The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-12
THE PAPER MONOPOLY.


Il appears that the paper manufacturers
throughout the country have by concert Of
action raised the price Of paper over Al per
cent above previous rates. There ID no juatl-
tication for this action whatever, az there
has been no appreciable advance In the ma
terlal used In the manufacture, and 1t looks
like bold and inexeuaable attempt on the
part OF those who control the business to ex-
tort money from newspapers and publishers
generally. The result OF this species Of
blackmatl will be most disastrous
to large number OF newspapers, az the
heaviest item of expense with many journals
ls the paper Used IN their publication IL the
new tariff Of prices ia to prevail therefor, not
only will II cause the suspension Of very
many newspapers. but 1t will also necessitate
an Increase In the prices Of subscription and
advertisement. which will bear heavily on the
public, which has go long been accustomed to
low prices that an Increase will not be borne
very patiently. In view Of the late extraor-
binary rIae In the price Of white paper
the Chicago Times has advanced its price
Of subscription to sixteen dollars per annum-
a course which will necessarily be followed
by other journals, as no publisher will care to
print a paper ut an actual loss TO himself In
this condition Of affairs II IL very serious
question as to what the newspapers should
do to protect themselves from a monopoly
that seems bent upon destroying them by a
STAND and deliver policy that will Ger
talDly achieve the object OF the paper men
unless Offset by some very vigorous re-
tallatnry measures. II there are any
manufacturers not In this ring. and
who are willing to sell at reasonable rates,
they should make themselves known at once,
In order that they may receive due credit and
not be dlecriminated against hereafter. There
are a number of measures. In the nature Of rc-
tallation, that may be adopted by the con
sumers and we strongly urge concert Of
action In this matter upon the proprletors OF
newspapers throughout the country. 1t Ia
quite possible that the formidable eomblna-
tion Of producers can only be successfully
combatted by similar organization on the
part OF consumers, and the time may not
be far distant when the former will see
land not through glass darkly eitherl the
unwisdom OF their course.
The heavy and unwarrRnted advance In
prices is nothing more nor less than tax on
knowledge, and Will fall with greatest force
upon the people at large who. we fancy. will
not be Glow In applying the remedy, 80 soon
az the press cha az 1t will most assuredly
do, point It out. There seems to he no doubt
az to the ability and purpose Of the paper
manufacturers To maintain this corner, and TO
squeeze the newspapers a. long aa the
process may be profitable; and hence
the urgent necessity for combination
on the part Of the newspapers looking to the
adoption Of defensive measures. Some time
ago we reduced the price Of the Weekly DEMO
Graf from ~ to 81 60 per annum In order to
place It within the reach OF all the people In
this and adjacent States. but at the present
price of paper the sum charged will scarcely
cover the cost Of the white paper used In the
hfty-two copies.
Louisiana. under our new and liberal con-
stituton, offers splendid field for enter
prise In the direction Of paper manufacture,
aud we desire to direct the attention OF cap
ltaliste to the opportunity offered for most
remunerativa Investments. There is exemp-
ton from taxation, All abundance Of material
az we'll az Of skilled and cheap labor, and the
demand ie large and growing. Let us have
paper mills In Louisiana and the South. and
rid ourselves from dependence on the Fact
and West In thIe important matter.