Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-18
OUR SPRUCE SUPPLY
Commissioner Matthews Be-
IieveS 1t Is In No Danger
Provided Attention Is Given to Care
full Cutting Methods.
His Report on Names Pulp and Paper
Industry Made Public.

The bulletin of Commissioner s. w.
Matthews on Names pulp and paper
industry is out. The demand was so
great for this one article that he de-
cided to get out a few copies in bulle-
tin form for the accomm odation of
those desiring. and for the newspapers
who have called increasingly for the
article. The pamphlet was issued
Saturday morning, so that some of
those who have been calling for it will
have by this time learned what they
wanted to know.
The whole is a thorough and ex-
haustive treatment Of the pulp and pa
per industry, together with descrip
tions of the mills. estimates on the
amount that the State is receiving
each year from this source, the meth
DDS used in cutting the lumber by the
large companies, and the estimates of
the authorities on forestry of the an
nual growth of the pulp supply, and
comparisons to show whether or not
the supply is equal to the demand
This report on the industry will be a
revelation to great many people
some Of whom have looked upon it as
a Ncritable nuisance to the State. 1t
Will show that the people of the State
are receiving over seven millions of
4 AZ oToTN year through this source.
t+ Wei rs receiving the taxes on
0.0po, 600 Of property.
commissioner Matthews says that
though Maine now stands second in
the list of pulp and paper states Of the
Union. she bids fair to be first when
the Miilirockett and Madison plants of
the Great Northern Paper Company
are completed. This industry, he says
has sprung up since the Civil War
and practically sine 1850, when there
We're seven plants valued at $44o. 900
and y paper mills with capital of
So. 600 900
In 1895 the Maine bureau Of in
dustrial and labor statistics made a
partial report of the industry ana found
about $l3,O0o0 GOO invested" he says.
with the completion Of the two great
plants above mentioned and that of the
sulphite mill of the Hollinesworth &
Whitney Company at Winslow. it is
safe TO say that the capital invested
1T the present time is fully $50. o0o Hon
The daily output in 1875 was 2.loe, 600
pounds ar 1000 tons The daily output
that Of the plants now in process Of
construction. is $4,000 pounds or 1885
tons. If We include the output Of the
three plants now building We shall
have a daily output Of l.330.0oO pounds
or 2165 tons
There is paid out daily for labor in
the pulp and paper mills of the State
the sum of 900. making the enor-
AZ e. ynDrlr- II
direct wages to employees. To this
sum should be added the cost Of tbs
wood used. which at present is about
30. 900 600 feet. This at $500 per thou
sand feet would amount to about
50. 800. 900 more Including the mills
now building. the above figures would
De increased as follows; paid out daily
for labor. SIG. 200: paid out yearly for
labor. s. SEQ 900: number Of feet Of lum
Der used So. O0O.0 900: this at a cost of
50 90 per thousand feet would amount
to ST. $50 600.
Truly this business may rightfully
be termed the imperial industry Of
Maine. Following. we present list Of
the pulp and paper mills in the State.
their equipment. daily output. and
other facts Of interest in connection
with them. 1t should be explained
that some plants are combination mills
that is. they are composed Of ground
wood pulp mill, a chemical fibre mill
and a paper mill. In the list presented
below We count each department as a
mill. a. it would be Impossible To do
scribe them otherwise. Separating
them in this manner we find tn
whole number Of pulp and paper mills
in the State to he IS.
From the report the Journal com
piles tables for the benefit of space, as
| follows:
PULP AND CHEMICAL MILLS.