^26 PAPER IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



*_J 



been used. The cost of material to the manufacturers must be as 

 low as in any place in the world, considering the low price of timber 

 land ($i per acre), the fine water powers, and the cheap transporta- 

 tion. I think most of the modern machinery for making paper is 

 imported from the United States, but there are plenty of facilities 

 for making it here. 



The cost of labor in paper and pulp mills is from 80 cents to $3 

 per day, and no better or more efficient workmen can be found. I 

 can not give quantities or value of output for the past five years 

 without considerable expense. 



There are only 2 small paper mills in this vicinity. The power 

 is water and the methods old fashioned, though I think modern 

 appliances will soon be used. There are 3 mills at Portneuf, Que- 

 bec, making felt, wrapping, and printing paper. The mill at Lo- 

 rette, in addition to wrapping, also makes felt and printing paper. 

 A small mill at St. Bazille makes felt and building paper. The 

 largest paper and pulp mill in this vicinity is at Grand Mere, located 

 on the west side of the St. Maurice River, on the Great Northern 

 Railway. More than $2, 000,000 have been invested by Canadians 

 and Americans, and nearly 1,000 hands are employed. About 40 

 tons of printing paper are made daily. The name is the Laurentide 

 Pulp and Paper Company. It also produces daily about 100 tons of 

 dry pulp, 35 tons of cardboard, and 50 tons of sulphide pulp. There 

 is also a pulp mill at Chicoutimi doing a large business. I am una- 

 ble to give the amount, as the manager has failed to answer my let- 

 ter asking for information. There are pulp mills at St. Raymond, 

 Pont Rouge, Portneuf, and Old Lake Road, with a production of 

 about 5 tons daily each. 



IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. 



The imports of books, printed matter, printed music, and paper 

 of all kinds in 1897 were $31,907, of which the United States 

 furnished to the value of $22,214; Great Britain, $2,929; France, 

 $6,956; and Germany, $756. The export tables for 1897 do not 

 show any paper; but wood pulp was valued at $32,918, against $40 

 in 1896. My consular certificates for 1898 show $24,359 worth of 

 pulp wood exported to the United States. 



The banking, telegraph, and mail facilities with various coun- 

 tries are good. 



Books will continue to be imported from the United States; but 

 it is my opinion that Canada will export paper, wood pulp, and pulp 

 wood to the United States for a good many years to come, for the 

 reason that there is an unlimited supply of cheap timber. 



