both of Catania; and the principal 

 printers of the city are Enrico Panzera Galatola and S. Di Mattei 

 & Co. 



I am of the opinion that a large trade could be developed in 

 manila sacks from one-fourth of a pound up to the size used for 

 flour. This useful article is entirely unknown here. I explained 

 their convenience to the dealers, and they were much interested and 

 expressed the wish to 'have samples and prices sent them. Quota- 

 tions should be f. o. b. Catania and based on the Italian lira (19.3 

 cents). 



ALEXANDER HEINGARTNER, 



CATANIA, March 4, 1899. Consul. 



FLORENCE. 



POPULATION. 



The total population of Florence, according to the latest census 

 (December 31, 1881), was 164,460, and the present population is 

 199,193. The percentage of illiterates is 417 per thousand. The 

 traits of the people are artistic rather than mechanical. 



CONSUMPTION. 



Most of the paper used in Government offices is hand made; 

 machine paper is employed in commercial offices ; coarse straw paper, 

 not light, is commonly used in every shop, all such paper being 

 of local production. The paper is of rather an inferior quality- 

 cheap, heavy, and easily torn in comparison with paper of foreign 

 production. 



As to size, it does not vary from that of foreign paper; but 

 Italians are not familiar with large oblong envelopes, all documents 

 and letters being folded in quarto. 



The number of paper firms, companies, or brokers is 22. 



The leading paper firms here are: 



Giovanni Cosimo Cini, San Marcello Pistoiese. 



Giuseppe Civelli, Chiacavalle and Chiusi. 



Sebastiano Magnani, Pescia (Lucca). 



Cesare Volpini, Pistoia. 



The total number of printers is 50; the publishers number 18. 



The consumption of paper is on the increase. Germany ranks 

 first in the exportation of paper to Italy, followed by Austria, France, 

 and England, respectively. 



