New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1916-07-26
PAPER SITUATION
BECOMES SERIOUS
FEDERAL AUTHORITIES DEEM
IT NECESSARY TO MAKE
INVESTIGATION
FIND 1T ALMOST.
IMPOSSIBLE TO SECURE
SUPPLIES

1t is the usual business of news
paper to chronicle the troubles and
difficulties experienced by everybody
and in every other line of business
except that of the newspaper itself. This
year the situation has changed and the
most interesting troubles to the news
paper are those being experienced with
in the newspaper field. Things
have reached reached such pass
that the newspapers for their own
salvation must publish the vital facts
and must bring the public to realiz-
alton OF the conditions that exist in
order that everything may be done to
correct the evils of the situation.
The American Newspaper Publishers
Association has taken the matter up.
with publishers all over the United
States and has asked them to cooperate
to reduce the consumption of news,
print. Figures given by the Association
show that during the first five months
of the present year the news print
mills of the United States and Canada
delivered approximately 100000 tons of
news print, an increase of about 10 per
cent over deliveries of the corresponding
months of the previous year. This is
at the rate of about 100000 tons per
annum, or 100000 tons in excess of
1915 deliveries.
Notwithstanding this largely increased
production of news approximate
ly double the normal average increase
there has been so great consumption
that the mills have not supplied the
demand, and there is much concern
regarding the future.
During the first five months of the
year, 26,901 tons of news print were
exported from the United States, as
compared with 1852 tons for the same
period of 1915; and 1902 tons for the
same period during 1914. During
the same period imports from Canada
increased over $4,000 tons.
Ordinarily, mills expect to begin to
accumulate stock during the latter
part of May for the fall and winter
demand. However, up to the present
time there has been no appreciate
evidence of reduction OF consumption
and that leads to the conclusion that
if consumption of news print be not
Immediately reduced there may be a
greater shortage of supply next winter
than has been the Ease during the past
few months. This conclusion is empha-
sized by the fact that machines to pro-,
duca any material increase of new ton
mage seem not to have been provided
by the manufacturers.
During the early part of the year, the
Association drew the attention of its
membership to the conditions existing
and has since been urging it's members
to practise every economy, with the re-
suit that material saving has been
made through the elimination of waste.
The situation, however, is now so serious
that the attention of every publisher is
called to present conditions and all
are urged to either individually or in
cooperation with other publishers, take
active steps to cut down the consump-
ton OF news print. Newspapers pub
ished in the largest cities have made
reductions of from three to ten tons
per day by practising economies and one
New York newspaper has reduced it's
consumption eight tons a day through
the elimination of returns, as papers
are designated which are ordered by
news agents and then not sold.
It is estimated by one Minneapolis
daily paper that at the present price
of news print, it will cost them $33 100000
more next year to issue their paper than
it has in the past. This enormous adj
vance in costs will have to be met by
some one and the publishers are hardly
in a position, even if they were willing.
to bear it themselves. What is true of
the large plants, is true in a lesser de.
gree in every small country shop. The
Review is printed at the present time
on paper stock that costs Just twice
as much as the same sheet cost in Febrn-
airy of this year.
The more serious feature of the sit
uation, however, is the chance of being
unable to secure sufficient paper to
run on. There is at this office, stock
on hand to print the paper for something
like two months. Whether more viii
be obtainable before that time ex.
Continued on page p