Paper
Manufacturing and Paper Shortages in the South, 1861-1865
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN WATCHMAN, May 1, 1861,
p. 2, c. 1
Burning
of the Pioneer Paper Mill.
The
paper mill three and a half miles from this place was totally consumed by fire
on Wednesday morning last, together with all the paper and stock on hand.
The origin of the fire, we believe, is considered doubtful.
It may have been accidental, or it may have been the work of an
incendiary. The loss is estimated
at $16,000. There was no insurance.
We believe it is the intention of the stockholders to rebuild--we hope
so, at all events, as it is a great convenience to us to have our paper
manufactured at home.
BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, June 12, 1861, p. 2, c. 1
We are under the necessity of issuing but a half sheet this week.
It is well to recollect that paper is very scarce, and that unless the
blockade is raised before long, many newspapers will have to suspend for want of
the article, as we understand there is none or very little for sale in Houston
or Galveston. The Countryman
will be as tenacious of life as any of them.
BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, June 19, 1861, p. 2, c. 1
The editor of the Brenham Enquirer
learned in Galveston, that paper was expected to arrive from England, in
November next, as orders for that article had been forwarded.
The Enquirer will be issued on
a half sheet until Christmas.
AUGUSTA [GA] DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL,
July 2, 1861, p. 2, c. 1
Advance
in Rates of Subscription.
The undersigned are reluctantly constrained to increase the subscription
price of their respective papers. This
necessity arises from the diminished income of their offices, growing out of the
stagnation of business generally, while the expenses are largely increased and
cannot be curtailed without injustice to our readers.
Advertising, ordinarily so large a portion of a newspaper revenue, is
almost wholly suspended and will continue so during the war, while the price of
paper has largely increased, and our telegraphic expenses are nearly trebled.
...
From the 1st day of July our terms of subscription will be--
For the Daily One Year -
- $
8 00
"
" Six Months
- 4 00
"
" Three Months
-
2 00
"
" One Month
-
1 00
For Tri-Weekly One Year -
- 5 00
"
" Six Months
- 2 50
"
" Three Months
-
1 50
The Weekly will be as heretofore, for one year $2 00.
All orders for subscription must be accompanied with the Cash.
James Gardner,
Proprietor Constitutionalist
Wm. S. Jones,
Proprietor Chronicle & Sentinel.
AUGUSTA [GA] DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL,
July 2, 1861, p. 1, c. 2
North
Carolina Paper
Forest Manufacturing Company,
Forestville, N. C.
Manufacturer of Superior
Book and Newspaper, &c., &c.
Respectfully solicit Southern dealers to send them orders.
Samples and prices will be sent (postage paid) by applying to
W. B. Reid, Supt.my16-1m
DALLAS HERALD,
July 10, 1861, p. 1, c. 3
As printing paper is scarce—very scarce—and as there are about
seventy or eighty newspapers in this State, which use from twenty to fifty
quires per week, and merchants and others who use wrapping paper to a
considerable extent, would it not pay to establish a paper mill at Houston or
Galveston?—Colorado Citizen.
We answer yes. We think
several paper mills could be well sustained in our State, and we do hope that
some one will make a start pretty soon.
BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, July 17, 1861, p. 2, c. 2
We copy the following from the Galveston Civilian.
It is very appropriate at this time:
The Christian Advocate appears on a half sheet, though without
proportionate diminution of interesting reading matter.
The scarcity of paper and of paying subscribers begins to tell on the
newspaper business, and we fear that many papers will not stop the curtailing
process at a half sheet. The
Richmond Reporter gives its present issue the name of the Half Loaf, though we
doubt not the ample crops of Fort Bend county will keep the publishers fully
supplied with the staff of life. No
people appreciate newspapers more highly than the citizens of Texas; and we
trust that they will not neglect to sustain the press in the present crisis.
Good names on a list of subscribers will not do this.
It requires money, or something that will sustain life.
Country publishers can use much of the produce of the farm and workshop
in lieu of money; and subscribers should make it a point to contribute such aid
as is in their power, without waiting for that common bore, the dun, alike
unpleasant to those who give and those who receive it.
AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE,
July 22, 1861, p. 4, c. 5
Contemplated Paper Mill.—As so many questions have been asked us,
recently, in regard to the new enterprise—a paper-mill—we will give a faint
outline of its absolute necessity. There
is consumed, in Louisiana, in the course of one year, paper to an almost
incredible amount, the most of which has, hitherto, come from the north—all of
it outside of our own State; but all supplies are now cut off from the north, as
the article is declared contraband of war.
There are in the Confederacy, some fifteen paper mills that produce,
probably, 75,000 pounds daily, while the consumption is rated at 150,000 pounds
daily, or just double the supply. Now,
if this enterprise is suffered to fall through, from lack of capital, there is
great reason to apprehend an entire stoppage of newspaper publishing in this and
other Southern States, and, also, great inconvenience will result from the want
of even ordinary wrapping paper. There
is an actual cash market now existing for as much paper as a mill can produce in
four months, and the business, besides being cash, is also very profitable.
We are glad to learn that at least two-thirds of the stock is already
taken.—True Delta.
DALLAS HERALD, July
31, 1861, p. 1, c. 8
The Indianola Courier has been compelled to suspend its issue until the
blockade is raised or paper mills are established in Texas.
AUGUSTA [GA] DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL,
August 8, 1861, p. 3, c. 1
Rags.--Save all your rags--cotton, flax, hemp, &c.--and send them to
market, where you can realize three cents a pound.
The South wears out more such goods than two such Norths, and yet the
North saves double the quantity of rags for making paper.
Let this be changed hereafter. Save
the rags to make paper, and thereby save money.
BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, August 21, 1861, p. 2, c. 1
Our War Size.—Until the prospect of getting more paper shall become
better, the Countryman will be published at its present size. We are enabled by this plan to put in more matter than on a
half-sheet, and have less margin.
BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, August 28, 1861, p. 3, c. 1
The Corpus Christi Ranchero extra, of the 10th inst., says a
large number of wagons from Bastrop arrived there for salt, and were loaded
without delay. The supply is
inexhaustible, and Corpus is bound to enjoy an immense trade.
The Ranchero says Clark is largely ahead in that district for Governor.
The publication of the Ranchero is suspended for want of paper.
AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE,
September 7, 1861, p. 2, c. 2
Scarcity of Printing Paper.—Our exchanges, with, we believe, only two
exceptions, come to us, much curtailed of their late fair proportions.
The exceptions are the Marshall Republican and the Clarksville Standard. These are like giants among Liliputians and are received by
us with a feeling of wonder bordering upon awe; while our editorial pride
revolts at the necessity of attempting to get up a readable weekly paper, in
these stirring times, on a half sheet.
O, lucky, happy, Standard and Republican.
How we sigh for such ample columns as crowd your broad sheets!
AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE,
September 7, 1861, p. 2, c. 2
The Quitman Herald, published by Sparks & Height, formerly one of the
most belligerent, out-spoken States Rights papers in the State, died on the 14th
ult. Cause—lack of health, lack
of paper, lack of money, &c. Since
the Herald was shorn of its Height by the war fever, the light of its Sparks has
been growing dim.
It did not even give us the vote of Wood county, before its demise.
Can't one of its surviving neighbors in Upshur, Smith or Kaufman, supply
the want for Wood and Van Zandt?
BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, September 11, 1861, p.
2, c. 1
The Lagrange True Issue says that the States Rights Democrat of that
place has indefinitely suspended.
We learn that the Brenham Enquirer has suspended for want of paper, and
the Ranger has been removed to Washington.
The Richmond Reporter, alias
Half Loaf, has also been suspended.
ATLANTA
SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY, October 2,
1861, p. 1, c. 1
Half
Sheet To-Day.
And brown at that.
The paper maker has disappointed us.
We have made every possible effort to get paper, and have failed.
It is not at the mills, or elsewhere within our reach.
We have no assurance of paper--even for a half sheet--for tomorrow.
We have it promised to us for Friday's issue.
We shall get it earlier, if possible; but if you get no paper tomorrow,
you may know it is for the want of paper.
ATLANTA
SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY, October 6,
1861, p. 3, c. 2
Rags.--Save all your rags--cotton, flax, hemp, &c., and send them to
market where you can realize three cents a pound.
The South wears out more such goods than two such Norths, and yet the
North saves double the quantity of rags for making paper.
Let this be changed hereafter. Save
the rags to make paper, and thereby make money.
CHARLESTON
MERCURY, October 7, 1861, p. 1, c. 2
Our
Reduced Sheet.
To-day
we being to print The Mercury upon a sheet considerably smaller than that which
we have hitherto used. In this
measure of economy we have been preceded by too many of the public journals of
the Confederate and United States, to make any detailed statement of the reasons
which have led us to this step, either necessary or desirable.
It will be enough to inform our readers that, in the present stagnation
of trade, the advertising business, which is the sustaining element of newspaper
incomes, has, in great measure, been cut off.
In view of this fact, we have not felt warranted in continuing the issue
of so large a paper, at an expense at once needless and burdensome.
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN WATCHMAN, October 9,
1861, p. 1, c. 2
Stern
necessity compels us to appear before the public this week on a half sheet.
It is no fault of ours. We
almost "compassed sea and land" in search of paper, but could find
none in the Southern Confederacy, and we were afraid to go to Doodledom after
it. We are indebted to the courtesy
of Mr. Winter of the Bath Mills, S. C., for the loan of a small lot--he had none
for sale.
We may
possibly have to appear again on a half sheet next week; but after that, we hope
to be able to avoid doing so again. We
regret the necessity exceedingly--we never expected to see the Watchman thus cut
down; but it could not be helped. We were obliged to yield.
One
third of the papers in the Confederate States have been entirely discontinued;
while of the remainder, more than one half are published either on a half sheet
or have been reduced in size.
