The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-04-13
HIGH PRICES HIT PUBLISHERS
the Cost of Materials From One to 5000 Per
Cent
TFrom the Fourth Estate.l

the wool alliance in Boston. This
organization has been forced to
pledge itself to use the wool so that
the central powers will derive no
benefit from it, and the alliance in
turn exacts the same pledges from
manufacturers and jobbers. This re-
straint has helped to increase the cost
of production, and according to the
manufacturers no relief is in sight.
Rubber blankets, also used in pack
ing. has been only slightly affected
by the war, advancing half cent per
pound
Muslin, also used in packing, has
been only slightly affected by the
war, advancing half cent per pound.
Metol, a chemical which is indis-
pensable to the art department OF a
newspaper. has advanced from an
ante-belfum price OF about 81 per
pound to $50. Increase Of 1000 to
5000 per cent are common all through
the chemical section OF the newspa-
per plant.
The better grades of lead pencils,
retailing about five cents apiece,
have not advanced in price, although
the price of graphite has increased.
According to leading manufacturer,
the makers of lead pencils have met
the situation by stopping the produc-
ton of the cheaper grades.
Gum arabic, used in making stere-
otype matrices has increased, 100 per
cent since 1914.
Wrapping paper and twine used in
the circulation work have also
doubled in price, due to the increased
difficulty in shipping.
Some makes Of printing presses
have been raised ten per cent in
price.
Anticipates will go up ten per cent
on March 81.
On type founders supplies, leads.
furniture and brass, rule, the chief
effect has been felt in reduced guam
THY discounts. Rule brass has ad-
vanced sixty per cent in raw material,
but the type founders have boosted
their price only about twenty per
cent.
Wood furniture has been immune
so far, but with lumber rising stead
lily in price, the finished product is
expected to take leap within short
time
Leads and slugs for spacing cost
the manufacturer more, but quantity
discounts have been practically alb
olished, and the list price is prac-
tically the same as before the war.
SteePs advance has been noted in
the increased cost in autoplate ma
chimes and printing presses. Steel
chases has almost doubled in price.
News ink has gradually moved up
ten to twenty-five per cent over,
former prices, so that quality which
sold for $50 eighteen months ago now
brings 800.
Raw material has also advanced in
even greater proportion.
Dry carbon black, which was plent-
iful until short time ago at four and
one-half to five cents per pound, now
is sold in the open market for TWEEN
ty-five cents.
Linseed oil, which has been sold as
low as forty-two cents per gallon, Is
now quoted at seventy-eight to eighty
cents. All oils and rosins, have ex-
perienced similar advances.
Rotogravure inks, upon which no
definite quotations were made, have
also advanced about twenty-five per
cent.
Soft coal is another essential to
the operation Of newspaper plant.
the cost Of which has increased over
thirty per cent. This Is not due to
the war, but to the higher mine costs,
plus the recently increased railroad
freight rates.