CENTRAL AMERICA: GUATEMALA. 345 



There is no production or export of paper or articles manufac- 

 tured from paper, so that my remarks on consumption are applicable 

 to imports. 



The consumption of high-grade paper in this country is so limited 

 at present that it is hardly worth attention. The customs duties are 

 high and rates of foreign exchange so excessive that present condi- 

 tions are liable to continue, unless the Government should see fit to 

 lower the duties. 



The customs duties on printed matter are as nothing compared 

 with the duties paid on any kind of paper. For instance, books of 

 all kinds, novels, school books, or any printed matter, and on what- 

 ever kind of paper printed, if paper bound, are admitted free of 

 duty. But on the same kind of blank paper the duty is 15 cents 

 silver per kilogram (2.2046 pounds) for all kinds of cotton paper and 

 25 cents per kilogram for linen paper. Fifteen per cent additional 

 is charged upon the whole amount of the shipment, and to both 

 amounts 30 per cent gold (at the rate of 180 per cent premium), or 

 its equivalent in silver, is added, making the high grades of paper 

 articles of luxury. Duties are imposed upon gross weight. Under 

 the circumstances, publishing and printing can not prosper, and 

 authors have their works printed abroad. 



UNITED STATES TRADE. 



I doubt if a salesman representing a United States paper manu- 

 factory has ever visited this Republic. Occasionally, one sees an 

 agent of a San Francisco jobbing house, who, of course, represents 

 other wares, knows very little about paper, and is consequently una- 

 ble to get his share of the small business there is to be had. His 

 prices are certain to be high and his terms unsatisfactory to purchas- 

 ers accustomed to European methods. On the other hand, German, 

 French, Italian, and Belgian drummers frequently visit the Republic, 

 offering good inducements, and generally succeed in appropriating 

 the trade. 



From observation, I am convinced that the superior quality of 

 United States paper is appreciated here and this would be preferred if 

 our manufacturers would do their part toward getting their product 

 in the market. They must be prepared to give better terms than they 

 have been willing to give in the past, when small orders have been 

 sent them directly or through commission houses. Fair ledger, 

 bond, laid and wove flats, linen, book, and news paper could be sold 

 in small quantities at present. There is no doubt that they would 

 be preferred to any European papers for their weight and size. The 

 printers would soon learn the advantages they possess over others 

 for their business. 



I am a strong believer in establishing warehouses in the important 



