Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-08-30
THE PAPER FAMINE.

The paper famine is not peculiar to
the United States, but it is invading
tie entire world. Everywhere extra
ordinary precautions are being taken
in the matter, and newspapers are now
feeling the first pangs of danger.
The following editorial is interest
ing, and from the Manufacturers
Record:
The scarcity of paper, which is so
seriously affecting the newspapers OF
the United States, is not confined to
this country, nor even to Europe. Re-
PORTS to the United States Government
show that there is very serious
scarcity in Brazil, and there are signs
there that a paper crisis is approaching
1t is suggested in that country that the
newspapers should print smaller edi
tons in order to economic on paper.
Reports from Spain indicate that the
manufacturers of paper have advised
the Government that in view of the
short supply of paper, they are willing
to discontinue the export trade, and
have asked that the Government fix
price on paper. A commission has been
appointed consisting Of representatives
of the Government, the paper manu-
facturers, newspaper publishers and
book publishers to "ass on all COM
the entire subject. In Spain wood
pulp is reported as having increased
s. per cent. since the war began. More
than half of the supply of wood pulp
in that country has been coming from
Sweden, while Germany and Norway
furnish considerable portion.
| These conditions in Europe and in
South America are indicative of the
worldwide paper situation. Readers
OF newspapers, magazines and advertis-
ers should recognize this situation.
| When the price of pig-iron advances,
the makers of machinery increase their
prices. When the price of cotton adj
vances, cotton manufacturers are nee
essarily compelled to increase the
price of the finished goods, and so runs
the rule all through the business
world, except in the publishing end,
and here it would seem that publish
ers out of the desire to run into bank
ruptcy are expected, regardless of the
| price of the raw materials, not to
advance the price of their papers nor
their advertising rates. In any other
| line of business the man who follows
| this policy would 60 into well-deserved
bankruptcy, and the business world
would say that he justly deceived his
! fate for his lack of business sense,
Possibly the newspapers of the coun-
| try will soon recognize the situation
and meet it in exactly the same way
that other producing interests have to
meet the advanced cost of labor and
materials, and if business men of good.
sound, common sense will study the
situation, they will recognize the ne
cessity of meeting this problem as
other manufacturers meet advancing
cost of raw materials.
| The Importance of the publishing in
dustry is shown in the fact that the
value of the products of the newspaper
and periodical book and job printing
industry of the country for 1914, ac-
cording to the Census reports, amount
ed to $S10,50S,111, a gain of 1928 per
cent. over the output for 1909.
The amount of money expended for
advertising through these publications
was 1855. 954,0S2. AS large as these
advertising figures are, they are
smaller than they should be. The
country is only beginning to appreci-
j ate the creative value of advertising.
Manufacturers, merchants, railroads,
towns and cities are all beginning to
wake up to the fact that the mightest
power available for the development
Of business is advertising. The more