Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-13
Facts About Paper Business.

Facts About Paper Business.
During nine months Of the year 1914.
the total amount OF paper. Of all
grades. manufactured and consumed
in the United States was 3,5es,s17
tons.
Total production ,31s tons
In. the United States the number of
wage earners in the paper industry is
1888; in Maine, ss47 In the c. S.
the capital invested is s40s, 34s,o 900: in
Maine, $es.133.ooo In the L. s. the
amount Of wages PAID is $40, sos, 900; in
Maine s5,2s7.ooo. In the L. S. the
value Of paper products is s2s7. s57, 900;
in Maine. s33,s5o, 600.
AS compared with the amount of
paper produced, the exports were very
small being only a little more than
IL per cent Of our production.
Our home market is. therefore, the
mainssay OF our paper business. In
order tina: the reader may fully realize
the magnitude Of this business in the
United States. let us illustrate.
Let Us suppose that this 3,5s1.3ls
tons OF paper were loaded into freight
cars each containing 20 tons. If it
were possible TO assemble these cars
and shackle them together we should
have a solid train reaching from Fort
Kent in Maine to Washington, D. C, a
distance Of 500 miles. In addition 20
this there would be 400 miles OF cars,
similarly loaded, on connecting roads
waiting for a chance to get on the
main line.
The above figures show that more
than one eighth OF the paper and pulp
business of thi. country is done in the
State Of Maine.
This great business had its inception
under protection. II has been nurtured
and has thrived under protection, till
the annual production Of paper in this
country is nearly twice as large as that
OF all other countries put together. The
men who do the work are residents and
home-buIders in America. They spend
thelr earnings in America. The CAPITAL
invested is American money. 1t is q
great American industry.
It would seem that the America n
labor and the American capital which
mas built up this industry should con-
tinue to have adequate protection.
But in spite Of protests, in spite of
a former experience with free trade,
which proved TO be a dismal failure.
the Democratic party struck another
vicious blow at this industry.
The results are already to be seen.
Since the Underwood bill went into ef-
feet, Canada has increased he, naDer
trade in this country - per cent. Ger
many has. notwithstanding the war.
increased her American sales Of paDer
70 per cent. Norway has sent Us 3s3
per cent. more paper, and the increase
OF ali other countries has been 10 per
cent. Canada IS on our borders. Her
water powers are magnificent. Her
forests are almost boundless.
The Dominion is now able 10 send
and does send to this country. 1900 tons
OF paper daily, In ten years she can
easily increase this amount tenfold
Norway too, is land Of water DOW
ers and forests. Unless the Under
wood bill is repealed and business
like tariff bill is enacted in it's place
blight is on the paper business Of
this country and the industry in Maine
Will decay Foreign paper makers
have been quick TO rush through the
door to seize our home market. Il Is
market which has absorbed 90 12
per cent Of our production. Within FIVE
years the influx Of foreign made paper
will produce paralysis Ct the payroll:
paralysis in the forests, on the rivers
and in the mills.