The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-06-12
\ Newspaper problem.
It doesn't hurt to talk shop once i

1t QOeSn hurt 10 tdih Si1op o4Ce az
while 1t gives the other fellow
some idea of certain things that he
would not know otherwise, and al
though the other fellow may not be
interested or care anything about the
| information, one way Or the other, it
az the same time puts him in possession
Of facts that he Will recall to mind
when in need Of that very informa-
ton.
The public as a whole has general
idea of the inner workings Of news
paper, but the expense and details are
known intimately by comparatively
few people. Newspaper publishers
everywhere are very much concerned
at the present time about the greatly
increased cost OF paper during the
past twelve months. as Well as with
tie unprecedented condition of the
PAPER market Not only has newspa-
rer advanced all the way from 25 to
20 per cent. within the past twelve
months. but it is a growing problem
for newspapers to get the paper at
auv price. so much greater is the de-
n?and than the output. We will not
attempt to Interpret the underlying
causes of this limited supply, but
merely point to it as guiding cir
cunstance.
The Charlotte Observer, one of the
south's very best newspapers, has this
to say concerning the paper market
of,today:
For the reason that whatever vi
tally affects the newspapers affects
the public also, it is of interest to the
reader to know that serious prob
lens confront the publishers OF the
country-one relating to the cost Of
white paper, the other to its scarcity.
Ninety-eight per cent. Of the newpa-
per Of the country is the product Of
or is controlled by the paper trust,
which is advancing steadily. Practi-
csuy all of this paper is made OF
wood pulp. in the manufacture Of
which last year, according to a re-
pert of the census bureau, 3,646,693
cords of pulp wood were consumed
The advancing price Of paper is said
By the trust to be because of a grow
ing scarcity Of wood pulp timber and
to tariff duties which almost forbid
its importation from Canada. How
ever this may be, the first facts are
as stated-paper is high and getting
higher and so scarce that publishers
need frequently to borrow from each
other, sometimes shipments from one
to another having to be made by ex-
Z, ess. Another element Of embar-
rassment is the inefficient railroad
service which often hangs up indef-
nitely shipments from the mills which
have been ordered in ample time.
ct would be uncandid not to say
that the papers themselves are in
part tc blame for the situation. If
the city papers were to cut off so per
cent. of the rubbish they put forth on
Sundays, stuff that nobody reads and
which is therefore for every reason
unnecessary, and if all papers would
cut off all except legitimate circula-
payers or half payers or forcing them
upon people who do not want them
at all-who, for instance, having sub
scribed for three months can never
get loose-the volume Of production
would be lower by great deal and
one. at least, of the troubles removed
one. perhaps both; for while the
demand for paper would be less, the
price, answering the law Of supply
and demand would be lower"
This is putting the situation as IL
really is. The newspaper publishers
ot the country are confronted by
very serious problem in the scarcity
and the high price of white, paper.
AS already stated, not only is the
price high and going higher. but it
is hard to get at any cost. due to
the combined restriction in the out
put and the unsatisfactory handling
Of the shipments by the railroads
II is just as we'll that the public
should know these things. The
cost of printing the Greenville News
has been greatly increased during
the past twelve months through the
advance in the price Of all things
that are required in the making OF
newspaper.
Unless the tariff on newspaper is
token off, or substitute for wood
pulp can be found, the publishers