In order to secure a supply of paper, we shall be obliged to reduce our size for
the present. The great decrease in
our advertising patronage, however, will enable us to give our readers more
reading matter than we did in our mammoth sheet in more prosperous times.
We
trust that we shall not lose one subscriber from this cause.
We adopt the plan not to defraud them, but because necessity drives us to
it. It will now cost us more to
furnish them with a smaller paper than it did to supply them with a large one;
while our receipts from advertising have been cut down at least two-thirds, with
a large falling off in job work. As
soon as circumstances will permit, we will resume the large size.
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN WATCHMAN, October 16,
1861, p. 2, c. 5
To
our Patrons.
We
present the Watchman this week on a smaller sheet than formerly.
We regret the necessity which compels us to adopt this course; but it is
imperative. We could not procure a
supply of paper of the large size in the Confederate States--while the increased
price of paper and all other supplies and our diminished receipts from
advertising, which is the main support of newspapers in this country, rendered
it quite impossible to continue our mammoth sheet.
Our
advertisements occupying now so much less space than formerly, we will be
enabled to give our readers the current news of the day *at the old price*,
notwithstanding everything else has advanced.
It will
be perceived, likewise, that although reduced in size, our paper is now larger
than some of the oldest papers in the country, published in large cities.
. . .
Those indebted to us, who find it inconvenient to pay in money, may send
us any kind of country produce--corn, wheat, flour, oats, rye, butter, hay,
shucks, fodder, chickens, eggs--any thing that can be eaten or worn, or that
will answer for fuel. Now, there is
no longer any excuse for delinquents.
CHARLESTON
MERCURY, October 29, 1861, p. 2, c. 2
Hard Times for Newspapers.--That old and excellent daily, the Nashville Union
and American, has made a heavy
curtailment in the size of its sheet.
SAN ANTONIO HERALD,
November 2, 1861, p. 2, c. 2
The want of bleaching powder is now the chief obstacle to the manufacture
of paper in the South. That which
has been used--"Tennant's--came from New York, where it was had from
England, at a very low price.
Prof. Darby, of Auburn, Alabama, writes to the Houston Telegraph that he
has succeeded in making pure sulphuric acid from iron pyrites, which are in
abundance in Alabama, and he will have no difficulty in making sal soda,
chloroform, nitric acid, muriatic acid, and bleaching powders for paper
making.--[Galveston News.
AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE,
November 9, 1861, p. 4, c. 2
The want of bleaching powder is now the chief obstacle to the manufacture
of paper in the South. That which
has been used--"Tennant's"--came from New York, where it was had from
England, at a very low price.
Prof. Darby, of Auburn, Alabama, writes to the Houston Telegraph that he
has succeeded in making pure sulphuric acid from pyrites, which are in abundance
in Alabama, and he will have no difficulty in making sal soda, chloroform,
nitric acid, muriatic acid, and bleaching powders for paper making.--Galveston
News.
DALLAS HERALD, November
13, 1861 , p. 1 c. 3
The Marshall Republican, says that by the first of May, an abundance of
paper can be obtained from Messrs. Stevens & Seymore, of New Orleans.
This will be good news to newspaperdom in Texas, and we hope after that
time to see no more half sheets, quarter sheets, dirt-colored sheets and such
like make-shifts.
NATCHEZ DAILY COURIER,
December 17, 1861, p. 1, c. 1
Help One Another. Every one
connected with the printing business is laboring under the disagreeable trouble
of procuring a sufficiency of paper. Clean
rags are scarce for the supply of paper-mills.
Now our planters can help us out, if they will but save and bale their
refuse cotton. We understand the
paper-mills will pay three cts. per pound for this article, and that a market
can be found at B. S. Tappan's, Vicksburg, Miss. at the same price.
Let our planters consider this matter, and help us to obtain more paper
and of larger size and better quality.
BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, January 8, 1862, p. 1, c. 1
We have to reduce our size and dispense with most of our advertisements
in order to economise [sic] in paper, an article that is very scarce in the
Southern Confederacy. We do hope
there will be no great objection to this course, as by discontinuing the
advertisements, we can give nearly as much reading matter as formerly. We intend to use smaller type after an issue or two.
Some will grumble anyhow, when the best is done and we can only ask the
kind indulgence of those who duly appreciate the adversity of the times, until a
more auspicious future dawns upon our land.
Getting more paper than we have on hand is out of the question, until the
blockade is raised, and as we feel ambitious and wish to publish the Countryman
as long as we see another paper published in the State, we have to come down to
our present size. How long we will
have to visit you in this shape we cannot say but hope not a great while.
CHARLESTON
MERCURY, January 10, 1862, p. 2, c. 1
Paper Manufactories.--The importance of establishing paper mills
throughout the South is at once obvious. Thousands upon thousands of dollars, invested in printing
materials, are now lying idle and unproductive for want of paper.--No other
branch of business in the South has suffered more than the printing business,
and that mainly for the want of paper, and this too when the manufacture of
paper would be the most princely profitable business imaginable.
The ends of rope, waste cotton, pieces of bagging, and other articles
used in the manufacture of paper, could be procured in quantities sufficient for
all purposes, and would be cheerfully and gladly given.
Sites would be donated, and doubtless premiums could be obtained by
parties wishing to start the business; and yet our capitalists, with a stolid
indifference which is wonderful, make no move in the matter, and to the cry for
paper, which comes from all parts of the South, they remain foolishly
indifferent.
CHARLESTON
MERCURY, January 18, 1862, p. 2, c. 1
The newspapers on all sides begin to show the marks of the scarcity of
paper. The New Orleans Picayune has
discontinued its evening edition; the Delta continues to publish twice a day as
formerly, but uses only a half sheet; the Savannah News comes to us printed on
brown paper; and among the journals generally half sheets and all the colors of
the rainbow, are rapidly growing epidemic.
AUGUSTA [GA] DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL,
January 18, 1862, p.2, c. 1
. . . Seriously speaking, however, the deprivation of a full supply of paper is
becoming one of the most serious inconveniences experienced from Lincoln's
blockade. The freighters of the
vessels that so easily and frequently set it at naught, seem to think that it is
unnecessary to supply the wants of the mind. They bring in very little paper, or writing material, but a
supply generally for the few other wants which we cannot ourselves supply.
We suppose nobody was aware, until we were partially deprived of it, how
intimately and continually the "blessing" of paper formed a part of
our lives and happiness, not only has it "brightened as it gook its
flight" in newspapers, but the letter-writer finds the want of it
restricting him to the most scrimp and scanty pattern.
Formerly, when young ladies wrote to each other or to their lovers, their
habit was to commence half way down the first page--to place the lines on all
four pages wide apart--but to give the appearance of writing a letter whose
length was in proportion to their affection, they crossed it in every direction
and viewed their performance, when finished, as a triumph of love and
penmanship. Now they find they can
squeeze the same amount of endearments into the compass of a half sheet, and the
great relief they experience in labor of thought and of hand finds a ready
apology in Lincoln's blockade, which now-a-days forms as many excuses for short
comings as the burning of Redgauntlet's house did to Caleb Balderstone, in
Scott's novel. Nobody can complain
of long bills these days, for the
merchants manage to economize by writing on both sides of their paper, but the
bills, if shorter, are not the less forcible--like a small cannon ball, they
make up in impetus what they lack in size--we had nearly written
"bore" but we despise a pun, and where is the man who ever thought his
January bills a bore?
It is a matter of some
astonishment, that we would be in straits for paper when the South furnishes to
the world the materials for its manufacture.
The enigma is explicable in this way—materials are plentiful enough,
but there are parts of the machinery and chemicals of a paper mill which cannot
be made or had here—therefore the number of mills is necessarily restricted.
We would suggest, therefore, that those who are benevolently fitting out
vessels to import English or Yankee goods (we say Yankee goods, because we
suspect that these vessels do not always bring in the pure productions of John
Bull’s industry, we notice that one of them lately had a large consignment of
cod fish on board) should turn their attention to the importation of paper, or
what would be still better, to the importation of paper making machinery.
Either, at present prices would pay a most exorbitant profit, perhaps a
thousand per cent., and the importers would have the gratification of having
done a good and benevolent deed to editors and the whole letter writing
community—and that comprises every man and woman, girl and boy over sixteen
years of age in the Confederacy.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, January 27, 1862, p. 1, c. 1
Newspaper Mortality.—Seventeen of the twenty six newspapers, that were
published in Florida twelve months since, has been forced to suspend, by reason
of hard times. The remainder, with
the exception of one, a Semi-Weekly paper, have been reduced in size.
CHARLESTON
MERCURY, January 28, 1862, p. 1, c. 2
Newspaper Mortality.--Seventeen of the twenty-six newspapers that were
published in Florida twelve months since, have been forced to suspend, by reason
of hard times. The remainder, with
the exception of one, a Semi-Weekly paper, have been reduced in size.
CHARLESTON
MERCURY, February 12, 1862, p. 1, c.
6
Newspapers in Texas.--The San Antonio Herald says:
"We cannot count more than ten papers now published in this State,
out of some sixty a year ago. War
and blockade are death to newspapers."
COLUMBUS [GA]
ENQUIRER, February 18, 1862, p. 1, c. 6
Newspapers in Texas.—The San Antonio Herald says:
"We cannot count more than ten papers now published in this state,
out of some sixty a year ago. War
and blockade are death to newspapers.
BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, February 22, 1862, p. 1, c. 1
The Dallas Herald has subsided; out of paper.
We regret the demise of this excellent journal, and cannot see how the
frontier people can do without it. The
editor is going to the war.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, February 26, 1862, p. 4, c. 2
To
the Public
Savannah, June 24th, 1861.
The undersigned are constrained to increase the subscription price of
their respective papers. This
necessity arises from the diminished income of their offices, growing out of the
stagnation of business generally, while the expenses are largely increased and
cannot be curtailed without injustice to our readers.
