334 PAPER IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



The population of Victoria is now claimed to be 23,000, and of 

 Nanaimo 6,000; Wellington, Union, Alberni, Chemainus, and other 

 settlements are estimated at 7,000 or 8,000; making a total of 37,000. 

 Of this number, probably 1,000 are Indians and Japanese and 4,000 

 Chinese. 



The proportion of illiterates is very small, not over i per cent of 

 the white population. 



The people have mechanical and other traits common to the 

 Anglo-Saxon race, and with the requisite capital and machinery 

 could produce paper or any other manufacture. 



CONSUMPTION. 



The uses of paper are manifold principally for newspapers, 

 books and pamphlets, wrapping, blank books, stationery, and all 

 the thousand and one requirements of commerce in civilized coun- 

 tries. There are no industries peculiar to this island requiring 

 paper. 



All classes and kinds of paper are used here, viz, print, book, 

 wrapping, fine flat, writing, wall, tissue, cardboard, record, building, 

 etc. There are no special requirements as to quality, weights, and 

 sizes. 



Prices are about the same as in the United States and vary with 

 the market, ranging from 2^ cents per pound for wrapping to 4 

 cents per pound for news, and to 20 cents per pound for flat record. 



The terms of sale are usually four months on carload lots. 



It is impossible to ascertain the quantities and values of paper 

 consumed in the whole of Vancouver Island. Dealers and consumers 

 decline to state how much they import or how much of any particu- 

 lar class or kind. The imports of paper from countries outside of 

 Canada for the year ended June 30, 1898, amounted to $31,153. As 

 nearly as can be gathered from the very imperfect data obtainable, 

 the consumption of paper per annum is about as follows: Wrapping, 

 bags, etc., 400 tons; news, 300 tons; book, 200 tons; flat and label, 

 300 tons; cardboard and parchment, 100 tons. 



The firms in Victoria which sell paper are as follows: 



T. N. Hibben & Co. 



Victoria Book and Stationery Company. 



Thomas Earle. 



Simon Leiser & Co. 



J. H. Todd & Co. 

 Lenz & Leiser. 

 Turner, Beeton & Co. 

 R. P. Rithet & Co. 



All except the first two sell only at wholesale and deal principally 

 in wrapping and the cheaper grades. The only general paper store 

 on the island, where all kinds of paper are sold at both wholesale and 

 retail, is the first named T. N. Hibben & Co., of Victoria. 



