260 



PAPER IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



The efficiency of the laborers is not up to the American standard. 

 Strikes are quite common, cost of living is high (even in the rural 

 districts), and wages are on the increase. 



The number of paper mills (in some instances combined with 

 pulp mills) in my district is n, and the capital invested in them 

 6,500,000 kroner ($1,742,000). Their capacity I can not ascertain, 

 but the output of paper of all kinds from the paper mills in Norway, 

 for the year 1898, is stated by the Norwegian Paper Manufacturers' 

 Association, at a recent meeting, at no less than 9,000,000 kroner 

 ($2,412,000). Norway's export of paper during recent years has 

 been as follows: 



For the last year (1898) the above figures do not come from the 

 regular official sources. Further on in the report I give additional 

 details. Norway's export of wood pulp and cellulose for the years 

 stated has been as follows: 



It will be seen that the industry is fast increasing. Figures for 

 1898 can not be had as yet without outlay. The Norwegian Pulp 

 Association has of late become frightened on account of American 

 competition in the European markets. Last year, it wanted infor- 

 mation and a commission was sent to the United States to study the 

 conditions. The report did not reassure the interested parties. In 

 a recent newspaper article, however, it is stated that the Norwegian 

 pulp manufacturers need not fear American competition in European 

 markets, on account of the advantages they have in distances and 

 ocean freights. 



This year, there has been scarcity of water in some of the Nor- 

 wegian rivers. In the Drammen River district there are some 16 

 mechanical wood-pulp mills, with an annual production of about 



