EUROPE : UNITED KINGDOM. 293 



say that they are people of a high grade of intelligence is only stat- 

 ing what all well-informed persons everywhere have long known. 

 In no other part of the United Kingdom is education more wide- 

 spread, the search for knowledge more eager, the habit of study more 

 general, and civilization at a higher level than in the east of Scot- 

 land. Curiously, no official census report for Scotland touches illit- 

 eracy, and there is no direct means of ascertaining the percentage 

 of illiterates; but the chief inspector of schools in Edinburgh ex- 

 presses the opinion that "with the strict enforcement of the com- 

 pulsory clauses of the education act, the number is extremely small 

 and steadily diminishing." 



In regard to the uses of paper, no one could safely venture to 

 say what it is not used for, except as an article of diet. But the only 

 notable purposes to which paper is applied in this district are the 

 common ones of printing, writing, wrapping, etc. 



If "the consumption of paper is the measure of a people's cul- 

 ture," as someone has written, this city can afford to invite com- 

 parison, in respect to advancement, with any other community in 

 Europe. This local demand, long existing and constantly growing, 

 has had the effect of making paper manufacture an industry of 

 the first importance here. 



PRODUCTION. 



Midlothian is the seat of the paper-making industry in Scotland. 

 Many of the mills have been in operation more than fifty years. 

 Bank Mill, Penicuik, the beginning of the present Valleyfield Mills, 

 was started in 1710. It may be said, therefore, that paper making 

 is one of the oldest industries in the Lothians. 



There are in this district 23 paper mills, including millboard mills. 

 They are almost wholly in Midlothian. Only 6 are in other coun- 

 ties 4 in Linlithgow and 2 in Berwick. The names and locations 

 of the mills in Midlothian, the name of the firm or company owning 

 each, and the distance from a railroad terminus in Edinburgh, are 

 here given: 



Polton Mills, Polton (8 miles) ; Annandale & Son, Limited. 



Esk Mills, Penicuik (15^ miles); James Brown & Co., Limited. 



Kinleith Mill, Currie (6 miles) ; Henry Bruce & Sons. 



Valleyfield Mills, Penicuik; Alex. Cowan & Sons, Limited. 



Bonnington Paper Mill, Bonnington (3 miles) ; James Henderson. 



Balerno Bank Mills, Balerno (8 miles); Hill, Craig & Co. 



Inveresk Mills, Musselburgh (5 miles) ; Inveresk Paper Company. 



Portobello Mill, Portobello (3 miles) ; Alfred Nichol & Co. 



Woodhall Mill, Juniper Green (6 miles) ; Henry Parker. 



West Mill, Colinton (3^ miles); John Plummer. 



