Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-12-12
A VERY DARK SUBJECT.
Some Interesting Facts About America,
and Imported Ink.

Some Interesting Facts About America,
| and Imported Ink.
The fact that for the ensuing year tb,
board OF education has given a con
tract by which the schools are furnished
ink at the price of thirty cents a gallon
has something OF the element OF in.
terest about it From the standpoint oil
the price OF a small bottle OF ink. the
above figure is indeed striking. To
fnd out why thero was such differ.
ence between the Wholesale and retail
price, reporter made tour among the
makers Of ink.
The school board has never before
bought ink at so low figure For the
last three years the board has paid
forty cents gallon. The schools have
tried inks made In other cities, and
drawback to 1t was the manner OF
shipping to the city. The dealers would
send the ink here in large casks, which
would often leak and waste great guam
titles. Moreover, the Inconvenience OF
handling the ink was no small item
with the board. Under the present con-
tract eight hundred tickets for as many
gallons OF ink are given to the board.
and whenever school Is in need of the
article 1t presents ono of the tickets to
the maker and receives fresh gallon OF
Ink. In this way all loss from leakage,
orcakage and spelling is overcome.
ihis eight hundred gallons will last thc
school-children one year. For this
seemingly enormous quantity of ink the
city only pays $40.
How does the ink business in Gin
cinnati compare with that of the other
large cities OF the country" asked the
reporter OF an extensive dealer
Comparisons, you know. are odioua
and in this case especially so, since Gin
cinnati ranks only fourth in the manu-.
facture OF ink. Now York, Boston and
lead in the Industry.
Fifteen years ago English ink controlled /
the market Since that time Americans
have been gradually pushing Johnny
Bulls product out OF the market by the
superiority and excellence OF their prod
uct Yet some people are so English
and so prejudiced that nothing will per-
suade them to try something new. Tho
business In Cincinnati is Increasing
slowly. Six firms are engaged in max,
ng writing fluids. The annual output
$ worth sl75,OoO to 5000, 600. This is
'lippcd to the North, West and South.
4 very little finds its way East II
"You ask why there is SO large DIFF
erence between the wholesale and re.
all prices of ink. I will toll you.
These little bottles OF ink containing
wo ounces, for which you pay five
ents, cost us at the factories A cent
piece. In addition TO that wc run the 4
isk OF loss from breakage. The bottles 8
re really more valuable than what they O
ontain. The bost black ink is made
rom the gall nut and iron. Tho gall
ut found in Arabia is about the size of
hickory nut and grow, on small, al
;rubby oak. Tho gathering Of tho
uts is an extensive business in Arabia. al
he nuts are broken into throe or four "a
ieces and soaked In water. The let w W
lack solution is called gallic acid. OF
ne base OF the cheaper inks Is log.
otd. M'ny of the cheap grades ro
lire acid and gum to hold up the colo,
nd prevent a sediment In the bottom \
tho bottle. A large majority O.
10 colored inks are mado froL n.
!" extracts Of coal tar. Fifteen ~ ~,
ars ago all the coloring matter r. y,
s brought from Biebecls on the -Rhino NJ;
great expense. In this country AT so,
'sont there arc fifteen firms which ~, -
nufactnre coloring matter from coal. ,,'s Do'
u only are tho colors used for ink, but ,ie
o Tor all kinds OF dyes The most Do'
pensive colored ink, used for ruling.
carmine, made from the cochineai
I. Unless all the animal matter is. Eth
eiuiiy extracted this ink will be. Coz
40 bad and smell The cochineal fac,
Is raised with much care in Mex- ciol
The dye from this bug is worth He
pound. Since cochineal dye is be. PITT
iing scarce ink-makers are oompe,sa '