Advertising, ordinarily so large a portion of a newspaper's revenues, is
almost wholly suspended, and will continue so during the war, while the price of
paper has largely increased, and telegraphic expenses are nearly trebled.
It is not reasonable to suppose that the Proprietors of papers will
continue their publication at a loss when there is no immediate prospect of a
change for the better. We have too
much reliance upon the sense of justice of our subscribers, to apprehend that
they will complain at our course; on the contrary, we hope for and need a
generous support from them, and cheerful efforts on their part to increase our
subscription lists. It is only upon
this support and those efforts we can now depend to maintain the usefulness and
value of our papers as full and reliable vehicles of information at this most
critical period in the affairs of the country.
From the 1st day of July, our terms of subscription will be
For the Daily, one year
8.00
" "
" six
months
4.00
" "
"
three months
2.00
" "
"
one month
1.00
" "
Tri-Weekly, one year
5.00
" "
"
six months
2.50
" "
"
three months
1.50
The Weekly will be as heretofore, for one
year
2.00
Apart from existing exigencies, it may not be generally known that the papers of
Savannah and Augusta have long been furnished at a price far below that of the
journals of other commercial towns in the South, and on terms wholly
unremunerating. In proof of this,
we refer to the following statement of terms. It shows that we do not ask more for our labor and capital
than is promptly conceded to others engaged in the same business.
Charleston.
Daily.
Tri-Weekly.
Courier
$10
$5
Mercury
10
5
Evening News
8
4
Mobile
Daily
Tri-Weekly.
Advertiser & Register
$10
$6
Tribune
8
New
Orleans.
Daily Picayune
$12
Crescent
10
Bulletin
12
Delta
10
Memphis.
Daily
Tri-Weekly.
Avalanche
$10
$5
Bulletin
10
5
Appeal
10
5
Nashville.
Daily
Tri-Weekly.
Union & American
$8
$5
Banner
8
5
Montgomery.
Daily
Tri-Weekly
Advertiser
$8
Mail
8
$5
Contracts for subscriptions unexpired on the day indicated, will be
completed at our former rates.
All orders for subscriptions MUST BE ACCOMPANIED WITH THE CASH.
F. W. Sims,
Proprietor Republican.
Theodore Blois [?]
Proprietor Morning News.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, March 15, 1862, p. 1, c. 1
The proprietors of the paper Mills of Greenville district, (the one
formerly owned by B. Dunham, deceased,) will in a few days, commence the
manufacture of writing paper.
WASHINGTON
[ARK] TELEGRAPH, March 19, 1862
...commence with this number, issuing a half
sheet, preserving the size of the pages, for uniformity in binding or filing.
...But now, the Paper Mill at Nashville is in the hands of the enemy, the
blockade still exists, and the unexpected course of England and France leaves
little hope of its being raised for months.
COLUMBUS [GA]
ENQUIRER, April 15, 1862, p. 1, c, 8
Demise of Newspaper.—The Red Land Express thus sums up the demise of
our old Texas exchanges:
The days of the "Chronicles" are past; the shrill notes of the
"Clarion" no more heard; the stalwart strokes of the
"Pioneer" have ceased to greet our ears; the "Banners"
(Carthage and Beaumont) no longer unfurl their bright folds to the sun; the
"Times" gave place to revolution; the "Enquirer" long since
ceased his questionings; the "Printer" has yielded up the ghost, and
there is not even an "Echo" to tell us where they are gone. We can but "Express" our deep grief at the early
loss of our boon companions, and pray that our fate be not too soon like theirs.
COLUMBUS [GA]
ENQUIRER, April 22, 1862, p. 2, c. 2
Extortion.—The paper mills yesterday took another hitch upward in their
prices. Last Wednesday paper for our little daily stood at $6
00—Monday, $8 25. What will it be
Saturday? We shall always retain a
fond affection for those fellows. When
a man gets you into his power and shows that he can appreciate and approve the
advantage to the utmost, he entitles himself to everlasting remembrance.
[Macon Tel.
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN WATCHMAN, April 23,
1862, p. 2, c. 1
We
Can't Help It!
Our
readers will discover that our sheet is much smaller this week than usual.
None can regret it more than we do.
We could not help it. It is
no fault of ours or of our readers. They
have furnished us with the means to purchase paper--we ordered it three weeks
ago, but up to the time of going to press have *not received* it.
Luckily, we had a sufficiency of a smaller size for this week's issue and
have done the best we could, under the circumstances.
Next week we must be able to resume our usual size.
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN WATCHMAN, April 30,
1862, p. 2, c. 1
Paper.
We
have again got a lot of paper, but oh! what a price!--$7.50 per ream!
Good paper only cost us $3.25 twelve months ago.
With such prices for paper, and every thing else proportionally high, how
are we to furnish our sheet at $2 a year? And
yet, strange to say, many persons who are indebted to us one, two, three, four,
five, six, seven, eight, ten, and even twelve years, refuse or fail to pay
that!! Is there justice in such
treatment?
COLUMBUS [GA]
ENQUIRER, May 13, 1862, p. 3, c. 6
Paper.—The scarcity of writing paper drives to all sorts of shifts.
We learn that a letter has been received here from Hillsborough, written
on a leaf cut from an account book of a mercantile house in this town just one
hundred years ago—1762.—Fay. Obs.
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN WATCHMAN, May 14, 1862,
p. 2, c. 4
Pioneer
Paper Mill.
We are pleased to
announce that this establishment has been re-built and is again in operation.
We trust we shall not be again disappointed in getting a supply of paper.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, May 17, 1862, p. 1, c. 1
The Pioneer Paper Mills, near Athens, have been rebuilt, and are now in
operation. There are many newspaper proprietors who will receive this as
welcome news. The article of
printing paper is extremely scarce, and while many journals have been compelled
to suspend from the impossibility of procuring supplies, others have kept up
only by the most extraordinary shifts. There
is a paper in Mississippi that came to us in five different colors by the same
mail.
CHARLESTON
MERCURY, May 19, 1862, p. 2, c. 1
Newspapers and the War.--These are terrible times for the newspapers.
The scarcity of paper, and the enormous prices charged for it when
obtained, are everywhere forcing the first class daily newspaper of the South to
curtail their dimensions. Three out
of the four dailies in Richmond, viz: the
Whig, Enquirer and Examiner, are now printed upon a half sheet.
All the newspapers of Mobile, Memphis, Vicksburg and New Orleans, also
issue a half sheet only.
AUGUSTA [GA] DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL,
May 19, 1862, p. 3, c. 1
The Pioneer Paper Mills, near Athens, have been rebuilt, and are now in
operation. There are many newspaper
proprietors who will receive this as welcome news.
COLUMBUS [GA]
ENQUIRER, May 20, 1862, p. 2, c. 2
We notice that two new Paper Mills have gone into operation within the
last few days—one at Athens, Ga., and the other at Mobile, Ala.
Two or three more in Georgia would supply the demand and correct the
prevailing extravagant prices.
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN WATCHMAN, May 21, 1862,
p. 2, c. 6
Paper.
The
paper upon which our present issue is printed is the first made at the Pioneer
Mill, near this place, since its re-construction. It is not such as that establishment formerly furnished, nor
does any other paper-mill supply such paper as we had before the war.
We trust that our Pioneer friends may have a prosperous time in future.
WASHINGTON
[ARK] TELEGRAPH, May 28, 1862
PAPER.--The stock of writing paper in our town is entirely exhausted. There is not a sheet for sale.
We have used up all the supply of our editorial office, and invaded our
stock of law stationery. At length
we have destroyed all our legal blanks by writing editorials on their backs, and
we now used the yellow ruled leaves, we have torn from an old ledger.
Our subscribers who pay us deserve all this trouble on their account.
CHARLESTON
MERCURY, June 20, 1862, p. 2, c. 1
Half Sheets.--The Richmond papers are now all printed upon half sheets.
The Dispatch, which, pecuniarily, has been perhaps the most successful
newspaper in the South, comes out, in its issue of Wednesday, upon a half sheet. Indeed, printing paper has become so dear and so difficult to
obtain, that the publication of papers of any kind is now a matter attended with
great embarrassment. In such times,
to waste paper in display of profitless advertisements is sheer folly.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, July 2, 1862, c. 2, p. 5
Rags,
Rags!
Five Cents per
pound will be paid for clean Linen and Cotton Rags delivered at any Railroad
Depot in Georgia or South Carolina. Address
Bath Paper Mills Co.
Augusta Ga.
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN BANNER, August 6, 1862,
p. 3, c. 6
New Music, Paper & C.
My
Maryland; There's Life in the old Land Yet; Bonny Blue Flag and other Patriotic
pieces.
Also--100 reams assorted letter paper.
One size as low as 50 cents per quire. Most
of it made in Southern Paper Mills. Just
received.
July 2.
Wm. N. White.
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN BANNER, August 13,
1862, p. 1, c. 5-6
The
Cost of Printing Papers.
People,
generally, have very crude ideas as to the cost of printing newspapers and the
labor bestowed upon them. No class
of men in the South has suffered more, perhaps, from the war, than publishers.
The proprietors of the Southern Recorder, in order to avoid loss, have been compelled to
advance their subscription price from two to three dollars a year.
They prefer to do this, rather than reduce the size of their sheet.
We suppose at this time, that many papers do nothing more than pay
expenses, and some not even that. Advertising
and job work amounts to almost nothing, and yet we find but few papers have
raised the price of subscription. We
append an extract from the Recorder,
which will give the readers of the Banner
an idea of what it costs us to furnish them the paper.
"The blank paper on which we print the Recorder has advanced one hundred
and fifty per cent., and is still on the increase, so that it is impossible to
conjecture where the manufacturers will stop their prices. The present charge is at the rate of one dollar and twenty
cents for the blank paper alone to each subscriber, leaving but eighty cents, on
two dollar subscriptions, to pay for setting the types, press work, ink,
folding, wrapping and mailing, besides the wear and tear of materials, office
room, and the expenses of the editorial department.
