ASIA: SIBERIA. 417 



SIBERIA. 



POPULATION. 



The total population of the Amur territory and south maritime 

 province, including Vladivostock, Nikolaefsk, Blagovestchinsk, and 

 Habarofsk, and excluding the northern part of the province, is esti- 

 mated at about 797,000, divided as follows: Army regulars, 600,000; 

 Russians in cities, 75,000; Russians in the country, 22,000; Asiatics, 

 100,000. The illiterates represent from 75 to 80 per cent. The 

 people have mechanical traits, but are not likely to become com- 

 petitors in this line of industry. 



CONSUMPTION. 



Paper is employed for business purposes. There are no special 

 industries requiring it. Middle-class printing paper, costing from $i 

 to $1.25 per ream, is used the most. I believe that the ordinary terms 

 of credit, etc., are given. The quantity employed yearly is perhaps 

 30,000 reams, 500 sheets in each, valued at $37,500. Stationery is 

 consumed to the value of $12,500, and news paper $2, 500, or some 

 10,000 reams. 



Kunst & Albers, in Vladivostock, are brokers for Russian and 

 German houses. 



There are 6 newspapers 3 in Vladivostock, i in Habarofsk, and 

 2 in Blagovestchinsk. The printers number from 15 to 20, and the 

 publishers 6. The Government offices are large consumers. Noth- 

 ing is manufactured from paper here. The consumption is likely 

 to increase. Russia controls the trade; next in importance come 

 Germany and Japan. 



PRODUCTION. 



There is plenty of water accessible from the railway and from 

 steamers; and very good material for paper exists. Land could be 

 secured near the water's edge with all the material near at hand, 

 and a company could easily be organized. No water power has been 

 developed. 



Wood and coal (mostly anthracite) are available for fuel ; the cost 

 is moderate and transport facilities by water and rail are good. 



Raw materials comprise hackmatack, fir, spruce, cedar, grasses, 

 rags, and waste. There are very few grasses, a moderate supply 

 of waste, and plenty of rags; of the trees, spruce abounds. There 

 is no machinery for paper making. The cheapest kind of labor 

 Chinese and Korean is available. 

 s c R P & p 27. 



