The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-12-08
The High Price of Paper.--A Little
Secret History.

Our readers are aware that one year
ago news and other kinds of paper were
up to almost fabulous prices, and there re-
manned during the winter. Although
there was 20 genuine cause for the greatly
enhanced prices which manufacturers and
dealers asked, there was a little show of
excuse for them in the then great premium
on gold and the general depression conse-
quent upon the as yet undecisive struggle
of our nation for an existence, and the
unsettled state of the markets generally.
In the spring however, the rebellion was
conquered, and the premium on gold fell
from $50 to 40, and has remained at
about the latter figure ever since.
With the fall of the rebellion and the
price of gold, paper began to decline, and
by the first of August it could be pur-
chased at from ID to 16 cents pound
For ten years previous to '62, news print
had been held at from to 10 cents SO
it will be seen that paper in the summer
of 'G5 at l6 cents, was not much higher
than gold at $50, and about the same
price relatively as most articles of con-
sumption.
But the manufacturers were not satisti-
ed with Il price sixty per cent. higher than
before the war and what did they do :?
They called meeting of their organiza-
ton at New York, (tor the paper manu-
facturers are combined and organized),
and early in August the order was issued
to the entire combination to put all the
mills then running on certain kinds of pa
per (Which included news and book on to
half time. From that day paper COM
menced to rise. and in six or eight weeks
it was again firm at % cents per pound
for news, and 20 and 80 cents for book
paper.
Now what is the plain English of this
business ? 1t is simply this Tie manu-
facturers found that paper was getting too
cheap; and in order to raise the price.
they in effect stopped half the mills in the
country, on purpose to create scarcity
and a rise, knowing that they could make
more money by working half of the time
with paper at 20 cents, than by working
the whole time with paper at II cents.
And yet these same paper men went be-
fore Congress at its last session and rep
resented that by aboli>hin@ the duty on
foreign paper, (as the people a,ke;D. this
branch of American industry would be ru-
ined And by their liberal outlay of time
and money they won congress, and the
duty was not abolished
The article Of paper is in universal use
by the people and the government. At
the present exorbtant price, every person
who buys a bible or a spelling book, a
newspaper or an almanac who gives a
receipt or writes letter. is outrageouslv
taxed while the government itself. bv its
tax bills and assessors blanks, Its Shin
plasters and ''pub. docs" and in thous-
and other ways, pays a heavy tribute to
these paper vampires.
For the cause of education for the sake
of the poor who want and should have
books and newspapers i'll behalf of all
who read word or write line. we ask
the present congress to do something to re-
lieve the people from this great burden.
r4s- The article which first appeared in
The CAIEDONIAN of Oct 6. entitled
"The Wonderful Spring of Anderson
yille,'' is going the rounds of the New
England press credited to the Vt Chroni-
Gle. We do not care for the injustice done
in this instance, and only refer to it now
to enter our protest against the too prcva-
lent custom which so many papers have
OF making no distinction between original
and selected articles If a reprint article
is not credited it should be set s.solid."
when put among editorial, then the craft
at least will not be deceived.
HUMOROUS EOEMS.-Another of the
series of ''Companion Poets for the People,
llustrated," is out This number con-
talns humorous poems, by Oliver Wendell
Holmes, and is of the same size and STYLE
as the former numbers Published bv
Ticknor 4 Fields, Boston, and for sale at
the bookstores, for so cents.
GARROTE.-A Travelcr's Insurance pol
icy insures against death or bodily INJURY
caused by unprovoked assault or any kind
of accident. Thus while it would not be
over and above pleasant to be knocked
down and kicked about by garroters, a
compensation after it was done would not
be bad to take.