164 PAPER IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



PRODUCTION. 



There is not a large supply of water power, in this consular 

 district. 



Only two paper mills are deserving of mention one belonging 

 to the firm Cesare Volpini, founded at Gello, Pistoia, in 1740, and 

 the other to the firm Giovanni Cosimo Cini, in the commune of Piteg- 

 lio, established in 1820. 



Volpini's mill is best known for handmade paper for home con- 

 sumption. One hundred hands are employed there, most of them 

 in the manufacture of paper for the press and wrapping paper. 

 There is a drum machine in the mill, with two large vats, run by a 

 steam engine of 30 horsepower, for the boiling of rags, and starting, 

 in case of need, an auxiliary motor, whenever, through lack of water, 

 the hydraulic motor of 35 horsepower does not run. 



Cini's mill gives permanent work to no hands; but often they 

 number 250 hands, as follows: Adult males, 137; adult females, 95; 

 boys, 12; girls, 6. They are thus distributed: Foremen, 7 ; ma- 

 chine tenders, 25; ordinary hands males, 105; females, 95; boys, 

 12; girls, 6. The wages paid them, per diem of ten hours, average 

 as follows: Foremen, from 50 to 60 cents; machine tenders, 40 to 

 50 cents; ordinary hands males, 30 to 35 cents; females, 12 to 15 

 cents; boys, 10 to 12 cents; girls, 6 to 8 cents. 



Cini's mill produces writing, printing, and packing paper to the 

 aggregate value of $i 60,000 per annum. 



The quantity is estimated at about 20,000 quintals (44,092 

 pounds). The mill is fitted with 3 steam boilers, 85 horsepower, 

 for heating purposes and boiling rags, 13 hydraulic motors of 200 

 horsepower, and 3 engines. 



The machinery is of English, German, and French construction. 



The yearly quantity of rags consumed is calculated at 5,000 

 quintals (11,023 pounds) and valued at from $3 to $4 per quintal, 

 according to the kind and color of rags. Pulp is made mostly from 

 white poplar and silver fir; next comes falasco, which is straw or 

 grass. Rags are used less than any other material. 



A project now under consideration, which promises to be a great 

 success, especially if backed by American capital and developed by 

 American machinery, is the maceration of olive leaves for pulp in 

 the manufacture of the best and strongest paper yet produced. So 

 far, no details are known. 



IMPORTS FROM AND EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES. 



For the calendar year 1897, the following data are given, em- 

 bracing the whole Kingdom (no invoices for paper have ever been 

 produced at this consulate) : 



