202 COTTON TEXTILES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



Total imports during years 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, and 1888. 



Average annual imports 1,111 tons; value of, $838,754. 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



Catania July 14, 1889. 



VINCENT LAMANTIA, 



Consul. 



FLORENCE. 



REPORT BY CONSUL D1LLER. 



In pursuance of directions contained in cotton textile circular, I 

 herewith append a table which contains full information on the above 

 points, so far as the immediate district of the province of Florence is 

 concerned. 



I have found it impossible to procure reliable information from the 

 seven remaining provinces connected with this consular district in time 

 for this report, and as this is the great center for the importation of 

 goods embraced in the inquiry, the table I inclose will, I think, cover 

 the, objects mentioned in your circular. I 



I again repeat what I have heretofore reported that, in my opinion, 

 Florence presents, from its geographical position, many advantages for 

 the establishment of a grand entrepot for the sale and exhibition of 

 American products, chief among them being our cotton textiles, agri- 

 cultural machinery and implements, mechanics 7 tools, and wooden ware. 

 This entrepot should be in charge of persons fully acquainted with all 

 the details of the business of each department and familiar with the 

 language of the country. 



I also inclose several samples of cotton textiles in general use in this 

 city, with the retail price in pencil, marked No. 2. 



