The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-10-09
Our PaDer Trade,

1t certainly does not unfrequently
happen that what men generally regard
as dire misfortunes turn out TO be only
blessings in disguise. Our civil war,
though attended with unspeakable sad
ness and sorrows, with death and de-
Vastation, has nevertheless had silver
lining to its cloud OF evil. Irrespective
OF the results Of political character
that proceeded from this source, such
as the wiping out OF the blot of slavery,
and the consequent development of free
labor, there are found to be other and
most substantial benefits to the general
prosperity of the commonwealth that
originated In the eXigeucies Of that
lamentable strife. A little observation
of the changes wrought by the rude
hand OF war upon our industrial econo-
mics will show to any intelligent mind
important steps of advancement that
could hardly have proceeded from any
cause less stern and commanding. The
very necessities Of those years OF con-
fict impelled Improvements in our man.
utacturing branches that are now re-
turning their benefits to the community
in manner most marked and to de-
gree most important.
Even the deplorable panic Of 1873 has
not been utterly destitute of beneficial
consequences to the business interests
of the country. By occurring as it did
when the country was filled to excess
with manufactured commodities of all
kinds, its stringency compelled various
branches of our manufactures to seek
and even force market for their sur
plus goods in foreign countries, which
had until then been almost untred. The
result is that we have succeeded in opeu-
ing and building up a foreign export
trade of greater magnitude than ever
before held, and which has every ele-
ment of further expansion and perma-
nent continuance. Our cotton goods and
our steel, our artisans tools and our ag-
riculturaI implements have even invaded
the manufacturing cities and agricultu-
ral districts of England, and have meas
Urably supplanted England's rival prod
uots in her own colonies.
Perhaps in no other branch of our
manufacturing industry has a greater
revolution been effected in this re GARD
tnan in our paper trade. To supply the
domestic demand of this great reading,
writing and printing community with
its requisite paper, is of itself an i'm
mense industrial enterprise. Before
.he war this demand was not by any
means supplied by the paper factories
Of our own country. We imported
largely from Europe OF the very paper
shat we sent back thither in written or
printed sheets. During the war our
paper supplies were vastly inadequate
to our wants. Many newspapers were
compelled to suspend publication, at in
tervals. for lack Of paper wherewith to
make their issues. The leading journals |
Of the East had to send orders to Bel |
gium and contract for their paper sup
plies there.
We imported numerous cargoes OF
rags and paper material from abroad Tor |
the use of our mills at home, and then |
they were but meagerly supplied. To |
relieve this want, Congress removed the
duty from Italian rags for paper making
purposes. In the South newspapers
were sometimes issued printed on the
blank side of common wall paper, no
other being obtainable. Everywhere
AborQ W daarfh ard fuf nf fo
important commodity.
This extreme demand gave rise to ex-
tremely vigorous measures for its sup
ply. New mills were erected. New
processes were tried, perfected, and