Birmingham state herald., 1896-12-11
WHITE PAPER MAKERS POOL All the Principle Manufacturers
 in the Country EFFECT A. COMBINATION
 essf.Fa egTf For Protection of their Interests and to Aid
 the Publishers, TIE PENNY PAPERS MAY SUFFER Says One of the Manufacturers, as Inferior Grades will Not Be as Obtain
 ala', Possibly, as
 Formerly.
 
THE PENNY PAPERS MAY SUFFER

principal manufacturers of white paper used by newspapers have been held in this city for more than week past to consider the formation of general stock company to handle the product of the mills and to act as the general agent for the allied concerns These negotia- tions eliminated today in the practical agreement of all concerned to pool in- terests and to deal with consumers only through a general agency, which is to be established in this city. The plan in- wolves the formation of a national as- sociation, capitalized at a moderate amount, which is to control the product of all the mills. By this arrangement the manufacturers expect to reduce run ming expenses. to reorganize the trade and to promote friendlier relations be- tween all concerned. They expressly deny that prices will be advanced as a result of the proposed agreement, but contend that they are obliged to follow the example of other men directing oth- CT great industries and cooperate to prevent ruinous competition.
 Thirty companies are interested in the movement. They are said to control the industry in this country. Among those interested in the negotiations are Will liam E. Spier of the Glens Falls Paper "A. Fall Mountain Paper company; H. M Knowles, of the Glen Manufacturing company; Warner Miller, of the Herki mer Paper company; Hugh J. Chisholm, of the Otis Falls Paper company; Will liam H. Parsons and David s. Cowls, of the Bowdoin Paper company, and the Lisbon Falls Paper company; G. w Knowlton, A. D. Remington and G. s. Sherman, of 'Watertown, representing Watertown companies; A. P, Agenstet- cher, of the Fall Mountain Paper com pany; Messrs. Fullerton and Brockel- bank, of the Manufacturers Paper com pany; w. w. Brown, of the Berlin Falls Paper company; J. Fred Webster, of the Webster Paper company; Garrett Schenck and D. F. Emery, Jr., of the Rumford Falls Paper company, and AL win Record, of the Jay Paper company
 Several of the above named gentlemen attended conference in this city yester- day and today, and all of them have been present or represented at previous con sultations held here during the past fort night. ~ 7r,r,,,,,s rc e.-
 All that now remains to be done is the agreement to a general form of contract which is now being considered by the attorneys. ..a
 The proposed joint company will con duct its business on a pro rata basis. This will be determined by the extent of pre- vious business done by the allied com panies and the capacity of the mills they control No attempt to restrict produc- ton is contemplated, as the foreign mar kets, it is believed, will take whatever supplies are left over at the end of the year. The saving in freight rates, it was said today, will be enormous and is in itself almost a sufficient object to war rant such a movement. Details of or ganization are yet to be decided upon, although it is probable that the executive officers of the new company have been se- hn cd doubtless be represented on the board of trustees.
 The utmost secrecy has attended these negotiations. Those prominent in the movement have refused from time to time to discuss the plans or to affirm or deny the many rumors that have been af1oat. faa e
 One of the manufacturers interested however, said today: "It Is true that an agreement has been practically ar rived at. Negotiations have been carried on with the idea that the proposed joint company should represent all the manu- lecturers or none. We do not intend to advance prices, but what we are aiming at especially is to make material re- duction in running expenses. This we shall certainly do. Previous efforts in the direction of such pooling interests have proved futile, because of the lack of definite ends in view, and the fear that some would not live up to their contract, and thereby gain an un1alr duVdHtdSe over those in fuller sympathy with the cooperative movement. We have prof tied greatly by this experience, however, and now propose to unite upon such basis as will insure complete success.
 Newspaper allusions to our confer ences have been misleading. Half truths only have been given and the public not informed as to the real motives of those desirous of uniting. The publishers will be benefited by the new arrangement al- most as much as we The better papers will soon notice the change. Quality rather than quantity will hereafter figure most prominently in our calculations. How this policy will affect the penny papers I cannot foretell although 1t is safe to say that poor stock will not be as obtainable, perhaps; as 1t was before Publishers, doubtless, will get 1t 1T they want 1t; but it may be made less popular
 "The pro rata arrangement has been adopted because we believe 1t to be the fairest It obviates the difficulties which kept us apart before, and, while possess ing the advantages of. the cooperative plan, allows the Independence which those most influential in the@trade insist upon We hope it will work well, and from the way in which our plan has been received, we believe that it. solves the problem which has been confronting us so long,"
 WANTED IN GEORGIA.
 om.o IT Ar,,1l;v iaef nioht boa rdad