The Portland daily press., 1863-02-13
MISCELLANY.
History OF the sPaper Makers Associa-
ton"

History Of the "Paper Makers Associa-
tiOn."
Below we give short, but we have reason
to believe, correct history of the organization
which calls itself the Paper Makers Associa-
ton of the United States.,' This society OBJ
jects to the title combination" as applied to
its acts; with what justice, those may say who
read what follows.
About year ago the manufacturers of fine
writing paper met at Springfield, Massachu-
sets, and formed an association, which deter
mined that the price of writing paper should
be raised, and fixed the rates for the future at
not less than seventeen cents for fiat cap and
twenty-five cents for letter and note pa
per. The prices ranged before from thirteen
to fourteen cents for the first and from fifteen
to twenty-five for the last.
This resolution worked so well, and excited
SO little comment or opposition-the interests
involved being comparatively small-that it
seems to have occurred TO the manufacturers
OF printing paper to follow the example thus
set. Accordingly, in August last, they called
aconvention, which met at the Astor House
In this city, aud formed what is known as the
Paper Makers Association OF the United States.
At this time there was no scarcity of rags
the price OF paper stock was moderate, and the
price of paper wash proportion. At this first
meeting, we are informed, prominent manu-
facturer offered a resolution, that all the mills
owned by members be put at once on half
time. We can see but one object in such
measure-to create a sudden and artificial
scarcity of paper, which would enable paper
makers to Increase their prices, while at the
same time rags, being in less demand, would
probably tall in price. Thus double profit
would be secured to the members of what we
will not call a Combination" This resolution
was not carried, some members refusing their
assent because they had contracts to ill which
required them to work on full time.
At the October meeting of the association it
was finally determined TO raise the price of pa
per; and we are informed that three samples
OF printing paper were filed as standards of
quality and price. A resolution was offered
that no printing paper should be sold at less
than twelve and half sixteen and eighteen
cents, for the three qualities. The wording of
this was changed, so that it became "recom-
mendation." The meeting adjourned, and
that same afternoon the price of paper was
raised, SO that paper dealers in this city were
unable to get orders filed on that day. except
at the advanced prices.
As the paper makers object to the use OF,
the word combination" we will not apply it
" this movement which we have just des-
cribed. The public may use its own judg-
ment in the matter.
We recently stated that there was no search
ty or rise in price of rags either then or to be
AcAoOndUiy dpPFcHtuutu, W tAcuSt lulS StueT-
al rise in paper. But the news Of the action
OF the association was disclosed; 1t was tele-
graphed over the country the next morning,
and at once the rag-dealers East and West an
ticipased rise in the price Of their commodi-
~, refused to name the rates at which they
would sell; and the market thus tempered
with, 1t Is not strange that rags at once rose to
speculative prices.
At present, and by the action of this associa-
tiOu-WIirh mneh fa m cd m ran
aAcombination"-it is probable that most of
the smaller paper mills in the country will
stop work and be crushed. This of course on
ly strengthens the wealthy members of the as
sociation, who will thus be rid not only of for
eign but ofhome competition. And this makes
1t the more necessary that congress should at
once declare foreign paper free of duty-ifnot
permanently, then at least fora certain period
say year.
Meantime monopolists are like pigs swim
ming; they cut they own Threats. The state
OF things the association has brought about,
has revived many old inventions for making
paper out of other material than rags; and
there Is prospect that by next June or July
we shall have supply of straw and wood pa
per, OF good quality and in sufficient quantity
TO I'LL the market and bring down prices
There is a difficulty about the manufacture Of
straw paper and that is the existence of con-
fiictng patents. Capitalists do not like to
"bring lawsuits" We notice also that the
owners of most of the important straw paper
patents are members of the association. But
1t Is now proved that paper can be made from
wood; and it Is a fact that straw and wood
paper can at this time'be produced by those
who have the requisite machinery, at not to ex-
coed eight cents per pound: but this is sold
in the market at from eighteen to twenty
cents.
The heavy boilers needed for preparing
pulp from straw and wood require time TO
make, and workmen in iron are scarce Just
now. But we understand that a large num-
Der of mills have ordered such boilers, and
that In few months the public may hope to
be independent, with the help of Congress, of
the "Paper Makers Association Of the United
States."-(N. Y. Post.