2O6 PAPER IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



For the shipments on the Sicilian railroads, there is added to the 

 rates given the tax for the Messina Straits, which is 2 lire (38.6 cents) 

 per ton. 



WM. JARVIS, 



MILAN, April if, 1899. Consul. 



PALERMO. 



Replying to the circular letter from the Department dated No- 

 vember 16, I have to report that there is no paper manufactured in 

 this consular district. 



It is impossible to ascertain the amount of paper annually con- 

 sumed, as little, if any, is imported direct from foreign countries, 

 the paper used here coming from the continent of Italy, principally 

 from Naples and Milan. 



CHURCH HOWE, 



PALERMO, January 24, 1899. Consul. 



VENICE. 



POPULATION. 



The consular district of Venice covers the region in northeastern 

 Italy known geographically as Venetia. This district has some 8,457 

 square miles, and its population in 1897 was 3,081,045. The inhab- 

 itants are for the most part cultivators of the soil. It would there- 

 fore be fair to say that their education and general intelligence are 

 hardly up to what might be expected in localities where the people 

 have more leisure. Various officials to whom I have applied have 

 been unable to give me the exact percentage of illiterates. From 

 my own observation, however, and from opinions expressed by per- 

 sons acquainted with the region, I do not think 15 per cent would 

 be too large a proportion. 



The people have no marked mechanical traits, whether they live 

 in the country or in the cities. Agricultural implements and methods 

 verge always on the antique. While the cities are beginning to 

 accept many of the modern mechanical improvements, and even 

 manufacture a few articles requiring skill and enterprise such as 

 bicycles and automobiles yet, on the whole, their instincts do not 

 lie in the way of mechanical economy. They have naturalized among 

 themselves, however, various processes brought from abroad, and 

 are not unwilling to adopt practical innovations. 



