EUROPE : NETHERLANDS. 



2I 9 



Coal costs, put down, from 145. to 153. ($3.40 to $3.65) per ton. 

 The bulk is brought from Westphalia by rail or boat. 



There are no trees and fibers suitable for paper making. Straw, 

 rags, and waste are plentiful. 



There are no facilities for making paper machinery. 



Labor in paper mills is paid from 7 to 12 florins ($2.81 to $4.82) 

 per week. Skilled and expert labor averages from 18 to 24 florins 

 ($7- 2 3 to $9-65); never more. There are only two paper mills of 

 importance. They use steam and electricity. The paper is hand- 

 made for the greater part. The processes and methods of manufac- 

 ture are distinctly modern. The tendencies of production are to 

 compete for home consumption with Germany and Belgium. 



IMPORTS. 



News paper, brown, writing, antiques, and book paper is im- 

 ported. The news paper costs 8, 10, 11^2, and 12 Dutch cents per 

 kilogram (3^-, 4, 4-|, and 4^ cents per 2.2 pounds). Antiques (Eng- 

 lish writing) 25 to 35 Dutch cents per kilogram (10 to 14 cents per 

 2.2 pounds). 



The countries from which the imports come are: 



The import duty on all classes is 5 per cent ad valorem. 



Mail facilities with each country are: Belgium, 3 hours, 5 mails 

 per day; Germany, 6 hours, 3 mails per day; France, 6 hours, 3 

 mails per day; England, 12 hours, 2 mails per day; United States, 

 10 days, 2 mails per week. 



Germany stands first in the trade; she sends travelers, posts 

 samples, gives quotations (including carriage and duty). Belgium 

 is represented by local houses. England sends a few travelers; 

 France and the United States send none. 



There may be openings for American paper in news, book, art 

 printings, and lithographs of good quality only. There is no room 

 for common grades. The sending of traveling men with catalogues 

 and samples when convenient is the best way to build up a trade. 



EXPORTS. 



Handmade paper and strawboards, as well as cheap printing 

 paper, are exported. Prices vary according to quality. England 

 takes the largest amount, averaging ^40,000 ($194,660) per month. 



