The Saint Paul globe., 1901-04-13
PUBLISHERS HAVE TO PAY
FIVE MILLIONS YEAR ADDED To
THE COST OF NEWS
PRINT
FARMS IN THE NoRTHwEsr
South Dakota Editor Discusses AgrI-
culture in His State and FavOrs
Encouraging Immigration
From Abroad.

WASHINGTON, April 12-The manu-
facture of news print paper of the coun.
Try was the subject of inquiry on the part
OF the industrial commission TODAY Mr.
John Norris, business manager of the
New York Times, being the witness. Mrt
Norris devoted his time principally to the
international Paper company
Il Will assert he said, that the, In
ternational Paper company has failed in
every expectation it held out to the news
papers and to the public The cost OF
manufacture is greater under consolida-l
ton than under individual ownership or
the paper mills The economies which
We're to be observed under the consoIida-
eG management have not been realized |
The export trade has fallen off and it
was to be the strong object of the COM
pany's effort. Many mills have been
abandoned and the net result to news
paper publishers has been an increase or
Coz per annum in the cost of news
print paper"
He placed the output of news prinE
paper at s26,OOoGOO per year.
FACTS AS TO PAPER TRUST.
Mr.. Norris said the president of the
consolidation is paid $4,000 a wear and
managers salaries were Increased from
soc to 5000 There has also been an
increase of the spruce lands owned by
the company the area secured in the
United States bringing the aggregate up
to 1,60 square miles, while 2,OOe square
miles Of this land is controlled in cam
ada. There had also been an increase in
freight charges. All told he placed the
enhancement of the cost price OF produc-
ing paper at about So per ton. He knew
OF two newspapers which were paying
an Increase of $4,000 each annually on
the paper they used. Mr. Norris placed
the daily quantity of print paper used at
1850 tons, of which the international
Paper company furnishes 100 tons, while
the mills of the company have a ca
pacity of 1O.176 tons day and said there
is constantly increasing production out
side of that company notwithstanding
the boast of that company that it owned
all paper water powers and all available
spruce lands.
Mr.. Norris attributed the recent In
crease in the price of paper TO four
causes, namely to the Spanish-American
war, South African war, the drought of
1895 and 1900, and the attempt of the In
ternational company to monopolize the
spruce land. To meet the last difficulty
he suggested that reciprocity with Cam
ada should be. perfected in order that the
ineNhaustib1e supply of Canadian spruce
might be drawn upon. I'VE should he
said, adopt the plan which President
Mckinley advocated, of remitting those
taxes which experience has shown to be
most burdensome 10 the industries OF the
country"
He also said the International company
had opposed Canadian reciprocity and
the result had been Canadian reprisaIs.
He advocated the reduction of the tariff
on wood pulp as in the interest OF all
classes.
NORTHWEST FARMING.
Mr.. F. M. Greeley, editor of the South
Dakota Farmer, and a stock farmer, was
the afternoon witness before the cCm-
mission His testimony related entirely
to farming conditions in the Northwest.
He said that many of the farmers OF that
section are foreign born and that most
of them had proved godsend to the
country. the Germans, Scandinavians
and Canadians he said. We're especially
good citizens. These make the best farm-
ers and the best hired help for the farm.
Most hired men in that country lived
well and saved money, Mr.. Greeley said,
and in time generally become land OWL
ers. He found the foreigners lar more
disposed to become land proprietors than
tie natives, and owing to this fact he did
not believe in restricting immigration. He
did not believe in the colonization Of
farmers, because he had found that when
they are thus held together they are not
so quickly AmericaniZed as when they are
segregated. Referring to the schools of
the state, he said there is now too much
Greek and Sanscrit and too little prac-
tical instruction.
Mr. Greeley suggested the construction
of storage reservoirs for the rec1ana-
tion of the arid region. lie opposed 10.
nanza farming as calculated TO un-Ameri-
canize men and also because that kind
of farming does not pay. lie Expressed
the opinion that such farming is decreas-
ing. He also said the farmers are rapidly
paying off their mortgages.
Mr.. Greeley said he also nad found that
there is less tendency than formerly to
leave the farms and go into the cities and
said he found that farm land is increas-
ing rapidly in value.