Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-10
Newsprint Reduction
May Bring Greater
Cuts in Other Types
WPB Statement Says
Second 10 Pet. Slash
Appears Adequate
Ey the Associated Press.

Ey the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Feb. 1O.-Paper in.
dustry circles awaited anxiously to.
day elaboration of indications from
War Production Board officials that
second cut in newsprint use, OF
not more than 10 per cent, would be
ordered by April l.
They were particularly concerned
because newsprint accounts for only
one-fifth of the total North Amer
lean paper production. and it was
reasoned that if the situation calls
for further cut in this type of pa
per. even sharper cuts may be in
store for other types.
Meanwhile. to set at rest widely
circulated reports of much deeper
curtailment, the War Production
Boards two top officials dealing with
publishing problems issued joint
statement in Washington yesterday
reporting that reduction of not
more than 10 per cent appeared to
be sufficient to meet the pulpwood
shortage situation.
See No Undue Hardship.
Such curtailment would not
work undue hardship on any pub
LEGATION or cripple the essential war
time services performed by news
papers. said the statement signed by
w G. Chandler, chief OF the print
ing and publishing division, and
Donald j. Sterling. consultant on
the newspaper and publishing in
dustries.
However, the talk of more drastic
curtailment continued. Representa-
tive Shafer. Republican, of Michi-
gan declared on the floor of the
House that one division of WPB was
insisting on what he termed
"ruinous reduction" of 40 per cent
and that this division would make
its demands known today.
Also awaited expectantly were re-
actions Of the. Canadian newsprint
industry While news of plans for
paper have emanated almost solely
from Washington, newsprint Is
chiefly a Canadian industry.
The Dominion supplies more than
10 per cent of United States news
print and newsprint makes up three
quarters of its paper output, while
1t amounts to only one-sixth of
United States paper production.
Other Uses Expanded.
Another aspect OF the matter
which some paper men regarded as
significant was the fact that news
print production has remained rela-
lively stable since 1899. while other
types Of paper have expanded
sharply. In other words, biggest
wartime increases in demands on
wood supply and other paper
making components have not been
made by newsprint.
Newsprint production, something
over 4,000.0 900 tons in North Amer
lea in 1912. was less than 9 per cent
above 1899. All other types of
paper, estimated at above 10000, 900
tons, was up approximately Is per
cent. In supplying the North Amer
lean market Canadians have been
limited largely to newsprint, since
1t is the only paper entering the
United States duty free.
While details of the paper picture
have not yet been made public in
Washington, some paper men be- 4
lieve the most important problem
is the demand for Canadian sulphite
pulp. This is the fibrous part of
the wood, from which the rest of the
wood has been removed. which gives
paper. its strength. Newsprint is
only II to Is per cent sulphite,
while wrapping, tissue and many
other types Of paper require much
larger proportions.
A chief source of sulphite for the
American paper industry has been
the Pacific Coast, which until re-
Gently made some 100000 tons a
year and shipped about half of
that East. AS result Of manpower
shortages in the woods in the Pa
cific Northwest. shipments of sui
phite were virtually shut off the
past three months. A ton of sui
phite requires about 2 cords of
pulpwood, while a ton Of newsprint
requires roughly only ! cord
Newsprint Threatened.
This has brought new demand
on Canada, a demand which had
already increased early in the war
by the shutting of of sulphite i'm
ports from Scandinavia. Canadian