All these items enter into the cost of furnishing the paper to our
patrons. Such being the case, we
are compelled to make a change in our terms in order to avoid loss.
BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, August 16, 1862, p. 1, c. 1
The Ranger, not being disposed to remain longer out of fashion, has come
down to a half-sheet. A full sheet
newspaper has been out of fashion for a long time.
MOBILE REGISTER AND ADVERTISER, September 10, 1862, p. 1, c. 7
Home Manufactured
Writing Paper!
Writing Paper!
Writing Paper!
We are permanently engaged in the
Manufacture of Writing Paper,
And are now prepared to fill ORDERS for larger and smaller sizes.
S. H. Goetzel & Co.
Booksellers, Publishers and Stationers
83 Dauphin street, Mobile, Ala.
SAVANNAH [GA] REPUBLICAN, October 13, 1862, p. 2, c. 1
Georgia Letter Paper.—Mr. George N. Nichols has presented us with a
sample of buff letter paper, manufactured at one of the mills in this State, a
supply of which he has on sale, at his Job Office on the
Bay. It is a very fair
article, does not blot through, and with a good pen offers a smooth surface for
writing. He sells it at about half
the cost of Yankee or English letter paper.
GALVESTON WEEKLY NEWS,
October 15, 1862, p. 2, c. 1
We are sorry to learn from our friend Robertson, of the Huntsville Item,
that the impossibility of getting paper is likely to cause the suspension of
that paper. We regret this
sincerely, for the Item has always been among the most interesting of our
exchanges, and there is not an editor in the South who has been more true to our
cause, or more bold and consistent in defending it.
But in such times as these the existence of all our journals is very
precarious.
DALLAS HERALD, December
6, 1862, p. 2, c. 2
The editor of the Confederate News (Jefferson) has just returned from
Georgia, where he has made arrangements for a supply of paper, and announces in
his last issue that he will, on the 1st December, commence the
publication of a semi-weekly, in addition to the weekly.
NATCHEZ DAILY COURIER,
December 13, 1862, p. 1, c. 1
"Driven to the Wall." We
never saw this old adage more fully illustrated, than by a copy of the
"Confederate States," published at New Iberia, La., for which we are
indebted to Lieut. E. W. Lindsley. It
is printed on the white side of wall paper--the other side being beautifully
covered with fancy paintings. The
proprietor was verily "driven to the wall" for the want of printing
paper.
MEMPHIS
DAILY APPEAL [Jackson, MS], December
23, 1862, p. 1, c. 6
Owing to the failure of a supply of paper of our usual size, which has been in
transit several days, to reach us, we are compelled to lay before our readers a
smaller sheet than heretofore. The
difficulty will be overcome in a short time, and meanwhile the quantity of
reading matter will not be lessened, as we shall fill our present space with as
small type as possible.
MEMPHIS
DAILY APPEAL [Jackson, MS], December
23, 1862, p. 2, c. 2
Having exhausted our supply of our large sized paper, and owing to the
difficulty of procuring freight for it from the mills, we will be compelled to
make our appearance for some days upon a small sheet.
We have an agent at the mills in Georgia, and hope, in a short time, to
be enabled to greet our readers again on a sheet of our usual size.
COLUMBUS [GA]
ENQUIRER, January 6, 1863, p. 2, c. 2
Our
Advanced Rates.
It will be seen that all the newspaper proprietors of this city,
following the example of the press everywhere else, have advanced their rates of
subscription. We have held out as long as possible against this
disagreeable expedient, but must resort to it at last.
Its necessity is so forcibly presented in the following plain
statement of facts and figures, made by the Macon Telegraph on publishing
a letter from a paper mill notifying it of another advance in the price of
paper, and on announcing an advance of its Daily subscription rates to $10, that
we need not add a word to it:
"The paper used on our Daily and Tri-weekly editions weights 25
pounds to the ream. The price
therefore per ream (at 25 cents per pound) will be $8.75 at the mill, and
transportation will make it cost at the office $8.90 or thereabout.
There are, or ought to be, in each ream of paper, counting imperfect
sheets, 480 sheets in all—worth, at this price, a little over 18 ˝ mills per
sheet. We issue to each subscriber
of the Daily in the course of the year 312 sheets, and counting wastage,
imperfect sheets, duplicates, &c., it would be only safe to average 400
sheets to the subscriber. 400
sheets at 18 ˝ mills per sheet, amount to seven dollars and forty cents for
precisely the cost of the blank paper alone to each subscriber, leaving all
other expenses—typesetting, printing, ink, fuel, wear and tear, rent of
office, editors, telegrams, mailing and all other multitudinous incidentals, all
of which have been in our experience equal to three-fifths of the whole
expense—to be met out of the odd sixty cents and advertising in these times.
It is needless to say the case is hopeless—it can't be done.
CHARLESTON
MERCURY, January 13, 1863, p. 1, c. 5
Save
Your Rags.
This would perhaps, in ordinary times, be quite an unnecessary piece of
advice, but at this moment it is of vital importance.
As our readers know, the price of paper has advanced enormously, and as a
consequence, publishers have been compelled to make a corresponding advance on
their prices. One great reason of
this increased tariff on paper is the scarcity of rags with which to manufacture
it. The manufacturers inform us
that rags are exceedingly difficult to obtain, even when, as is the case, the
rates paid are higher, by at least 800 per cent. than formerly.
We write this article solely with the view of calling public attention to
the scarcity, that it may, as far as possible, be remedied, and that speedily.
The press is one of the most potent auxiliaries of this Government in
carrying forward its objects, and subserving its interests.
As a medium of communication, in times like these, when every day adds
some memorable event to our history, the newspaper is as indispensable as our
daily food. And it is essential to
our individual intelligence, and as a record of current events.
And as we sit down to read the pages of the favorite book or journal, let
us not fail to remember that the materials for its manufacture must be obtained,
or we shall have no book or newspaper. Until
the blockade is removed--a desideratum altogether among the uncertainties--we
must rely upon our own resources. Let
then every family carefully save up all the rags--all the shreds--all the
scraps--either linen, cotton, or woollen, and furnish them to the Paper Mills,
and the proprietors of those mills will pay them handsomely therefore.
Husbands, tell your wives to see to this--and not only the wives, but let
every member of the family, white and black, commence the saving of rags to make
paper. The possible contingency of
a country like ours deprived of newspapers is shocking to contemplate.
And we will not believe but what, as we have thus sounded the note of
alarm, every one interested (and who is not?) will do all in his or her power to
keep the mills supplied with rags, that the press may thereby continue to
dispense intelligence to the people.
Augusta Chronicle.
ATLANTA
SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY, February 1,
1863, p. 2, c. 3-4
The
Complaining World.
.
. . As we enter our office in the morning, the confidential clerk who opens our
letters hands us a short communication, quietly remarking that "them
fellers at Marietta have ris again in
the price of their paper." We
hastily glance at the contents and find that the paper mills have made a heavy
advance upon us. We indignantly
pass on to the press-room and find a good portion of the floor flooded with
water. We ask Billy what is the
matter and he replies, "Nothing but a chip
in one of the flues and the engine boiled over." We then ask Billy how there came to be so many waste
papers; (about 200--mostly on the floor, under the press or tables.) "Well,"
says he, "the last paper you got at Marietta ain't no account.
About a fifth of it is split up, so it won't run through." . . .
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN BANNER, February 4,
1863, p. 3, c. 6
Save Your Ashes. The Pioneer Paper
Manufacturing Company, will pay 25 cents per bushel, for good Oak and Hickory
Ashes, delivered at their Mill, four miles from Athens.
Feb. 4
Albon Chase, Agent.
DALLAS HERALD,
February 11, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
We cannot receive any more subscribers for the present, in consequence of
not having received a supply of paper, that we expected.
Until we are assured that we can get paper to continue, we do not desire
to receive subscriptions. We have
at present only paper enough to last us some five or six weeks, but expect more
soon. We hope we shall not be
disappointed.
MOBILE REGISTER
AND ADVERTISER, February 12, 1863, p. 1, c. 7
The Boston Journal is now printed on paper made of wood. The high price of rags compelled it "to take to the
timber," literally, and it is well pleased with the result.
The paper is soft and firm, with a smooth and clean surface, and
admirably fitted for newspaper work.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 14, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Necessity, for which they say there is no law, is about this time the law
paramount to us, and compels us to reduce the size of our Weekly for one or two
issues.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 28, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
We are sorry we have to issue our present Weekly on such paper as this,
but the supply we have been expecting has not yet arrived.
We trust, however, we shall soon be able to send out a better looking
sheet.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, February 11, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Being still disappointed in getting our Weekly paper, we have to make
another issue on paper unsuitable in size and quality.
We are sparing neither efforts or money to do better for our patrons, and
hope they will extend us their indulgence.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, March 5, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
A rich reward in money and fame awaits the inventor who discovers a new
source and mode of supplying paper. Cannot
some ingenious citizen establish a paper mill for the use of corn shucks or
other material that can be found in abundance?
MOBILE REGISTER
AND ADVERTISER, March 12, 1863, p. 1, c. 5
An Illustrated Paper in Louisiana.—We have received a number of the
Pelican, a paper published in English and French at Marksville, La., by A. La
Fargue. The inside is occupied by
an admirable view of an edifice of some kind or other, situated inside a high
wall—it may be a jail—in front of which is an open carriage, containing a
party of officers and a lady, and attended by two cavaliers.
In the foreground is a ship at anchor.
The picture is evidently by one of the masters----of the school of
paperhangers. The pattern is quite
an improvement on the calico designs of the Franklin papers.
Avoyelles is decidedly ahead of Attakapas.
BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, March 21, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
The editor of the Huntsville Item has received a lot of white printing paper, and is ready to receive the names of new
subscribers.
DALLAS HERALD, March
25, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
For several weeks past we have been compelled to print our paper on brown
paper, and we shall probably be compelled to do so for several weeks to come.
