EUROPE: RUSSIA. 225 



The prices in the market vary from 6 copecks (3 cents) per pound 

 of wrapping paper up to i ruble (51.5 cents) per pound of hand- 

 made. During the last five years there has been a depreciation in 

 prices of 20 to 25 per cent, caused by overproduction. 



Wholesale terms are generally six to eight months' credit. 



It is not possible to give yearly consumption, as the factories do 

 not make reports, and there are no other statistics on the subject. 



There are in Poland 8 large paper factories and about 40 small 

 ones with water power. The largest factory has a gross income of 

 1,750,000 rubles ($901,250) per year. There are many paper deal- 

 ers, but the number is unknown. The principal paper factories are 

 at Czgstochowa, Poraj, Novoradomsk, Pabianice, Soosewka, near 

 Plaek; Pilica, on the River Pilica; Jeziorna, near Warsaw. There 

 are no journals treating of the subject. 



In the city of Warsaw there are about 20 large printing offices, 

 besides newspapers. No foreigners can follow the printing business 

 in this country. There are about 20 publishers. 



The increase in production of paper is gradual, and depends upon 

 the number of schools and commerce in general. 



The import of paper is mostly from Germany, and consists of let- 

 ter paper, colored and fancy. On account of the constant change 

 of fashion and the small demand for fancy paper, the local factories 

 do not make it. 



PRODUCTION. 



Poland is a flat country, with no large rivers but the Vistula, 

 which is not regulated, and therefore yields no available water 

 power. 



The fuel mostly used in the factories here consists of coal and 

 peat. Coal at the collieries costs 40 copecks (20.6 cents) for 100 

 kilograms (220.46 pounds) and the freight from the mines to War- 

 saw costs about the same. 



Labor costs from 50 copecks to i ruble (25.7 to 51.5 cents) per 

 day, and in summer time is very scarce. 



Most of the large factories use modern machinery. Steam power 

 is mostly employed. Of late, tissue paper has been manufactured 

 here in large quantities. 



Postal communication with France or England takes forty-eight 

 hours. 



Materials for manufacturing all kinds of paper, as cellulose, etc., 

 are imported from foreign countries. 



There is no export of paper from Poland. 



JOSEPH RAWICZ, 



WARSAW, July ip, 1899. Consul. 



s c R p & p 15. 



