ASIA: TURKEY IN ASIA. 419 



received 10 cents. The Ant-Elias mill stopped six years ago, in 

 consequence of dissensions between the managers. No paper or 

 pulp mill exists in Syria to-day, nor is there any prospect of such 

 factories being started in the near future. 



CONSUMPTION. 



Paper is used here principally for printing, packing, and general 

 stationery; also for the making of account books and for the manu- 

 facture of cigarettes. A large dealer in Austrian paper puts the 

 annual importation of paper into Beirut at 600,000 kilograms (1,320,- 

 ooo pounds), representing a cash value of less than $50,000, the 

 average price per pound being i piaster (3^ cents). I consider 

 this estimate, however, entirely too low. Beirut supplies perhaps 

 two-thirds of Syria. There are 16 Arabic newspapers in Beirut, but 

 their circulation is not large. The total number of printing estab- 

 lishments is about 25. The American Mission Press printed last 

 year 28,085,564 pages and issued 198,000 copies of publications of 

 all kinds. It has 672 distinct books on its catalogue and keeps a 

 good supply of each publication. L'Imprimerie Catholique does 

 a similarly large business. For newspapers, cheap wood-pulp paper, 

 procured from Austria and Italy, is mainly used, while much of the 

 book paper consumed comes from Fiume, Austria. France, Italy, 

 England, Austria, and America supply the local market with general 

 stationery. 



Paper is generally bought through commission agents, on three 

 to six months' credit, 4 to 6 per cent discount for cash. The Imperial 

 Ottoman Bank, Heald & Co., and other banking houses buy and sell 

 drafts on the capitals of Europe. The leading brokers are Weber & 

 Co., August Duplau & Co., F. Leitie & Co., E. Luttiche & Co., 

 Speich & Yared, Bucher & Co., and F. Wehner. 



The consumption of paper in Syria is rapidly increasing, with 

 the social and educational advancement of the people. 



DUTIES AND TRANSPORTATION. 



The uniform customs duty in importations is 8 per cent ad 

 valorem, while i per cent is levied on exports. 



Regular lines of French, Austrian, Russian, English, and Turkish 

 steamers touch at Syrian ports at short intervals. The time occupied 

 between here and London is eight to ten days. Beirut enjoys first- 

 class telegraphic facilities. It is generally accepted that 10 to 12 

 per cent must be added to manufacturers' price on paper to defray 

 expenses (transportation, customs duties, etc.) to the workshops in 

 Beirut. 



