436 PAPER IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



by English houses. Esparto is excellent for paper, as well as for 

 textiles. It is sent to Europe without preparation, pressed in bales. 



(3) There are many trees belonging to the European flora in the 

 fine forests of the Algerine frontier; green and white oak, cork oak, 

 olive trees, cypresses, and the like, as well as mosses, seaweeds, etc. 



Being principally an agricultural country, Tunis produces a thick 

 and heavy wheat straw, from which common but strong paper is 

 made in Italy. This is much appreciated here for wrapping goods. 



I must not forget 'to mention the aloe tree, which is extremely 

 common here and has a strong fiber. 



IMPORTS AND BANKING AND TELEGRAPH FACILITIES. 



The paper formerly imported came from France, Italy, and Aus- 

 tria; it now comes from France, since the modification of the tariff. 



Banking and financial connections exist in Tunis at the present 

 time only with France and England. Tunisian money, being the 

 same as the French in type and value, is exchanged at par. The 

 exchange between England and Tunis follows exactly the varia- 

 tions between the English and the French exchange. Any other 

 country desirous of undertaking commercial operations with Tunis 

 must arrange credits either in London or Paris. 



Telegraph facilities are excellent; any part of the world can be 

 reached by telegraph or by telephone. 



AMERICAN TRADE. 



I do not see at this time any opening for America in paper or 

 pulp, on account of the new French tariffs, which oppose any at- 

 tempt to import American goods here. But I am convinced a large 

 business might be done by establishing local paper manufactories 

 under Tunisian names. The market would cover the whole of Tunis, 

 Algeria, Tripoli, Morocco, Malta, and even Egypt. Labor is very 

 cheap, and Tunisian products pay no duty in Algeria or France. 

 No taxes have ever been imposed upon such an industry. 



ALFRED CHAPELIE", 



TUNIS, December 29, 1898. Vice-Consul. 



