SOUTH AMERICA : ECUADOR. 

 Import duties Continued. 



36; 



IQUIQUE, January 24, 1899. 



J. W. MERRIAM, 



Consul. 



ECUADOR. 

 GUAYAQUIL. 



POPULATION. 



The population of Ecuador may be roughly estimated at 1,500,- 

 ooo, of whom probably four-fifths are illiterate. 



PRODUCTION. 



At present, there are no paper manufactories in the country. 

 They may possibly be established as soon as the projected railway 

 from the coast to Quito affords proper transportation facilities, as 

 water power, raw materials, and cheap labor are abundant and the 

 local demand may justify such a venture. 



CONSUMPTION. 



There are not more than 20 printing establishments in the entire 

 Republic, 6 of which are located in Guayaquil. Manufacturers of 

 cigarettes also use paper, none of which comes from the United 