We have purchased a supply of white paper, which will cost us over $50
per ream by the time it reaches us, and this we expect in the course of three or
four weeks. We shall, as a
consequence, be compelled to raise the price of subscription, from $2,50 to $5
per annum. We do this reluctantly,
but we cannot pay the above price for paper, and make a living for ourselves
without an increase in price. All
subscribers who are paid to a future period will be continued until the time is
out, but new subscribers hereafter will have to pay the advanced rates.
Advertisements will be charged at the rate of $2, per square for first
insertion, and $1 for each continuance.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, March 25, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Like most of our contemporaries, we are compelled to advance our terms of
subscription, not for the purpose of increasing profits, but to save ourselves
from loss. Having now to pay for white paper just about fifteen times
the price when our terms of subscription were established, our readers will
readily see the utter impossibility of continuing the same rates.
We had hoped, ere this, to have received paper long since sent for by a
special agent, and that the cost would not have been so high as to make this
advance necessary. But we now see no immediate prospect of getting the paper we
have been looking for, and the increasing scarcity and cost of paper even east
of the Mississippi, and the enormous charges for transportation, with all the
attendant difficulties and delays, will probably bring that paper, when it
arrives, (even if it ever does,) nearly to the price we are now paying.
Subscriptions from this date to the Tri-Weekly News will be charged $12
per year, or at the same rate quarterly, and for the Weekly News $5, always in
advance, and present subscribers will be charged the same when the time for
which they have paid has expired. We
should state for the information of subscribers in arrear that they will be
charged at the above rates from this date, and if they wish the paper
discontinued, they have only to notify us and pay up all arrears.
We have not made arrangements by which we believe the News will always
give its patrons all the important and reliable intelligence from the seat of
war and elsewhere, at the earliest possible moment.
We have been subject to many embarrassments, as our readers are generally
aware, from heavy losses by the war, by fire and otherwise, but by the continual
support of our patrons and our own unceasing labors, we hope not only to be able
to continue our paper through the war, but to improve it from time to time.
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN WATCHMAN, March 25,
1863, p. 2, c. 3
Rags!
Rags!
Are
our friends in the up country aware of the fact that the paper mills throughout
the Confederacy will have to stop unless they can procure a larger supply of
rags? This is even so.
The Pioneer Mill near this place has adopted a new rule.
They sell paper to those alone who will furnish them rags.
We now want to purchase all the clean linen and cotton rags that can be
brought to us. Send them by bag
fulls--by wagon loads, or in any other manner you please; but by all means send
us rags. If you want to see the
Watchman survive, send us all the rags you can gather up.
Don't be afraid of overstocking the market. We will insure a speedy sale of all that can be brought here.
Send them on, then, in large quantities and send them quickly!
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, March 27, 1863, p. 1, c. 4
Profits of Extortion.—That our readers may have some idea of the
enormous profits now being made by a certain class, we take the following
extract from the Richmond Enquirer of the 3d instant.
For instance—take the Crenshaw Woolen Factory and the Belvidere Paper
Manufacturing Company. Those
concerns were lately examined before a committee of the Virginia House of
Delegates on extortion, and business facts of a startling character were brought
to light.
President Crenshaw deposed on oath, that his company, on a cash capital
of $200,000 had declared and divided a dividend of $530,000, with $100,000
"subject to dividend, should the directors think it desirable."
President Whitfield, of the Paper Mill, deposed on oath, that the net
profits for the year 1860, 1861, and 1862 combined, amounted to $235,750,"
on an "actual capital of $41,000," and he added, that fully
three-fourths of the dividend mentioned above, was made in 1862, or $172,000
profits in one year on $41,000 of actual capital.
A stock-holder of the Belvidere Manufacturing Company informs us that
since the war began he has received dividends on $1,000 of shares, amounting to
$6,460—an amount which he considered, if not extortionary, at least improper,
and he donated [illegible]
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN BANNER, March 27, 1863,
p. 4, c. 1
How
to Get Cheap Newspapers.
--The Columbus Sun
says:
"If you would like cheap newspapers, a good supply of writing paper and
envelopes--all of which are almost as indispensable as clothing--save your rags.
Let the rag bag become a recognized institution in every household.
Nothing would tend more to increase the quantity of paper, and cheapen
its price, than the general institution of the rag bag.
Let every scrap of cloth, rope and thread, refuse cotton, flax or hemp
forms the fibre [sic?] be diligently saved, and sold to the paper mills and
paper will become abundant and be furnished at reduced rates.
"People of the South, if you would read and write, save your rags."
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, April 6, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Rags!
Rags!
We desire to purchase any quantity of clean linen and cotton rags, to be
made up into paper, and we are willing to pay the highest market price in cash. They will also be received in payment of all dues to this
office.
Will our subscribers everywhere interest themselves in this subject.
Every family can save a good supply of rags during the year, just how few
do it even when such economy can be made productive.
It has now become a question of life or death with the newspapers of the
country, and they must go down if the people do not come to the rescue.
To save the Press they have only to save their rags.
All parcels forwarded to this office will be faithfully weighed and
accounted for. Let all send what
they can—even small packages will not be despised.
Let the children do it, if the grown people are too much engrossed with
the war or scheme of speculation.
COLUMBUS [GA]
ENQUIRER, April 7, 1863, p. 3, c. 7
Bath Paper Mill Destroyed.—We regret to learn that the
Bath Paper Mill, situated on the South Carolina Railroad, six miles from
the city, was destroyed by fire about 2 o'clock, p.m., yesterday. The roof of the building was discovered to be on fire, when
every possible exertion was made to extinguish the flames; but owing to the
prevalence of a high wind, all efforts to overcome the fire was of no
avail—the entire building being consumed.
This is a severe loss, and in the present scarcity of paper will most
seriously interfere with the publication of the journals that are dependent on
the Mill for a supply of paper.—Augusta Const., 3d inst.
CHARLESTON
MERCURY, April 8, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
The Want of Printing Paper.--The Augusta Constitutionalist, of Saturday
last, appears in a half sheet. The
editor says:
The destruction of the Bath Paper Mills, from which was derived our
supplies of printing paper, may entail on us the necessity of suspending the
issue of the Constitutionalist. At
this time it seems impossible to obtain paper from any other sources.
All the paper mills of the Confederacy are now monopolized to their
fullest capacity by press engagements. Under
these circumstances, we prefer not to receive any more subscriptions. We request all persons contemplating remittances by mail or
express, to withhold them, at least until we can announce definitely whether we
will be able to continue the issue of this paper. Should we be compelled to suspend, we will resume our
publication as soon thereafter as practicable.
It is wholly impossible, however, now to make any calculation as to when
that can be.
The remarks apply equally to the publication of The Southern Field and
Fireside. It would be vain for us
to attempt to express the depth of our regret at this great calamity.
It is one of those terrible providences to which we must bow, and we feel
our subscribers will do so likewise, without any other sentiment towards us than
that of regret at a common misfortune.
Under these circumstances, we will be compelled, for the present, to
publish our daily on a half sheet, and to condense, or perhaps leave out, our
contract advertisements.
The Macon Telegraph, of Monday, also appears on a half sheet.
The editor says:
What we have for a long time foreseen and dreaded as inevitable, has come
upon us. We are obliged to take to
a fragment of a sheet and even then can only promise that it shall be as large
as possible. For the reasons which
impel this step we refer the reader to an article copied elsewhere from the
Charleston Courier of the 3d instant--and so stringent are they as to force that
old, wealthy, and influential sheet to a suspension for a few days.
Nothing remains for us and all other Confederate newspapers, but to
diminish our consumption to the lowest possible limit consistent with keeping
our readers advised of current events, and this must be done by throwing out all
standing advertisements, and restricting that branch of our business to the
smallest possible limit.
DALLAS HERALD, April 8, 1863, p. 2, c. 4
Rags! Rags!! Rags!!!
Five cents per pound will be paid for cotton or linen rags, delivered to
the undersigned in Austin, or to Dr. Theo. Koester in New Braunfels.
These rags are wanted to make paper with, and as this is a new enterprise
in Texas, it is to be hoped every family will provide themselves with a rag
bag.—Agents to collect rags will be appointed in each county, of which due
notice will be given.|
Texas papers generally are requested to copy, and those who make a charge
will publish three times and send bill to
D. Richardson.
Austin, March 31, 1863.
CHARLESTON
MERCURY, April 9, 1863, p. 1, c. 5
Advance in the Price of Richmond Papers.--The Richmond papers have all
been compelled to advance their prices. The
Enquirer and Examiner have gone up to $15 for twelve months, and $8 for six
months. The Whig has advanced to
$12, and the Dispatch to $10. The
Sentinel, a new paper, is mailed at $10 a year.
These rates are high, but do not begin to correspond with the advance in
everything else.
MEMPHIS
DAILY APPEAL
[Jackson, MS], April 9, 1863, p.
1, c. 2
Paper mills burned.--The Bath paper mills in South Carolina, a short distance
from Augusta, Georgia, were destroyed on the 2d inst.
These were the largest mills in the Confederacy, and the loss is a
serious one to the proprietors, as well as to the papers of the South.
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN BANNER, April 10, 1863,
p. 3, c. 3
Burning
of the Bath Paper Mill.
The
Bath Paper Mill, situated on the S. Carolina Railroad, six miles from Augusta,
was destroyed by fire, about 2 o'clock, P.M. on the 2d inst.
The Augusta Chronicle says, the loss of this paper mill at this time, is
a great public calamity. A large amount of work was done there for the Confederate
Government, besides supplying a number of newspapers with paper for their
regular supplies. The mill was
entirely destroyed, with paper and stock in process of being worked up.
About fifty hands were employed in the mill. The fire originated from a spark upon the roof.
The high wind prevailing, and the length of time elapsing before the fire
was discovered, and it wholly impossible to save the building.
