The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-20
THE RAG BUSINESS

people who think the rag business consists in q
handcart and . string of BELLS said clerk in the
warehouse of dealer in paper stock to HERALD
reporter yesterday. shave no idea what an immense
trade II is Ten millions Of dollars worth of foreign
rags imported into this port annually and the
trade ia one vast industry all over the world"
Eyes. and it is only in its infancy. added the pro-
prietor. Even we who arc in it fail fully to COM
prehend it. and tell you the truth when say we
are only learning how to conduct it. II our Ameri-
can paper mills depended the domestic supply
they would be compelled to shut down in six weeks
The consumption of the foreign the domestic
article is hfty to Anything that interferes
with the trade will be great blow to industries
and the dealers are already alarmed on account Of
the reports which come from Asia Minor"
DEATH IN THE
els there any danger Of pestilence here on
count Of the imporations from the infected districts
in the East?" the reporter asked.
II trust not" was the answer "but there is con-
siderable alarm in Europe. The importation of rags
into Marseilles has been entirely prohibited because
of the plague and great deal of discussion has been
going on lately in foreign medical papers as to the
transmission OF contagious diseases by rags. 1t is
natural perhaps that Msrseilles should be first to
take ALARM for the great plague which visited that
city upward of hundred years ago was introduced
by vessel bringing cargo Of rags from Asia Minor
In view of these reports from abroad naturally
apprehensive Of interruption to business on ac-
count of the plague If the idea that there is
danger Of epidemic from these gets the
heads of the people the results will be very damaging
50 the business
WHERE IMPORTED COME FROM
"whcre do most of the imported rags brought into
American ports come from? inquired the reporter.
"From all parts Of tho world, but mostly from
Russian and Mediterranean ports. Rags from the
italian ports usually with shipments of MARBLE
Nothing is better suited to the cargoes of
brittle Italian marble than bale of rags. As many
hundred and eight hundred bales often come
with . single cargo of marble. Masters of vessels
very glad to get them and carry them for nothing
next to nothing, and in consequence they sold
here almost as cheap as they be bought at Mar
seilles Leghorn, Palermo and Trieste. Even the
great steamship companies. like the Cunard, the
very acceptable cargo and carry them at such q
low rate of freight that they land and sell
them low enough to compete with our domes-
tic collections. kags from the infected districts.
presume mostly como by way of Memel and Trieste,
but they may reach us through K0nigsberg,
sian rags, think. are the worst in the market
almost worthless, in fact It is well known that the
Russian people very dirtythe dirtest people in
the world. They mover wash themselves and seldom
portation Of an immense quantity Of dirt and filth
IMPORTS INTO THE PORT YORK.
"Can You give me an idea of the imports into this
port say since the LIST Of january
''Certainly here is q table showing the rags and
paper stock brought here this year up to the week
Eabruary