The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-28
PAPER.

There are in the United States nearly eight
hundred paper mills in operation, having three
thousand engines, and producing yearly two
hundred and seventy million pounds of paper,
which, at ten cents per pound, amounts to
twenty seven million dollars. The quantity of
rags required TO produce the paper amounts to
four hundred and FIVE million pounds. 1t takes
one and quarter pounds of rags to make one
pound of paper. The value of these rags at four
cents per pound is sixteen million two hundred
thousand dollars, and the cost of labor at one
and three quarters cents per pound amounts to
three million three hundred and seventy-five
thousand dollars. The cost of labor and rags,
united, is nineteen million FIVE hundred and
seventy-fve thousand dollars, and the cost of
manufacturing, aside from labor and rags, is four
million and fifty thousand dollars, which makes
the total cost twenty three million six hundred
and twenty-five thousand dollars, for manufac-
turing paper, twenty-seven million dollars.
Besides the rags gathered at home, the United
States imports them from twenty six different
countries. The amount imported in 1853 was
twenty-five million seven hundred and sixty-six
thousand pounds, worth nine hundred and
eighty.two thousand eight hundred and thirty
seven dollars. Italy is the greatest source of
supply, and sends US about one-ffth of the whole
amount. In 1853, there were imported from Eng
land two million six hundred and sixty-six thou
sand and FIVE pounds.
From these statistics, compared with foreign
tables, it will be seen that the consumption of
paper in the United States is equal to that of
England and France combined.
Forty years ago, the manufacture of four
thousand small sheets Of paper was good days
work for three men, while now, by the aid of
machinery, the same number can produce sixty
thousand sheets in the same time. 1t has been
estimated that the paper produced yearly by six
machines, if united in one sheet, would encircle
the world. Nowhere is paper so much used and
valued as it is in the United States. In France,
with thirty-fve million of inhabitants, only
seventy thousand tons of paper are produced
yearly, of which one seventh is for expectation.
Ia Great Britain, with twenty-eight million of
inhabitants, only sixty-six thousand tons are
produced, while the United States, young, and
but little advanced in manufactures, turns out
nearly two hundred thousand tons-more than
the united product of these tX0 great CONNER
The imports of paper into New York, in the
year 1853, amounted to four thousand four hun
dred and eighty-two packages, valued at three
hundred and forty thousand three hundred and
twentyiour H o.".ars, while those of 1854 were
three thousand four hundred and eighteen pack
ages valued at two hundred and fifty-one thou
sand five hundred and ffty.seven dollars. Of
stationery for the years 1884, there was i'm
ported five thousand three hundred and fifty
seven packages, valued at eight hundred and
sixty thousand six hundred and twentyeight
dollars. The exports of paper and stationery,
between July l, 1853, and June 40, 1884,
amounted to one hundred and eighty seven thou
sand three hundred and twenty.fiv dollars, and
those of books and maps during the same period
to one hundred and ninety.one thousand eight
hundred and forty-three.
TO the paper manufacturer, the rapid de-
crease in the supply Of rags is alarming; and to
remedy this defect, other substances must and
rags be discovered, which will keep the supply
of paper fully up to the demand, it is plain that
great impetus will he given to the manufac-
turc of paper.