406 PAPER IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



make the paper used by them by putting rice straw into a mortar 

 with water and pounding it. When it reaches the pulp state, a little 

 glue or rice is added; the mixture is then spread between boards or 

 rollers, after being thinned, and is dried in the sun. 



There are two paper mills in this district one at Kokura, the 

 other at Yatsushiro. The last named is called the Toki Paper Com- 

 pany. It has two New York paper-making machines, turns out 10 

 tons of paper every twenty-four hours, employs 150 hands, and 

 makes white news and white wrapping paper. The works are built 

 of wood and stone. It employs no foreigners and uses straw pulp 

 mostly, although a few rags are also used. There are two boilers 

 for generating steam to dry the paper on the rollers. The machin- 

 ery is moved by water power, and the plant is equipped with an 

 electric-lighting apparatus. The main office of the company is No. 

 10 Shin Yamachi, Kumamoto. The company was established in 

 July, 1898, with a capital of 1,000,000 yen ($498,000). There are 

 said to be so many quotations for the Toki mill paper that they 

 would be useless for information. 



The other mill, at Kokura, is called the Senguseishi Kabushiki 

 Kaisha. It has a very large capital and an output of 20 tons per 

 day, employs 3 British subjects and 500 laborers, has 7 boilers, runs 

 by steam power 2 paper machines, has 5 or 6 brick buildings, and 

 uses rags and pulp, the latter being imported. I am unable to learn 

 the price paid for the pulp, but rags cost 2.25 yen per picul ($1.24 

 per 133^ pounds) for cotton and 2.55 yen ($1.26) for linen. This 

 mill makes news paper only. 



There is also a flourishing industry in handmade paper at Fuku- 

 shima ; wrapping, Japanese letter, and tissue paper are manufactured, 

 and no machinery is used. 



FOREIGN PAPER. 



I am informed that some of the Japanese newspaper publishers 

 do not use the local product; they employ the German, which, they 

 claim, is more suitable, as well as cheaper, being thinner, lighter, 

 more easily handled, and better made. 



The paper imported into and exported from this consular district 

 is so small in quantity that it is not worth mentioning. 



BANKING, MAIL, AND TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 



The banking facilities with all countries from which paper is or 

 is likely to be imported are good, as are the mail and telegraphic 

 facilities. The method of transportation from all countries to Japan 

 is by water, by regular and "tramp" steamers, and by sailing vessels. 



