EUROPE: UNITED KINGDOM. 287 



Tar paper lined with scrim, size 32 inches, sells at i^d. (3 cents), 

 and size 40 inches at i^d. (3^ cents) per pound, less 15 per cent. 



Press boards sell at 4^d. (9 cents) per pound, less 5 per cent. 



There are about 12 small job-printing establishments and 21 

 weekly papers in the district, but no daily papers. Some of the 

 weekly papers publish guides and directories. 



There are no paper firms, companies, or brokers within the dis- 

 trict. 



Most of the paper consumed is of British make. The foreign 

 paper consumed here consists largely of the cheaper grades of 

 writing, job printing, hand bills, and wall paper. 



About ten years ago, the Fife mills supplied this section of the 

 country with news paper; previous to that time, the price had been 

 4d. (8 cents) per pound. It then fell to 2^d. (5 cents), and a year 

 or two later dropped to 2^d. and 2d. (4^ and 4 cents) per pound. 

 The Fife mills refused to manufacture below 2^d. (5 cents) and 

 went into job-printing papers and the better class papers. 



About four years ago, Norway supplied the market at i^d. 

 (3% cents). Two years ago, the United States reduced the price 

 to i^d. (3 cents), which, under competition, was again reduced to 

 i/^d. (2)4 cents). Norway then produced at i/^d. (2^4 cents), with 

 2^2 per cent discount, and the United States did the same and kept 

 the market. 



Last year, Norway offered a nicer looking paper at i/^d. (2*4 

 cents), with 5 per cent off, and now has the market. Shipments are 

 more reliable from Norway than from the United States, owing to 

 the shorter distance. It is also claimed that United States paper can 

 compete only when a low freight rate is obtained, in order to fill up a 

 cargo, and consequently it is often left at New York when a better 

 paying cargo is offered. 



Great Britain receives unprinted papers from Norway, Sweden, 

 Holland, the United States, Germany, and Belgium and printed 

 papers from Belgium, Holland, Germany, France, and the United 

 States, the relative importance of the different importing nations 

 being in the order above given. 



The consumption of all classes of paper is steadily increasing 

 with the growing population and expansion of trade. 



Wall and toilet papers are in greater demand than formerly, 

 owing largely to a marked fall in prices during the last few years, 

 especially in the cheapest grade of toilet paper, which has fallen 

 from 6d. (12 cents) to 3d. (6 cents) per roll, retail. 



There is a constantly growing demand for paper and paper arti- 

 cles consumed by the linen industry. 



The consumption of Jacquard cards is increasing at a rapid pace, 



