, 1866-10-23
THE PRICE OF PAPER.
Letter from Paper Manufactures.
BHorr, Wis, October 10, 1866.
H1ieax.e Si,txt,o.

Letter from n Piper Manufacturer
BHorr, Wis, October t5, 1886.
Editors Chicago Tribune:
Tie article on 4sThc Price of Paper"
that appeared in one of yonr recent issues,
Is far from correct representation Of the
facts in the case, You say that the internal
duty, recently repealed, on printing paper
was six per cent. This is q mistake; 1t was
only three per cent. You complain that
paper is as high now as It was before the re-
moyal Of the tax. Why should it not hc?
Since The act Of Congress repeating the tux
took effect, July 13, the materials used In its
manufacture have risen in value, SO that the
actual additional cost Of its production is
much more than three per cent.
:. II is fact that since the commencement Of
the war the piicc Of paper, las not advanced
in the latio Of the increased expenses Of
manufacturing it.
You would have your readers and tue pub.
lie believe Whut is not true: that the paper
makers arc making more money than ANY
other class of manufacturers. You would
have Congress take ln hand only tue mills
that produce printin. paper, while 1t Is m
1lndisputed fact that the wfapping-Vaper
mills have, for the last few years, made much
the larger profits.
located here, has just closed. The Affairs Of
| this company arc said to be well managed,
! md yet the entire earnings for the year clos
| Ing July 81, were less than seven per cent on
a 6onI .title capital aud dividend of only s!x
| per cent was declared. Their mill was in
good running order and made more printing
paper Ut makes no other kiul) than in any
prcyions year In It's history. The agents Of
this company, during the year, purchased
rays In Chicago at from G1a to 81 cents a
1 o3& u.
cd them into paper which was sold in your
! city at at lti1{ cents pound, and in the op.
Grafton they lost money on every pound thus
sold.
These are facts that admit Of demonstra.
t1.n and show What erroneous iaeas prevail y
the policy advocated BY the TH1DCSE be car:
rie3 out aud many Of the ''lnest" mills would
have Ia make wraFpiog paper or shut down
their gates, and give publishers an opportu
nifty Of seeking their supplies in Canada
or some other foreign country wccre labor Il
cheap.
Salt and straw ere the crude materials fol
cheap printing paper, The former {cAlosidS
Of sOdiuIn] contains the ingredients neccs
sary to separate, soften aul bleach the fibre!
| of The latter.
Let the press encourage the manufacture
Of chemicals IN this country-induce capita
to take the manganese {that is now sen
to England tg the ship load for this yer,
purposc, } and the su1phuric acid, and separ
ate the chlorine and the soda in common
salt, 60 as 70 render them available ant
cheap, and the problem Will be solyed-th
tax on knowledge" will be removed. Unit
this is accomplished, and it is a mystery
why 1t has not been done before now, puh
fishers mrst wait patiently for cheap paper
Few persons have even to1erably ccrrec
idea OF The large amount Of money that ou
paper makers pay 10 the English n1anufae
iurcrs Of chemicals. One Of the paper com
In trarsit, over one hundred thou. and pound
Of chloride Of lime, THE price Of which hn
advanced in New York within the last sixt
days over twenty per ceut,l soda ASH an
alum. all Of which are imported and have t
be paid for in gold.
Give the paper makers cheap chemical
and they will supply publishers with chea
paper. MASUFAcrCRER.