Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-03-31
nIr. Curtis and tho Paper MO.
MOpOly.

Of Eew ARK, enc Of our large papeI
manufactures place in the RRpUBLI
Can, to crit else our remarks on the pa
par monopoly. We did this because VI
bslievs that every side in controversy
should BE- heard, though in this in
stance the tenor and warmth Of NJ
Curtis Communication might have at.
forded rs very good excuse for refus'
Ing TO publish It. We did not suppose
shat Mr.. Curtis would leok a. our re-
marks AZ heing personal to himself
neither are We satisfied that he did 80,
but the warmth and vigor OF his reply
might lead many to think that there
were but two or three paper manufaeto-
xies In the United States and that the
firm in which his name appears first is
one Of them. There are large paper
manufactures all ever tho country. es-
pseially in the north-nanufaetories
Shat conld have amongst them the lar.
gsst kind Of monopoly and still our
respected friend at Newark know moth
Ing Of 10. he might not be let into the
seeset Of II. Indeed We do not think he
wenld be party to 1t. Bat notvith-
standing the denial Of Mr.. Curtis 30
far a. his knowledge extends, we are
still forced to the belief that there IL q
grinding monopoly amongst paper
Manufacturers in this country and
pulp makers. II we are mistaken then
We are not alone. The "Nsw York
Journal Of Commerce." paper devoted
TO the manufacturing interests of this
country ard which il supposed
TO know beforehand whereof it'll
speaks says:
"Two things have conspired to put up |
the price Of paper. One is the combina-
sioD OF manufacturers. We have tho
most direct and positive proof that the
prices 10 be asked from month to month
Tor the white news paper is determined
IN joint cOnclave by american Paper
Makers Association" and conformity
ehsre to enforced among all its mem.
bers. The product of the smaller mills
whose owners are not in the associa-
ton, or have not sufficient means to
carry their stock or TO enforce the ad-
vance agreed upon is taken by the
weather. manufacturers, ard thus the
greed OF the monopolists is satisfied
without the fear Of competition"
The wood pulp which enters so large
~ into the manufacture of paper can
be imported from Norway ct cost of
little over one cent pound but it has
10 pay twenty per cent. in duty and
wastes nearly 20 per cent. in use. It was
the intention of Congress that every
ching which entered into the manufsc- ID
4ure Of paper should be free of duty but L
she ingenuity Of the age has invented s
The wood pulp which is not specific,
ally classified amongst the articles to
be admitted free. There was Just this
little chance left for a monopoly and
There were not wanting shrewd men
ready to take advantage of it. The U
same paper from which We have already "
quoted, farther Gays: u
SIT (pulp) can be made in this conn i
Try at first cost of about one cent a IL
pound, but it is now sold at three or four '
cents. The monopolistB would not ,
nave 80 fine time of it, but two Of the
leading members of Congress are among
the largest owners, and their influence +
And skill combined are likely to stave O
of any legislation in favor Of the peo-
pie. They cannot directly resist the L
tide Of public opinion, but they will Ii
favor a commission" to examine and p
report, or some other convenient meth. a
Cd to postpone any change in the law a
for another year." q
1t will be seen how easily "oorner =
In paper" can be manufactured at any '
time by the pulp manufacturers and q a
combination Of the largest paper man tt
ufaoturers, without evea the knowledge 8
amongst the smaller manufacturers Of :. =,
the ",orner," except as they expe. /.
rienoe the rise Of material without any ei
compromising return. :
One thing however is very certain,
paper has gone up in price from six to .
ten e'nts pound. Why has it done
30 is he questio Raw material OF =
which pulp an paper is made is az 1
plentiful as ever and would be az cheap A,
as ever were it not for the grinding and
grasping monopoly which is enrichinp
. few pulp snd paper manufacturers. I,
This was never intended by Congress-,
and the sooner Congress takes t. m A. O
Yer In hand the better. Or course Mr..
Curtis knows We meant no rejection a.
1pon the firm Of which he is the head,
and we are still of the opinion that il
10 would examine closely into the mat
Ter he would like US be cooyinced tina " "
here was something wrong in t pro. :
iuction Of paper in this country or else /
Why should i; have arisen in so hort A
lime from six up to ten cents q pound H
and why shouldn't still be risipgs