New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-07
THE POSTAL CARD CONTRACT.

ABSENCE OF A CONVERSATION IN CONTROLLING ihh
,w.pD-CARp FROM ONE OF TUE COMPETING
FIRMS.
TotheEditor OfThe tribune.
SIR: Three times during the past week re-
Elections Lave been made upon our Louise IN your WASH
inrton dispatches regarding our connection WIN INC
postal card contract When the Post-Ofce Department
called for samples OF paper for the postal card samples
we're submitted by a number of manufacturers, all OF
whom had an equal chance, favor being shown. We
submitted sample OF doubctinted card, one SIDE De
ing buf and the other Nile green and this sample
was selected by the Department. as being superior TO
Others in all respects
The tints are delicate and beautiful the paper Is
hard firm strong and highly finished, the surface being
canal TO the finest quality OF wrtn. paper and equally
odopted IN men Mcneil or printing. The postal card
rin,ed upon this double tinted paper would be much
more difficult 10 counterfeit than sngetinted card
and rho DEPARTMENT fully justified IN the selection
which 1t made.
mr. combination TO control the contract as far as We
tro,r certainly we were not interested in any. II looks
70 us very much az IL combination has been formed in
the interest Of FouTdrnier paper machines whicu can
make only the single tint paper, TO prevent the
adoption OF the double tint ana at the same
time "a exclude from competition cylinder paper
machines which are best adapted 10 making
heavy parer such is required for the postal
card ard thereby defeat enterprise which enabled
TO furnish paper Of better quality and finer appearance
han any other manufacturer II is not true stated,
M mo other mills have the machinery to make double
mn aper several mills having made paper In TIE same
way and sold it freely in the market but not being able
tn coupee with in this quality OF Manufacture, the
combination have made this statement To exclude from
competition this class OF goods in favor OF their own in
ferlOr product.
The General has been persuaded by these
neon e that the adoption OF the double tint would in
crease the cost OF the postal cards above the present
rce but prepared To execute the contract at
e so much less than the present price AS TO save tho
government fully $4,000 on one billion OF cards, the
estimated consumption for the coming four years.
should the combination succeed in inducing the Depart
ment 10 advertise for bids in such as TO exclude
paper made on any but Fourdriner machine.
IL would be In marked contrast TO our PROPOSE
ton publicly made for the Department to advertise
for bids both single and double nts made by any and
all machines thus showing our confidence In our own
ability 10 manufacture the double tint about as cheapy
with our improved machinery our competitors can the
single tint In their antiquated mills II by means OF
this combination the Department should be induced u
return TO the old style OF card It would I've triumph Of
Ring influence and business torpidy over honest enter
prse-ths latter being the very thing tho Government
| proposes TO encourage. Yours, &c,
Esp- York, April ., as77. WILKINSON BROS. d Co.