2l6 PAPER IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



quality tried was of the cheapest class. By far the best quality of 

 paper used comes from England. Terms granted upon the Eng- 

 lish product are net, with very little credit, accounts being settled 

 monthly. One of the great obstacles to the use of American paper 

 has been lack of direct communication, transshipment being expen- 

 sive and delays vexatious. Of late, several steamship companies 

 have thought of having ships coming from New York to Mediter- 

 ranean ports touch here, and I have been recently informed that the 

 Mediterranean and New York Steamship Company, Limited, has de- 

 cided to run its ships to Malta direct from New York, on the way to 

 Trieste and other Adriatic ports.* The first steamer is at present 

 loading at New York. If these steamers come regularly, it will open 

 the door at Malta for many of our goods, including paper. Another 

 obstacle, and one that may be easily remedied, is the general igno- 

 rance of the merchants of Malta of the addresses of American mer- 

 chants. As a rule, Malta favors American goods and deals in them 

 to a limited extent. I see no reason why we should not sell consid- 

 erable quantities of paper here. The kind used for writing purposes 

 is, as a rule, of very inferior quality. Wrapping paper averages about 

 the same as that used in the United States. There should be a fair 

 market for our calendered paper and cardboard. 



Relative to freight rates on articles of paper, imported from for- 

 eign countries to markets in this consular district, one of the largest 

 importers here states that he has figured it out to average about 8 

 per cent of the value of the goods that come from England and 5 per 

 cent on goods coming from Italy. This, of course, refers to net 

 freight. Usually, it takes from four to ten days for goods to reach 

 here from points of origin, while exactness or frequency is not a 

 thing to be depended upon. Naturally, all transportation to- Malta 

 is by water and by tramp or scheduled service. Great Britain con- 

 trols the carrying trade to Malta, with Austria, Italy, and Germany 

 following in order. Landing charges include 12 cents for landing 

 and 12 cents for cartage per bale of, say, 2^ by 3^2 by 2^ feet. 



JOHN H. GROUT, Jr., 



VALLETTA, January 26, 1899. Consul. 



SUPPLEMENTARY. 



On January 26, I sent to the Department a report called for by a 

 circular of instructions relating to "paper in foreign countries." 

 Previous to the preparation of the report, I endeavored to secure 

 statistics from the local authorities here as to the kinds of paper used 



*According to a report from Mr. Grout, published in Advance Sheets No. 361, February 28, 1899 

 (Consular Reports No. 224, May, 1899), communication has been established. 



