EUROPE: UNITED KINGDOM. 



317 



and the production increasing so as to more than meet the growing 

 demand. 



IMPORTS. 



There is very little paper imported into the district. A year or 

 two ago, Norway and the United States competed and obtained 

 some hold on the market, and the competition had the result of de- 

 pressing prices; but practically no foreign paper has been sold dur- 

 ing the last twelve months, except some thin caps, which are largely 

 imported from Scandinavia. The market price for paper for news- 

 paper printing is about $48. 66 per ton, delivered, and for caps $48. 66 

 to $77.86 per ton. The banking, mail, and telegraphic facilities are 

 very good. There are no import duties or tariffs on these imports. 

 The Scandinavians have been making strenuous efforts to build up 

 their exports to this district. Consumers are constantly visited by 

 agents of Scandinavian and of United States paper manufacturers, 

 but local competition seems to be too great for them to get a footing 

 here for their manufactures. The only way to do so would be by 

 underselling the makers and supplying manufactures of equal or 

 better quality. The establishment of a local exhibition or museum 

 for American manufactures is suggested as the best means to in- 

 crease and build up the export trade of the United States to this 

 district. 



Local statistics as to imports can not be given. The following, 

 taken from the Paper Maker and British Paper Trade Journal, edited 

 in London and dated January 31, 1899, gives the Board of Trade 

 returns of total imports of paper and paper-making materials into the 

 United Kingdom for the years 1896, 1897, and 1898: 