This
was the largest mill in the Confederacy. The
Constitutionalist is apprehensive of having to suspend, at least for a time, its
publication, until supplies can be procured from other mills.
MOBILE REGISTER
AND ADVERTISER, April 12, 1863, p. 2, c. 3
The Shreveport News quotes [illegible] paper at that place is selling at
five dollars per quire. The
Winchester Bulletin advises the people in that region to write letters on the
backs of one dollar bills, for the sake of economy.
MEMPHIS
DAILY APPEAL [Jackson, MS], April 13,
1863, p. 1, c. 8
The
Want of Printing Paper.
The Augusta
Constitutionalist of Saturday last appears in a half sheet.
The editor says:
The destruction of the Bath paper mills, from which we derived our
supplies of printing paper, may entail on us the necessity of suspending the
issue of the Constitutionalist. At
this time it seems impossible to obtain paper from any other source.
All the paper mills of the Confederacy are now monopolized to their
fullest capacity by press engagements. Under
these circumstances, we prefer not to receive any more subscriptions. We request all persons contemplating remittances by mail or
express to withhold them, at least until we can announce definitively whether we
will be able to continue the issue of this paper. Should we be compelled to suspend we will resume our
publication as soon thereafter as practicable.
It is wholly impossible, however, now to make any calculation as to when
it can be.
These remarks apply equally to the publication of the Southern
Field and Fireside.
It would be vain for us to attempt to express the depth of our regret at
this great calamity. It is one of
those terrible providences to which we must bow, and we feel our subscribers
will do so likewise, without any other sentiment toward us than that of regret
at a common misfortune.
Under these circumstances we will be compelled, for the present, to
publish our daily on a half sheet, and to condense or perhaps leave out our
contract advertisements.
The Macon Telegraph of Monday also appears on a half sheet.
The editor says:
What we have for a long time foreseen and dreaded as inevitable has come
upon us. We are obliged to take to
a fragment of a sheet and even then can only promise that it shall be as large
as possible. For the reasons which
impel this step we refer the reader to an article copied elsewhere from the
Charleston Courier of the 3d instant--and so stringent are they as to force that
old, wealthy and influential sheet to a suspension for a few days.
Nothing remains for us and all other Confederate newspapers but to
diminish our consumption to the lowest possible limit consistent with keeping
our readers advised of current events, and this must be done by throwing out all
standing advertisements and restricting that branch of our business to the
smallest possible limit.
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN WATCHMAN, April 15,
1863, p. 2, c. 3
Advance
in Paper.
Since
our last issue, the paper on which the Watchman is printed advanced three
dollars per ream! Our readers must
see that we cannot live at this rate. We
shall be compelled to advance too or stop entirely. It is doubtful whether we can procure paper of the size used
at the present at *any price* much longer, as we believe the superintendents of
the paper mills are endeavoring to get all the newspapers to reduce their size,
so as, if possible, to supply all with paper.
If we shall be compelled to reduce the dimensions of our sheet, we will
endeavor to furnish the same amount of reading matter as heretofore, by
lessening the space occupied by advertisements.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, April 15, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
All
Right Again.
A few days since it was a problem whether the Republican would continue
its regular visits to its large list of subscribers or not.
The destruction of the paper mill from which we drew our supplies,
rendered the prospect gloomy indeed. We
are gratified, however, to be able to inform our readers that we have succeeded
in contracting permanently for ample supplies of paper, and have reason to
believe that we shall be subjected to no interruption during the war.
Our arrangements, however, involve necessarily a large additional
expenditure of money, and we shall be compelled to increase our prices in order
to meet it. Our new terms will be
published as soon as they can be definitely settled, and we trust to our
subscribers to sustain us in a movement dictated purely by the necessities of
the times.
CHARLESTON
MERCURY, April 15, 1863, p. 1, c. 3
Richmond, Saturday, April 11.
. . . The paper famine rages here as fiercely as with you.
The publishers look glum, and the shop keepers are at their wit's end
almost. It is funny to see them
pinching their wrapping paper to the merest scrap, hardly enough to cover the
parcel you purchase. In a few days
we will have to toat [sic] things in our handkerchiefs. . . . Hermes.
NATCHEZ DAILY COURIER,
April 24, 1863, p. 2, c. 2
The Paper Question. The Montgomery
Mail says:
After
diligent enquiry we are able to present the following list of Paper Mills now in
operation within the limits of the Southern Confederacy:
Alabama
1.--At Spring Hill, in Mobile county.
Georgia 3.--At Columbus, Marietta and Athens.
South Carolina 5.--One at Greenville and four others.
North Carolina 8.--Lincolnton, Shelby, Fayetteville, Salem, Concord and
three others at Raleigh, viz: Neuse River, Forrestville and Mantua.
Virginia 2.--Both at Richmond.
Tennessee 1.--At Knoxville.
It will
be seen that there are twenty Paper Mills now in operation in the South, and
there can be do doubt that they would be able to supply the newspaper demand if
the materials for manufacturing paper could be obtained at reasonable rates.
Let all
friends of the press and of self-reliant economy and of the use of our own
resources, save all rags and other materials for paper and offer them for sale
at reasonable prices.
CHARLESTON
MERCURY, April 28, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Field and Fireside.--The last number of this interesting weekly announces
its discontinuance after that date for the want of paper.
DALLAS HERALD, April
29, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
We are pleased to say to our readers that we have received our supply of
white paper, and shall next week enlarge our sheet.
We hope that we shall not again be compelled to print on brown paper.
We earnestly request all subscribers to renew their subscription, as we
shall be compelled to discontinue every paper at the expiration of the time paid
for, unless the price is paid up promptly.
DALLAS HERALD, April
29, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Two paper mills, six miles from Augusta, Ga., were destroyed by fire on
the 2d inst.
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN BANNER, May 6, 1863, p.
1, c. 1
Half-Sheet Again. We are compelled
once more to issue only a half-sheet. The
necessary supply of paper could not be obtained.
We trust we shall not have to ask the indulgence of our patrons in this
respect again. By omitting
advertising matter, we are enabled to present nearly as much reading matter as
usual.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 6, 1863, p. 2, c. 5
Printing Paper.—The Southern Recorder says:
"Our last bill for printing paper, such as we now use for the
Recorder, was at the rate of $14 per ream.
Of the propriety of raising the price of subscription our readers can
judge, when we state that paper of the same size formerly cost $3, which,
compared to present rates, shows an advance of nearly five hundred per
cent.—Southern Rebel.
And our last bill for paper at the same former cost was fifty dollars per
ream, or more than fifteen hundred per cent advance—[Ed. News.]
MEMPHIS
DAILY APPEAL [Jackson, MS], May 6,
1863, p. 2, c. 5
The
Paper Question.--The Montgomery Mail says:
After
diligent inquiry we are able to present the following list of paper mills now in
operation within the limits of the Southern Confederacy:
Alabama
1--At Spring Hill in Mobile county.
Georgia
3--At Columbus, Marietta and Athens.
South
Carolina 5--One at Greenville and four others
North
Carolina 8--Lincolnton, Shelby, Fayetteville, Salem, Concord and three others at
Raleigh, viz: Neuse river,
Forrestville and Mantua.
Virginia 2--Both at Richmond.
Tennessee 1--At Knoxville.
It will
be seen that there are twenty paper mills now in operation in the South, and
there can be no doubt that they would be able to supply the newspaper demand if
the materials for manufacturing paper could be obtained at reasonable rates.
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN WATCHMAN, May 6, 1863,
p. 2, c. 5
Price
of Paper, Newspapers, &c.
The
paper on which the Watchman is printed this week cost us $15.00 per ream; Paper
of the same size and far superior in quality, cost us, before the war, $3.50 per
ream! We could then buy corn at
from 50 cents to $1.00 per bushel--wheat at $1.00--bacon at 10@12 1/2--sugar at
10@12 1/2--butter at 12 1/2@15--eggs, 5 cents, and every thing else in
proportion. Corn is now worth
$3--wheat $11--bacon $1--sugar $1--butter $1.25--eggs 60 cents! A hat which then cost $3 now costs $40! Shirting which then cost 15 cents is now worth $2!
Calico was then 15@20--it is now $3@$4!
All other articles are in like proportion.
We then charged $2 for our paper--we now get only $3.
Every thing we use has advanced from 500 to 1000 per cent.--our paper has
advanced only 50 per cent!! Every
body knows we cannot live at this rate. To
bring our business upon a level with that of others, we ought to have $12 per
year for our paper, and yet some people are grumbling because, in common with
the other weeklies we propose to advance our price to $4 per year--just one
third of what it ought to be--after the 1st of June next!
All we
have to say to such persons is, to repeat the proposition we made when the price
advanced to $3--which was this: Pay
us in any kind of farm products at former prices, and you can have the Watchman
at $2, as heretofore. If not
satisfied with this proposition, have your paper discontinued when the time paid
for expires. We are not anxious to
furnish it at *four dollars* when we know we ought to have *twelve.*
DALLAS HERALD, May
13, 1863, p. 2, c. 4
Calamity to the Press.—The Bath paper mills in South Carolina, the most
extensive in the South, have been destroyed by fire.
Many of the leading journals Eastward were dependent upon them for
supply. The Charleston Mercury,
amongst others, will be suspended, and several will come down to a half sheet.
Those who appreciate the value of the press will lament this deeply.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, May 22, 1863, p. 2, c. 2
Cargo Sale.—Messrs. LaRoche & Bell, Wednesday last, sold the cargo
of the steamer President and others from Nassau.
The following prices were realized:
. . . Letter Paper, $45 to $50 per ream. . .
BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, May 23, 1863, p. 1, c. 4
Paper Mills.—The Field and Fireside in reply to a query gives the
following list:
There are several mills in Virginia; in N. Carolina there is a mill at
Fayetteville, Raleigh, Shelby, Salem and Lincolnton.
In South Carolina there are two at Greenville controlled we believe, by
the same company, and one at Bath, (agency at Augusta).
