1 86 



PAPER IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



Quantity of paper exported from Italy for the past five years and the countries to -which 



exported. 



There is an export duty on rags of all sorts of 8.80 lire ($1.69) 

 per quintal (220.46 pounds). The shipments through this consulate 

 are of small importance. In a total export, in 1898, of $7,689,036.28, 

 there was only $2,831.85 worth of books and music, while in 1897 there 

 was only $3,119. ii out of a total of $4,891,436.77. It is seen from 

 the foregoing tabular statistics that the wood pulps, especially cel- 

 lulose, represent a prominent part of the importation of paper ma- 

 terial into Italy, and that most of them come from Austria-Hungary. 

 Whether the pulp manufacturers of the United States can get a foot- 

 hold or not depends upon whether they can undersell all competitors 

 and whether they can furnish as satisfactory pulp. There is more 

 and more of this used every year, and, as can be seen from the tabu- 

 lar statistics, most of it is imported. In regard to the forms in 

 which it comes, there are no particular provisions as to either size 

 or weight. It usually arrives in the form of rolls, weighing from 

 no to 220 pounds. It also comes in bales or folded sheets, gener- 

 ally covered with jute and bound with bands of iron or wire, and, 

 whether national or foreign, is delivered free of freight and duty at 

 the stations where the mills are located. It is generally invoiced as 

 "perforated wood pulp." 



The values of the unit, the quintal (220.46 pounds), as given by 

 the custom-house authorities, for the importations and exportations 



