The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-31
the occasion for giving sanction to its abuse
of tai

the occasion for giving sanction to its abuse
Of governmental protection
The International Paper company is
combination of twenty-four mills (since eX-
banded to thirty which has been capital
lied at $4,000, coo; It controls so per cent Of
the news output, and its promoters frankly
admit that it's payments of so. &C., 900 only
represents good will; the entire product of
this large combination could be duplicated
with modern and better machinery at less
cost per pound at capitalization of 3d.
United States are forced to bear the burden
Of an excessive capitalization of $4,000, 900,
and to pay an added charge OF SIS, 900, 600
per annum. Every mill owner who entered
that combination invited a withdrawal OF
tariff duties. Excessive and improper prices
were paid for many mills that were located
on exhausted water courses, and that were
tributary to denuded timber tracts, for mills
that at periods of the year have an INSULT
Gent supply of water; for mills that in
ferior in machinery, equipment and construc-
ton; for mills that must pay excessive
prices for power or water supply; or that
have lost control of woodlands; for mills that
have neither pulp or grinding attachments,
nor sulphur pulp auxiliaries.
ESSENTIALS LACKING.
Not one of the mills in the combination
possessed all Of the six essentials of the
cheapest and most successful manufacturers.
namely. cheap wood, cheap water power, ac-
cessible to market, modern machinery whole
sale production and concentration at one place
under one supervision. In some cases the
organizers of the International PAPER COM
pany gave securities to mill owners repre-
sentfng five times the actual Investment in
the mills, and IN gathering together this as
acquire every available spruce tract where
choice timber could be had. and every large
water power. with one exception, where sub
stautial competition might otherwise De es-
tablished. This object was easily attained,
because the spruce supply is being exhausted
at the rate of 100 square miles per annum.
The state OF New York has set aside park
of 1000 square miles Of spruce territory. and
decreed that no timber thereon shall ever be
cut. in order that the state might guard the
water supply and avert disastrous foods and
protect agriculture and manufacture. Yer
mont spruce forests are barely equal to its
home demands. New Hampshire commits
sicners Lave issued solemn warning that the
states forests resources. at the present rate
of cutting, will be exhausted in eight years.
All the timber townships of Maine that are
accessible to The large rivers have been de-
nuded.
Conditions have radically changed since
the early settlers cleared away the virgin
forests. Millions OF population must now be
considered and climate. health, water sup
plies and kindred matters present new pro-
blems fer governmental action in regulating
the stripping OF forests and in preventing
the annual loss OF more than SIG, O00 800
through forest fires.
That machinery of the government which
imposes q prohibitory duty on paper pulp
places also premium uron the exhaustion OF
cur spruce forests, in addition to the destruc-
ton by forest fires and prevailing methods Of
timber cutting. No successful competition is
possible IN the United States under existing
laws. Capital that may seek TO manufacture
paper for newspaper use is barred. A tax
on newspapers operates Indirectly az did the
stamp tax Of Europe-to Suppress newspapers.
1t IS a tax of s., Geo 900 per annum on intel
lis tnce; tax on popular education and po-
Htical knowledge. We therefore urge that
advantage be taken Of the opportunity offered
by the Canadian treaty negotiation to place
Pulp and paper on the free list and thereby
give tire only strong ard permanent assur-
ance of protection from this combination"
OAsEoRrA