In Georgia there is one near Marietta.
In Tennessee we only know of one that is accessible, and that is near
Knoxville, and not in operation.
CHARLESTON
MERCURY, May 30, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Another paper mill burned.--One of the Paper Mills at Greenville, S. C., was
partially destroyed by fire on Wednesday. We
trust the damage is not sufficient to disable the mill long.
CHARLESTON
MERCURY, June 1, 1863, p. 1, c. 6
Paper Mill Burned.--With deep regret we announce the destruction, by
fire, on the night of the 25th inst., of the paper mill of Messrs. John W. Grady
& Co., near this place. The above mill was used exclusively for the manufacture of
writing paper, and its destruction will prove a serious loss and inconvenience
to the country. The loss to the
proprietors is estimated at about $30,000, on which there was no insurance.
Messrs. Grady & Co.
have, with commendable zeal and industry, already commenced removing the debris
of the late fire, for the purpose of rebuilding the mill and resuming
operations. This they hope to be able to do in the course of the next
sixty days. Whilst the machinery
has been damaged to a considerable extent, it will not prove a total loss, and
can, it is thought, be put again in running order.--Greenville Enterprise.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, June 4, 1863, p. 1, c. 4
We are glad to learn that the paper mill of Messrs. J. W. Grady &
Co., that was partially destroyed by fire on the night of May 25, was their
writing and not their newspaper mills.—It is bad enough to have a paper mill
of any kind either damaged or destroyed, but the burning of a newspaper mill in
these times is a loss that cannot be made good to the public by money.
We trust that the machinery of the mills spoken of can be repaired and
put in operation again.—Augusta Chronicle & Sentinel.
MOBILE REGISTER
AND ADVERTISER, June 6, 1863, p. 2, c. 2
We are glad to learn that the paper mill of Messrs. J. W. Grady &
Co., that was partially destroyed by fire on the night of May 25, was their
writing and not their newspaper mills. It
is bad enough to have a paper mill of any kind either damaged or destroyed—but
the burning of a newspaper mill in these times is a loss that cannot be made
good to the public by money. We
trust that the machinery of the mills spoken of can be repaired, and put in
operation again.—[Chronicle and Sentinel.
COLUMBUS [GA]
ENQUIRER, June 9, 1863, p. 2, c. 6
New
Paper Mill.
We learn that some enterprising gentlemen from Georgia went to Tennessee,
a short time ago, and purchased a paper mill that was exposed to the enemy, and
succeeded in removing its machinery just before a raid of the enemy swept
through the region where it was located. It
is to be put up somewhere in Georgia.
There is no enterprise more important, or more promising of speedy
returns, than paper mills. A half
dozen new ones, of the largest capacity, would scarcely supply the demand for
paper.—Some of our enterprising blockade runners might import the machinery,
and mills could be in running order in three or four months.
Will not capitalists consider the great good they might do, in risks like
this?
Books, papers and tracts can only be published at an enormous price,
owing to the scarcity of paper. The religious, educational, and literary
advancement of our people is sadly affected by the paper famine, which is in the
power of our capitalists to remove.—Aug. Const.
AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE,
June 10, 1863, p. 1, c. 7
Rags!
Rags! Rags!
Five cents per pound
will be paid for cotton or linen rags, delivered to the undersigned in Austin,
or to Dr. Theo. Koester in New
Braunfels.
These rags are wanted to make paper with, and as this is a new enterprise
in Texas it is to be hoped every family will provide themselves with a rag bag.
Agents to collect rags will be appointed to each county, of which due
notice will be given.
Texas papers generally are requested to copy, and those who make a
charge, will publish three times and send bill to
D. Richardson.
Austin, March 31, 1863.
MEMPHIS
DAILY APPEAL [Atlanta, GA], June 13,
1863, p. 1, c. 7
Rock
Island Mills.
The
editor of the Columbus Sun has recently visited the Rock Island paper
mills, and thus describes the process of paper making and alludes to some of the
difficulties which beset paper makers:
Through
the courtesy of Mr. J. F. Winter we were treated to a delightful drive to and
from the above mills, located two and a quarter miles north of the city, in
Alabama, on the Chattahoochee river, and at an island bearing the above name.
The
modus operandi of making paper from rags and cotton was politely shown and
explained by Mr. W. It is a rare
curiosity to the novice, and must be seen and explained to the one initiated to
be understood or appreciated.
In the
beginning we see the rough, dirty rags which are thrown into revolving boilers,
capable of holding fifty thousand pounds, and hot steam let in upon them, which,
with the revolving motion of the boilers, aided by some chemicals placed in with
the rags, perfectly cleanses them of all filth and dirt.
We are
then carried to the engine, which cuts or grinds the washed rags or cotton into
what is called pulp. This pulp,
when finished, is thoroughly washed with clear spring water to remove all
remaining dirt, and then carried to the machine for converting it into paper.
In
another room of the building is a machine used entirely for letter and envelope
paper, specimens of which we have now before us both of a superior quality to
what they have heretofore manufactured, and which he assures us he shall still
improve on, so long as the necessary chemicals and fixtures for his machinery
can be obtained.
The
energy displayed by Mr. Winter in keeping his mill running, is worthy of all
commendation. He showed us fine
tapestry carpet which he took from his floors as substitutes for felt, without
which his mills are entirely useless.
When
three or more reels of wide paper, say four feet wide, is obtained, they are
placed on a machine for cutting to the sizes desired. As the fabric is drawn through this machine little rollers
cut it smoothly in the center and trim the edges, while a revolving knife cuts
it the desired length. Two girls
receive the sheets as cut and lay them even and smooth.
So soon as the cutting is done one of the girls proceeds to count it into
quires, while another folds it. A
stout negro fellow packs the quires into bundles, binds and marks them ready for
shipment to the office in the city.
The
want of wire cloth has forced Mr. Winter to convert his machine, which is a
Feuudrineer [sic?], into a cylinder, which he informs us very seriously curtails
his operations in the amount of paper turned off.
The present capacity of the mill in the news department is about forty
thousand pounds per month.
We
cannot pretend to describe how the pulp floats in the water so thin one can
scarcely observe it, but is gathered in a smooth thin flake in a revolving
cylinder covered with fine wire cloth, which it delivers on to an endless
blanket, passing over this, it is taken by either machinery as delicately as
dainty fingers could do it, and separated from the endless blanket; a frail wisp
looking sheet of white, passing now over and then under cylinders heated with
steam, drying as it goes; then through the callendering rollers which irons it
smooth, and on to a reel where it is wound up, which soon as full is taken off
and another put in its place.
We
candidly acknowledge we did not appreciate the half of the labor and vexations
to which the mill had been subjected since the commencement of the war and the
blockade. Many have said hard
things of its management, while, if they had been in charge they would have
shrunk from the job before them. The
domestic arrangements of the mill and care for the operatives is high toned,
noble, and manly and it affords us pleasure to thus pay him the public
compliment.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, June 15, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Owing to a failure in our regular supply of paper, we are compelled for a
day or two to issue the Republican on a half sheet.
We hope to be righted up during the week, and even to increase the size
of the paper by the close of the month.
MEMPHIS
DAILY APPEAL [Atlanta, GA], August
18, 1863, p. 2, c. 6
Manchester Paper Mill.--The new establishment, so much needed by the entire
South, will begin operations next month. The
proprietors, with a zeal most commendable, have spared neither labor nor means
to erect their new building, and now that it is nearly completed, and the
machinery ready for work, they are securing stock and preparing to supply the
public demands.--Richmond Dispatch.
DALLAS HERALD,
August 26, 1863, p. 2, c. 2
Being disappointed in receiving a lot of paper which we were led to
believe would have reached us in time to prevent a suspension of our paper, we
have concluded to reduce the size of the Herald for a few weeks in order to make
what we have on hand last as long as possible, hoping that by the time it is
used up to receive another supply.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, August 26, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
Prices in the Interior.—We learn by a gentleman from the interior that
in Parker county, where he resides, chickens can be had for 75 cents per dozen,
eggs 25 cents per dozen, butter 25 to 37c per pound, wheat $3 per bushel, flour
$10 per hundred pounds, beef five or six cents per pound, and in proportion for
other articles.
The editor of the San Antonio Herald says he has purchased paper lately
at $100 per ream, which is $3 per quire or 20 cents per sheet.
We have also purchased paper at the same price, smaller in size and
inferior in quality to the paper for which we used to pay $3 per ream.
The Marshall Republican says two hundred and ten negroes left that county
the other day to work on the fortifications on Red River.
The editor says the planters have responded promptly to the call made
upon them. Only two or three hung
fire, and these will be looked after.
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN WATCHMAN, September 9,
1863, p. 2, c. 1
Another Change of Rates.
Two
Dollars for Three Months.
We are
driven to this by the unprecedented rise in the price of paper last week.
On Monday it was 60 cents per pound--on Tuesday it advanced to one
dollar!
Our
readers and the public will see that we are now charging less than half as much
as we ought to. Before the war,
when we furnished the Watchman at $2, the paper on which it was printed cost 10
cents per pound. It is now ten
times that high. A corresponding
advance in our subscription would raise it to $20.
We have
not expected to make anything during the war. The paper must, however, pay expenses. This it will not do at less rates than the above.
ATLANTA
[GA] DAILY INTELLIGENCER, September
13, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
The
Marietta Paper Mills.
We
lay before our readers the following letter just received from Mr. Edmonston,
the Agent of the Marietta Paper Mills. We
trust that such action will be taken by both the State and Confederate
authorities, as to remove the difficulties in the way of the enterprising
proprietors of these Mils, so that, at an early day, they can resume the
manufacture of paper, without which the interests of both the State and
Confederate Governments, as well as those of the people, will suffer more than
even the newspaper. Mr. Edmonston's
views are sensible:
Marietta, September 10th, 1863.
