Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-17
WHEN PAPER WAS SCARCE.
An Appeal d Century Ago to "Pleass
Save Your Raxs.'

An Appeal of Century Ago to "Pleaso
Save Your Rags"
Paper was so scarce when the American
army entered Philadelphia upon the evac-
uation of tho British troops that there was
a want of paper fitted for the construction
Of cartridges. 1t was advertised for and
but small! quantity procured. An order
was then issued demanding it, instant
production by all the people in that city
who had it.
This produced but littlemore, very prob
ably on account of its scarcity. A file of
soldiers was then ordered to make search
for it in every place where any was likely
to be found. Among other places visited
in July was a garnet in the house in which
Benjamin Franklin had previously had his
printing Office.
Here were discovered about 500 copies
OF sermon which the Rev. Gilbert Tenant
had written-printed by Franklin-upon
defensive War; to arouse the colonists
during the French troubles. The were all
taken and used as cases for musket car
tridges and at once sent to the armory.
Most Of them were used at the battle OF
Monmouth. The requisites in cartridge
paper were, of course, thinness, strens
pliability and infammability, and such
paper then was necessarily scarce.
In 1881 paper was so scarce that in New
York theAjournal of the second session of
the assembly was not printed, the printer
being unable to procure the necessary pa
per. Horner, in his "Bibliotheca Amer
na''-17S9-informs us that Eat this
tune the people of North America manu-
featured their own paper and in sufficient
quantities for home consumption, but. the
priceof labor was SO high as to discourage
publishing beyond their own laws, PAM
phlets and newspapers" Some two years
after this date David Bull, postmaster of
Troy, n. Y, published the following
homily under the head "Please Save Your
Rags"
ssThe press contributes more to the diffu7
sion of knowledge and information than
any other medium. Rags are the primary
requisite in the manufacture of paper, and
without paper the newspapers of our coun-
Try, those cheap, useful and agreeable com
panions of the citizen end farmer, which in
political and moral view are of the highest
national Importance, must decline and be
extinguished. The paper mills of the state,
would the poor and the opulent, tha farm
er and the mechanic, be persuaded into the
laudable frugality of saving rags, would
turn out ample supplies Of American paper
to answer all demands.
"The people of Massachusetts and Con-
necticut, with true American zeal, have
introduced this exemplary saving into the
economy of their houses. The latter, by
fair calculation, makes yearly saving of
rags to the actual amount of S5O, 600. The
ladies in several large towns display an
elegant workbag as part of the furniture OF
their parlors, in which every rag that Is
used in the paper mill is carefully pre-
served. Were this example initiated this
state would not be drained Of its circulat-
ing cash for paper and other manufactures
which American artists can furnish.
aThe poor by the mere saving OF rags
may be enabled to procure paper and books
for schools and family use and more agree
able articles of dress and consumption.
The rich who regard the interest Of their
country will direct their children or do
mestics to place bag or box in some con-
venient place as deposit for rags, that
none may be lost by being swept into the
street or fire, the sales of which savings
will reward the attention Of the faithful
servant and encourage the prosperous en-
terprise of prudence and frugality."
The industries of the country grew so
fast that in 1910 the number Of paper mills
in the United States was estimated at 1856,
of which go were in Pennsylvania.-St.
Louis Globe Democrat.