Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-07-25

ihas laid upoRs the desk Of the pub
fisher even greater ones and it is u
this particular portion Of the news
paper mans responsibility that
wish to address myself.
Perhaps at no time within the pas
decade has the outlook for the VIZ
ginia publisher from financial STAND
point been less assuring than at pre-
sent. At every step he is confronted
with an increased expense account
while there has been no material IN
crease in his revenues. He is now just
| recovering from the depression o.
ll914- when the war commenced anu
the increase of 80 per cent IN adVer'
Using revenues reported at the meet
| ing of the American Publishers ANS
sociation would not held true IN Vlr-
pinia. While circulation figures sho"
some slight advances this has Deeh
| caused by the demand for war news
and at the present price Of paper has
not been profitable to the publisher.
The cost of paper has been the
greatest item to be considered by
the publisher and the condition of
the paper market today is such as to
cause alarm although not the panicy
situation in which some newspaper
men find themselves. Within tic last
thirty days l have had interviews
with the principal paper manufactu-
rers in this country in my official
capacity as representative OF the De-
partment of Commerce in its inves-
tigation of the export paper situa-
tion and l bring to you some little
encouraging news of the compara-
lively short duration OF the present
condition. :,
A year ago the Virginia publisher
was paying from 2 to 2 3-4 cents per
pound for his news print according
to the amount of his yearly purchases.
Today it is impossible to make a
contract and the price ranges from 4
to 6 cents per pound for immediate
delivery.
While the latter figure is of course
not justified there is good reason for
q heavy increase in the price OF
paper. There has been an abnormal
domestic demand caused by the in
crease of circulation of the big, Metro
politan papers and heavy increases
of advertising in the large cities; the
importations of wood pulp from
Scandinavian points has been entire
ly discontinued on account of the war;
Canada has placed an embargo on
the shipment of paper or pulp to this
country; the world is looking to us
to supply! her paper needs and is in
sistently crying for help; there have
been heavy increases inswages, while
every article that goes into the max
ing of paper has risen in price some
of the chemicals which were former
ly imported from Germany having
increased hundred fold.
But every day. the production is
being. Increased, mills are working to
capacity <and new mills are under
construction. With in few months
the situation will improve and when
the war is over conditions will ap-
proach normal. While l don not think
that we will ever have paper as we
once had it in this country two years
ago I do believe that at price of
50. .25 per 100 pounds at the mill the
manufacturer will make fair profit
and the cost will not be excessive to
the publisher. But to get this price
there must be organization and l
suggest that: permanent committee
be named from this association who
will undertake to see that the Vir-
ginia publisher gets his paper supply
at fair and reasonable price.
With paper at any where near. its
present price,, type metals :: soaring
above all previous quotations, inks
showing an advance of fifty per cent
and labor insistent for more money
with which to meet the constantly in
creasing cost of living, the publishe,
is confronted with finding more busi
ness, increasing his prices or closing
down. I cannot see the prospect Of
enough new. business in theinear fu
ture in Virginia to meet the increased
expenses and therefore the conclu
sion that I reach is that the presen
business must pay higher tariff
Subscription rates must be raised ant
the delinquent must be given shor
shift. Circulation5mu be cut dow
as nearly as possible to the a'tua
number of paid subscribers. The ex
| L j A6 yr1