The sun., 1916-10-16
News Publishers Forced to
Economies Hitherto In
known to the Trade.
EXPERT STUDYING CRISIS
Many Country Dailies and
Wecklics Soon Will Have
to Suspend.


which was predicted early this year is
m actual condition and that the pros
poets are not encouraging to the pub
fishers.
The scarcity Of print paper has In the
last few weeks caused the newspapers
20 institute economies hitherto unknown
IN the business and to look around for
additional methods OF conserving the
stock in hand. Even allowing for dras-
tic reductions In consumption next year.
experts point out hat the supply will
not come up TO the demand. The public.
Il was said YESTERDAY. must realize hat
sma Her newspapers arc due.
The situation has become so serious
that a dozen different rcmedi-, nave
been advocated and adopted recently.
Cutting down the size Of the paper or
the advertising Is only one OF these.
Raising the price Of the newspaper and
watching to detect the smallest waste Of
space are other devices adopted.
A. Gordon Mcintyre. a retired official
Of the Canadian Pulp and Paper Assoc
citation and an authority In the paper
trade. has been chosen by the American
Newspaper Publishers Association 20
start a new department. He will confer
with the publishers and act as tncir
representative in negotiations with tie
paper manufacturers. To some VI those
in the newspaper publishers ranks It
looks as though the country dailies md
weeklies. which cannot or will not con-
tract for their print paper in quantity.
will be forced to suspend.
Wood Pulp Imports Decrease.
A significant fact is that the imports
Of wood pulp. used in making white
paper. have dropped In the last year
despite the fact that there is a normal
increase OF 6 per cent. In consumption
every year.
In 1914 the imports amounted to $685.
$50 tons. The next year $4,000 more
tons were brought in. This year the tom
mage was 1000 less than In 1914 and
$1,000 less than in 1915. These figures
were for the year ended June 80.
Not only OF the other side were trade
conditions upset. but also here. As the
result Of increased wages in Canada and
other Industrial factors the mechanical
pulp that used to come over the border
in great quantities now dr!bbles through.
A despatch from Toronto contained IN
intimatlon by the Canadian Minister OF
Finance that an embargo on exports of
news print might be ordered IL the price
in the domestic market were found to be
excessive. On the other side OF the bor-
der. as In this country. the cry has been
raised that the manufacturers have been
holding up the consumers. but here at
least invest CATION has shown that there
u q real shortage.
Publishers Facing q Crisis.
II Is estimated that 1900. 600 tons OF
news print will have been used In this
country by December OF this year. The
normal increase Of s per cent. a year
would bring the 1918 consumption to
more than 1000. 900 tons. which calls
for ar additional daily production OF
from 500 to 500 tons. But experts in
terested in the newspapers side OF the
situation can only sec 100 tons daily in
crease In 1913 over 1916. That brings
the publisher face to face with the ques-
ton OF curtailing has consum 'tion. prun-
ing space in his paper and dropping a
few pages.
The duration OF the war enters into
the problem, OF course. II host!lities
cease with!R n year exports from Scan
dinavian countries may be resumed In
. volume and the pressure upon the pub
fishers relieved. II the war keeps up
and the foreign supply Of raw materials
10 kept down then the shortage will be-
greater than ever before. whether the
publisher economies in paper or not.
The American mills are faced with
the demand for more paper than they
can supply at present. When asked why
they didn't foresee that more white print
would be needed the manufacturers are
wont to say that the domestic supply in
the past has been held down By injurious
legislation.
Manufacturers Don't Explain.
On the other hand. the manufacturers
pave yet to explain why II the war
munitions factories have been ex-
banded and additional machinery in
stalled the paper mills ave not been de-
veloped In proportion to the increased
demand for their products.
While this argument Is going on the
supply OF paper Is shrinking and pub
fishers are hard put to It to find the nee
essary rolls. The largest annual con-
sumption Of news print reported to the
American Newspaper Publishers Asso-
citation Is $4,000 tons, although the fig
ure would be higher II special issues
we're put out.
TIL publisher has tried owning his
own mills. signing long term contracts
n buying for spot cash 'in the
Street"
None of these methods has been en-
tirely SATISFACTORY. The publisher who
controls a mill has difficulty in getting
any emergency supply from outside be-
cause he is told others without mills
must be protected first. The cash sys-
tenn has resulted In one OF the largest
newspaper in the country buying news
print at double the rates OF contract.
Smaller customers Threatened.
Most OF the mill owners realize that
excessive prices will wipe out the smaller
customers by the score, especially I'm
the rural districts, and they are mod
crate In their demands, but the A. y.
+. A.. officials believe there are other
manufacturer who are seeking all the
traffic will bear, regardless Of future
developments.
In behalf of the manufacturers II Is
pointed out that little new production
Is provided for because of the cost OF
installing new machinery. not to mem
ton the fact that IL takes approximately
two years to develop water power for a
new plant. Whatever the reasons for
the shortage. and the producers and
consumers will advance hundreds OF con.
n'cting reasons, the supply Is dwindling
and publishers are cutting down their
papers.
Many publishers did not awaken TO
the facts OF the situation until "A few
weeks ago. Heretofore the marke. for
news print has been dull IN the summer
The newspapers have not been IN the
habit OF getting out so many IA ges az
In winter and a smaller quantl,y OF
yaper has been used.
That permitted the mills TO accumulate
n IRhpISa GtnTa which In me m. H..