Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-05-03
HIGH PRICES
HIT PUBLISHERS
War Increases the Costs of
Materials From I to 5000
Per Cent.
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From the Fourth Estate.

FROM the Fourth Estate.
The price of practically every item
employed in making newspapers ha.
gone up since the European war start
ed in August, 1914. the increases rang
ing from n per cent in some cases t.
3.0gn prr cont n others. The maxim.
Of war i.unitions and clothing for tn
mcu ~ the trenches has taken so much
material recess Try for printing out o
the domestic trade that uncertain anC
prihiuitive prices are now the rule
Here are some examples:
one Of the first elements of news
paper printing to feel the pressure OF
war demands was the metal supply
Lead is produced chiefly in the United
States. but the foreign demand has
market. and lead has jumped from
s425 per hundred weight before the
war to sT.25 this week.
The tin used in type metal is to a
great extent under English control. and
is exported only witt the permission
OF the British government. In 1914
block tin was quoted in New York al
an average price of $40. Today. limited
quantities of the same Tin bring s55 in
hundred pound lots.
Antimony. the hardening constituent
Of type metal. is also used in shrapnel
and il the asphyNiating gases used by
the -heliigerents. The most carefully
~ : a |iAt VI ti4IS llltk4i 81
from Europe before the war. and were
quoted al IS to s. per hundred weight.
The present supply is being imported
from the far east, because the Eu-
ropean metal is understandable. n is
prlc@i aoout SO.
A. a result OF The advance in raw
metals. linotype metal. which retailed
70. s a hundred pounds before the war
aas jumped 10 about s14.
Stereotype rnelal. sold Is months ago
foT about SIS, now brings about SIS.
Monatype metal, formerly sold for
about $40. now ranges between $3.50
and s20.
These prices are by no means steady.
hut the trend of the market for the
Iast vear and q half has been con-
stantly upwards. with occasional fiuc-
ruations.
Leather betting has jumped between
~ and 40 per cent since hostilities
STARTED.
Printing rollers. composed Chiefly Of
glue, siycarine n nolasses, have also
felt the uplift movement, advancing
about is per cent.
Giycsrins, greatly in demand for ex-
pioslves. has advanced from 1917 cents
per 10 81 cents. with further ad-
vances expected.
CLUE has remained comparatively
stable. but molasses has increased from
~ TO about % cents per pound.
Wool blankets and felt used in the
packing of printing presses nave been
greatly Influenced by the European de-
mand for wool, and New York jobbers
are quoting prices 10 to IS per cent
greater than in 1914.
Stereotype blankets have advanced
In about equal proportions.
1t is estimated that about 1000, 0O0,-
900 pounds of wool is being used for
uniforms and clothing for the belliger-
ent soldiers. and as clothing worn in
the trenches has to be burned after
about two months wear, the wool,
which would ordinarily be converted
into shoddy. and the cotton which
wouid go to paper mills, is absolutely
destroyed.
Another feature is that all wool i'm
ported into the United States comes
from British dependencies through the
Wool Alliance in Boston. This organ
ization 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 pledge from manufacturers and
.johbers. This restraint has helped to
increase the cost of production, and ac-
corting TO the manufacturers no relief
is in sight.
Rubber blankets. also used in pack
ing. have advanced about 10 per cent.
Muslin. also used in press packing,
HAS peeH only SllBntIy anected by the
war, advancing half a cent per pound.
Metol. a chemical which is i%ndispen-
sable to the art department Of a news
paper. has advanced from an ante-bel-
lum price OF about 81 per pound to $50.
increase of 1000 to 5000 per cent are
all through the chemical Sec
ton of the newspaper plant.
The better grades Of lead pencils, re-
failing about S cents apiece, have not
advanced IN price. although the price
OF graphite has increased. According
to a leading manufacturer, the makers
of lead pencils ave met the situation
10y stopping the production Of the
cheaper grades.
Gum arabic. used in making stereo-
type matrices has increased 100 per
ceft since 1914.
Wrapping paper and Irvine used in
the circulation work have also doubled
"a price. due to the increased difficulty
IA shipping.
Some makes Of printing presses have
been raised 10 per cent in price.
Anticipates will 30 up 10 per cent on
March 81.
On type founders supplies. leads.
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