344 . PAPER IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



The terms of sale of European houses are generally six and nine 

 months, while American houses, as a rule, demand practically cash 

 in advance. 



The quantities and values of paper consumed can not be defi- 

 nitely stated. The statistics of the custom-house do not give the 

 exact information asked. 



Properly speaking, there are no paper firms or brokers; station- 

 ers, printers, and general stores doing all the business there is in this 

 line. Siguere & Cia. and Goubaud & Cia., of this city, are important 

 stationers and manufacturers of blank books. 



There are about 20 newspapers published in this Republic, and 6 

 of these are dailies with probable circulation ranging from 600 to 

 1,500 copies each. 



The number of printers master printers is about 8, all job 

 offices. The national printing office is the only book office in this 

 country. There are no publishers. Attempts in this line have 

 invariably failed. 



The national printing office consumes an enormous quantity of 

 paper every year, and the stock is bought by different merchants, 

 who supply the Goverment under contract. The nationality of the 

 merchant furnishing the paper largely determines the country from 

 which it comes; and, all things considered, he is apt to be a German. 



The offices in the interior are few and small, supplying themselves 

 almost entirely with a cheap quality of German paper for everything 

 they do. This paper is an 8-pound cap the kind imported by most 

 of the general merchants folded, put up in half reams, and sold 

 at about $4 or $5 Guatemalan currency ($1.75 to $2.19) per ream 

 (with exchange fluctuating at from 180 per cent to 225 per cent for 

 gold). 



No articles are manufactured from paper or pulp, except blank 

 books. 



IMPORTS. 



Germany stands first in the paper trade, France and the United 

 States following in the order named. Printing paper comes largely 

 from the United States, but much wood paper comes from Germany, 

 Austria, and Belgium. Drawing paper comes from France, straw 

 packing paper from Germany, tissue paper from Austria, cigarette 

 paper from Spain, and much of the finer quality of writing paper and 

 envelopes from the United States and England. Wall paper comes 

 largely from France and Germany, the better grades from the former 

 and the poorer from the latter. The bulk of this paper sold is very 

 cheap, but with bright colors and attractive designs. Very little 

 comes from the United States. 



