The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-25
Can Offset Loss of European
Supply by Saving Rags.
BOYS CAN MAKE MONEY, TOO
By Gathering Rags and Papers
From NeighbOrs.
Government Takes Hand in Sc
riOus Paper Situation.
Topeka matrons, attention,

Upon YOU and your sisters else
where depends the immediate future
of the paper business III America. I'm
Gle Sam has sent letters broadcast
through the land urging housewives
to save and sell old rags and paper,
paper houses throughout the country
are making similar pleas through
their local customers. This, to get
necessary materials for production of
news paper. At a recent meeting at
the board OF trade building at Chicago
a statement was made that the house
wives of the United States are the
only persons who can save the day in
the paper business.
1t is estimated that more than a
sufficient amount of old paper and
rags to offset the supply from Europe,
now curtailed, is burned in alleys
every day. C. L. Mitchell of Crane
arouse interest in the situation among
Topeka women.
Pin Money for Boys.
Here's an excellent opportunity for
the school boys and school girls to
make some extra money said Mr..
Mitchell today. They would be sur
prised to discover the spending money
they could accumulate by canvassing
the blocks near the home once or
twice week and gathering rags and
old papers from their neighbors.
II just called up L. F. Seller of the
Pioneer Waste Paper company and he
advises me that the company will pay
one-half cent a pound for all maya
zines delivered at their plant at Eighth
and Santa Fe Railroad plants, and
one-fourth cent a pound for all news
papers and ordinary wrapping papers.
A still higher price will be paid for
ledger and bond paper scraps deliv-
cred to them in any quantity.
Rags Are Higher.
hot
have been paying from one-half cent
to three-fourths cent per pound for
old rags and are now willing to give
one cent q pound for all rags, old car
pets, gunny sacks delivered to them al
their warehouse at the foot of Kansas
avenue. Also there is a good market
for cords and Irvine of all kinds, which
will bring practically the same price as
rags.
Il am not trying to boost the waste
paper or rag business, but trying to
impress upon the people the serious
ness of the paper situation and show
how the same may be relieved. In
short, the future CT the paper industry
is right up to the housewife and mer-
chant, and instead of using the trash
burner permanently to destroy this big
asset the saving of same will result i'll
reducing the price of a commodity
which is needed and used by practical
ly every citizen in the United States
A telegram from one of the largest
paper houses in the country has been
received in Topeka, stating that unless
a greater volume of old paper and
rags were obtained during the next
ninety days than has been received in
the last ninety days, that by Septem-
Der the paper houses would be prac-
tically out of business.
Smith Predicts Famine.
w. r. Smith, state printer was at
the paper market in Kansas City yes
terday getting quotations on various
papers At the Commercial club to-
day Mr.. Smith predicted that in few
weeks half the newspapers in the
country would be on their knees beg
ging for print paper.
houses said Mr.. Smith, "a telegram
was received from the biggest print
paper mill in the United States an
nouncing that because of shortage of
materials and lack of margin it
would discontinue manufacturing
print paper after the first of the
month and confine its energies to the
manufacture of higher grade papers,
An example of the enormous in
crease in paper prices was cited by
Mr.. Smith in quotations he received
on the same amount and quantity of
paper purchased several months ago
for the statute books. He bought the
statute paper at that time for
$2,511.74. Quotations on the same
paper yesterday were $5,191.24