Total imports during years 1884, 1885, 1886, 1857, and 1888.

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 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 entrepôt for the sale and exhibition of American products, chief among them being our cotton textiles, agricultural machinery and implements, mechanics' tools, and wooden ware. This entrepôt 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.

I have great pleasure in acknowledging the valuable services of Spirito Bernardi, esq., the vice-consul here, for his assistance in preparing this report and collecting the accompanying samples.

UNITED STATES CONSULATE,

ISAAC R. DILLER,

Consul.

Florence, Italy, July 6, 1889.

Statement showing the imports of cotton textiles into Florence, 1888.

Terms.-Payments are usually made either three or six months after production of bill of lading.

GENOA.

REPORT BY CONSUL FLETCHER.

On account of the peculiar manner in which statistics are recorded by officials of the Italian Government in this consular district, and the different mode of levying duties on imported merchandise, as compared with United States laws on such subjects and in such cases, questions Nos. 1 and 4, of Department circular, relating to cotton textiles, must be answered as one interrogatory. The same with interrogatories Nos. 2 and 5.

Imports of cotton textiles imported into Genoa during year 1888.

All cloth from Great Britain, Spain, and Belgium is imported by sea, whereas the same class of merchandise from Austria, France, Germany, and Switzerland comes by rail.

HOW PURCHASED?

Three months, credit is usually given buyers of cotton textiles.

DUTIES.

On unbleached textiles weighing 13 kilograms or more per 100 square meters, and which present in a square of 5 millimeters each side, adding the number of threads of the warp to those of the weft, 27 threads or less, 62 lire per 100 kilograms; if more than 27 threads 74 lires per 100 kilograms.