EUROPE: UNITED KINGDOM. 



299 



from Egypt is $5. 35 per ton, and from Hamburg, Amsterdam, and 

 Antwerp, about $3. 15. On esparto from Barcelona, the rate is from 

 $3.60 to $4.40; from Africa, $4.85. On wood pulp from Norway 

 and Sweden the freight rate varies from $1.80 per ton for moist to 

 $3 for dry. The average prices of these imported materials per ton, 

 freight paid, are: 



The local freight charges indicated, from Leith to Penicuik, are 

 practically the same as from Edinburgh to Penicuik, and the rates 

 from these points (the North British Railway goods station in Leith 

 and in Edinburgh) to Linlithgow are slightly higher, and to Polton, 

 Lasswade, Musselburgh, and Portabello somewhat lower. These 

 rates do not, I understand, include cartage at either end. Most of 

 the mills have sidings and excellent facilities for the easy and quick 

 handling of coal, materials, and goods. 



As to the quantities of raw materials. imported, statistics are diffi- 

 cult to obtain. Absolutely reliable figures can be procured only at 

 the department of customs, London. This applies to manufactures 

 as well. The local customs authorities are not at liberty to give out 

 information from the official records. From other sources, I have 

 ascertained that there were imported into the Edinburgh district by 

 water last year, in round numbers, 6,000 tons of rags, 12,000 tons of 

 wood pulp, and 51,000 tons of esparto. 



It will be observed from the quantity of esparto (also known as 

 alfa) imported that it is a most important factor in the manufacture 

 of paper in this district. As already indicated, it comes only from 

 Algeria and Spain. Attempts have been made to grow it elsewhere 

 in the British islands, for instance but they have been entirely un- 

 successful. The value here of esparto has fluctuated little within the 

 past few years. It is imported in hydraulically compressed bales of 



