Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-19
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 10, 1919
Publ ISHERS PINCHED FOR
PAPER.


PAPER.
During the war the government
controlled the distribution of the
print paper supply, which was scarce.
No new papers were permitted to be
established, and even exchanges be-
tween publications were practically
eliminated by order from Washington.
During the last few months the
country has been Weakening up in big
commercial business, and the volume
of advertising offered to newspapers
has exceeded any ever known. the
movement among manufacturers to
push business being a great stimulant.
But the pulp-paper mills are not able
to keep up with the increased demand
for paper, partly through lack of ma
terial for pulp and partly because OF
strikes at mills, or lack of labor since
the war disorganized forces.
SO all over the land there is worry
in newspaper offices, little and large
because of information sent out from
mills about shortage now and next
year. The mills are advancing the
price of paper and urging that publ
cations conserve supplies and reduce
advertising space. raising prices to
meet the growing cost of paper.
OF course great reduction might be
effected by some of the t:g city
dailies, through cutting out feature
spread in the Sunday sheets. One of
The New York dailies is said to have
turned down offers of about eleven
pages of advertising daily to save
paper. Some publishers have bought
mills in this country and Canada to
play safe.
The Journal was asked to join
pool for the purchase of mill. One
carload of paper is consumed in a
month by the Journal. The cost laid
down here is more than double that
paid when the war began, nrA the
mill which has supplied the stock for
ten years, now advises that it is re-
fusing to accept seven cents per pound
for its entire output, the offer coming
from big paper. The refusal is be-
cause of the good faith of the mill to
its regular patrons. These it intends
to take care of during the next year, |
though it urges all to prevent their |
demands increasing. Probably this !
foretells a cost after December of six
or seven cents per pound at the mill, |
in carload lots, and at that not more
than a three months contract can be !
secured
The journal has begun saving space |
by reducing sizes of headings and in
minor ways, but will not cut down
news features of the paper to the |
detriment of subscribers. Nor is it, |
at this time at least. contemplating
any advance in advertising rates given |
its regular advertisers. |
That there is genuine scarcity of |
paper, which may not for many |
months be overcome, is certain, and
many of the small journals through
out the country may be neglected be-
cause of the demands from big metro
poltan papers.
Under such conditions there may be |
profiteering at the expense of pub |
fishers, especially those who purchase
in small lots. There is not a weekly !
paper in New Mexico that is not pay
ing about three times as much as
formerly for the sheets that are fur |
nished readers at from s1,0O to $500
per year, and about all would be JUS |
titled in raising rates to subscribers
probably also in increasing advertis-
ing charges.
Prices for paper used in job print
ing have also risen in the same way, |
and the printers would all go into in
solvency did they supply letter heads
and envelopes at former prices.
The scarcity of printers nowadays,
and the higher wages paid, are also
trouble. Many small paper
mas recently been compelled to pur-
chase a linotype at cost of $4,000,
on partial payment plan. in order to
get matter typed for the columns.
This in each case involves the en-
ployment of an operator at around
s35 to $40 per week. IL
The daily Prescott Journal Mineri
'ays Just now, printers who are
worth cuss, are as scarce as Pres
'ott people who have no fixed CON
iiction as to the poison of a ella
monster. Just now, too. the Journal {
Miner is operating short handed in the
mechanical department. because big
newspapers all over the country. in [
heir frenzied fear of labor shortage, /
ave drawn heavily on the supply, I