Editor of Intelligencer:
I have
on hand a few bundles of paper, which I will ship you, and this will be the last
for some time; for when we shall resume again I cannot tell.
My hands volunteered in the Home Guard, to protect the country against
raids, and are now called out to guard stores and prepare the defences of your
city, I understand. In the first instance, at the commencement of the war, I was
disposed to aid all in my power and encouraged two of the hands to volunteer in
Confederate service. This left
hardly hands enough to get along with when all were well. Afterwards we lost two or three hands, and this left us short
of hands, and one machine has only run when our hands have worked eighteen hours
in the day.--We applied for the detail of the hands which has not been done,
though the Government has been
urgent for paper, and we have strained every nerve to supply.
Shorthanded, we have done the best we could, and now all our hands are
taken, of course we are obliged to stop. I
do not exactly comprehend how it is that Government agents insist upon the
absolute necessity for the Government to have paper, and yet refuse us our
hands. You know Paper makers are
not to be had South, and are not like Shoe-Makers, and many other callings which
give exemptions to so many thousands, and cannot be learned after the Conscript
officer takes after a fellow. Well,
if the Government needs our hands to dig ditches more than the paper, patriotism
and our *comfort* answers, All right! I trust you will be able to get your
supplies elsewhere, as we shall not resume, until we get hands enough to get
along with without being pressed and kicked to death.
Respectfully,
A. S. Edmonston, Agent.
P.S. Call round to the ditches and see how friend Buckhalter handles the spade
and shovel.
A.S.E.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, September 14, 1863, p. 2, c. 2
Suspension
of the Marietta Paper Mills.
We take the following from the Chattanooga Rebel of the 10th:
The mills of the Marietta Paper Company, near this place, the largest
establishment of the kind in the Confederacy, has been suspended for the want of
laborers, all of their hands having been taken into the army.
The stoppage of an establishment of this magnitude and of this
description is not merely an inconvenience, it is a positive misfortune, not
only involving the people, but the government itself.
Every one is aware of the scarcity of paper throughout the Confederacy,
and the high prices which it bears, and the stoppage of this mill is precisely
what may under similar circumstances happen to all. Then we should be entirely deprived of paper, either for
government or individual use. Newspapers
would stop, and all correspondence be suspended.—The necessary blanks for the
army could not be furnished, its accounts could not be kept, or its efficiency
maintained. The Post Office
Department would expire with the absence of paper with which to carry on
correspondence, and we should be reduced to the expedients of savage nations who
only communicate at a distance by means of special couriers, and pieces of bark.
It is a question whether or not it is worth while to reduce us to this
condition of things for the services of the very limited number of men employed
about these establishments. It does
not seem so to us. When the
Confederate Congress, after serious deliberation and thorough discussion,
determined to maintain a free press within the Confederacy by the exemption of
editors and employes [sic] of newspaper establishments, we do not suppose they
intended to destroy their own work by the prohibition of the manufacture of
paper. For that would have been simply ridiculous.
They enact that a free press is absolutely essential to public liberty,
and that it shall be protected, and then deprive it of the very first essential
of existence. Surely this was not
intended. And we imagine the
difficulty can be remedied. It certainly ought to be.
But the government itself is interested. An immense amount of paper is used for printing the thousands
of blanks used in the various departments, and especially in the army.
These blanks are of vital consequence to the management of our armies,
and the proper control and understanding of its vast accounts, and the paper
cannot be dispensed with.
If then, the necessities of the government, and the requirements of sound
policy and public convenience, demand that the Paper Mills should be let alone,
we would ask why this the largest Mill in the Confederacy is summarily strangled
by the seizure of the hands by the government?
Is it the fault with the government, or is it in the failure of the paper
company to protect their hands? Has
the company used proper diligence, and employed the necessary means to prevent
this result? The public is
interested in knowing.
CHARLESTON
MERCURY, September 17, 1863, p. 2, c.
2
The Marietta Paper Mill, the largest establishment of the kind in the
Confederacy, has been suspended for want of laborers.
The stoppage of an establishment of this magnitude and of this
description, is not merely an inconvenience, it is a positive misfortune, not
only involving the people, but the Government itself.
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN WATCHMAN, September 23,
1863, p. 2, c. 2
The Marietta Paper Mill, the largest in the State, has suspended for the want of
hands, or is at least on short work, making cartridge paper for the Government.
The newspapers will be dried up generally in the State, unless other
sources of supply can be opened.
MOBILE REGISTER
AND ADVERTISER, September 25, 1863, p. 1, c. 6
Readers of newspapers will be pleased to hear that the Marietta Paper
Mills have resumed operations, a portion of their operatives having been
detailed from the service.
GALVESTON
WEEKLY NEWS, September 9, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
The Shreveport News, a paper about the size of ours, is now sold at 50
cents per copy. We shall also be
compelled to advance our price, as we are now paying $100 per ream for paper
that only cost $50 when our present rates were adopted.
The Dallas Herald declines to receive any more subscriptions in
consequence of the scarcity of paper. We
trust that scarcity may not continue long, but for the present we can see no
prospect of any improvement.
The Tyler Reporter does not object to the large number of negroes now
being brought from La. to Texas for security, provided their owners take proper
care of them. But the editor
complains that they are sometimes permitted to do pretty much as they please,
and he states that one Dr. Blackman's negroes committed thefts on a large scale,
and when informed of it, made light of the matter.
The editor hopes that will be remembered as he passes on Southwestward.
DALLAS HERALD, September 30, 1863, p. 2, c. 2
To Our Patrons.
With this number of the Herald, we close out our supply of paper, and of
course, cannot continue the Herald until we get more.
We have had money at Houston for the past four months to purchase paper,
but none has arrived there in that time, and of course we could get none.
Just as soon as we get a supply we shall recommence our issues, when
those who have paid us ahead, will be supplied.
We regret being compelled to discontinue, if even for a time, but expect
that we shall soon be able to renew. We
shall next week issue a small slip containing some legal advertisements that are
not yet completed.
AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE,
September 30, 1863, p. 1, c. 3
Editorial
Correspondence.
New Braunfels, Sept. 23d, 1863.
The Texas Paper Manufacturing Company was organized here on Saturday, and
the whole of the stock taken. Sam Mather Esq., (late of Williamson county), who has just
moved to New Braunfels for the purpose of prosecuting this enterprise, was
elected President, and Mr. Theo. Koester, Secretary.
An excellent mill site, situated on the Comal Spring, with an abundant
supply of clear water, and a good water-power, on which there is now a grist and
flour mill in successful operation, has been purchased by the Company, and hands
are already employed quarrying rock for the purpose of enlarging it, and
adapting it to the manufacture of paper. The
latest and most improved machinery has been ordered from Europe, through a large
mercantile firm in San Antonio, and, should no unexpected delay or interruptions
in transportation occur, the Company expect to have it in operation in a few
months. The incorporators have had
many difficulties of shipping cotton, but all these obstacles have been
surmounted, and we now confidently anticipate, in less than a year, to be
printing the Gazette on paper made in our State.
The high price we have had to pay for paper of every description, for
many months past, has made the publishing business a most unprofitable one, and
we believe there are few, if any, papers now in the State that do not cost the
publisher more than double the price of his subscription, while many papers have
had to suspend altogether from the impossibility of procuring paper.
It has been a matter of surprise to us, that the attention of the
Government has not been directed to the necessity of offering every
encouragement to the introduction of machinery, which the State is now so much
in need of. At this time, a
gentleman from this place, is in Europe, negotiating for cotton machinery, to be
put into Torrey's mill, which would now have been in operation, but for the
interruptions that occurred in the shipment of cotton from Brownsville.
The continued interference with the Rio Grande trade, by military orders,
and the uncertainty how long any order would remain in force, has deterred many
from engaging in manufacturing enterprises, and the consequence is the State is
suffering for many articles of necessity, which could have been manufactured
here at one half the cost of importation.
But few of our citizens have any idea of the facilities here afforded for
manufacturing purposes. Situated in the heart of an agricultural region, and within a
short distance of the finest sheep ranges in Texas, the transportation of the
raw material will be but trifling, while the means of obtaining hauling, and
every other kind of labor is greater than can be found elsewhere.
Mechanics of every description are here in abundance, and labor, suited
for factories, can be had at reasonable rates.
The numerous water powers on the Comal and Guadalupe, afford the finest
sites for mills we have ever seen, either in the North or Europe, and all with
whom we have ever conversed on the subject who have any knowledge of
manufacturing, say New Braunfels must ultimately become the Lowell of the
Confederacy. Had proper inducements been held out by the Government, we
might at this time had several cotton and woollen factories in operation, which
would have supplied the whole Confederate army with clothing, and had one fourth
thee cotton, that has been sent to the Rio Grande, been invested in machinery,
there would have been no necessity for impressing planters cotton to procure
army supplies.
We have all the elements, right in our very midst, for making nearly
every article of necessity. With
our great staples, cotton and wool, right at our very doors, with hands able and
willing to work, and with water-power capable of turning all the machinery that
can ever be put up, it is something remarkable, that while our ports have been
nearly all closed, so little attention should have been directed to home
manufactures.
It cannot surely be that our people are looking forward to a renewal of
commercial intercourse with our enemies at the close of the war; and if not,
where are we to obtain our supplies from? The
only alternative, if we do not make them ourselves, will be to ship our cotton
and wool to Europe, and wait till it is made into cloth and sent back to us.
We can hardly suppose an enterprising people would consent to such a
dependence upon foreign countries for the necessaries of life, when we have the
resources within ourselves to supply these wants.
To be independent we must be self-sustaining, and that can only be by
manufacturing our own cotton and wool, and all other raw materials which are to
be found in such abundance all over our state, and which other countries, with
much inferior resources, have turned to such a profitable account.
It may be said, "wait till the war is over."
That is all true—so far as policy and individual interest are
concerned, but "while the grass is g rowing the steed is starving."
Had we taken this advice, we might possibly have to go without paper, and
close up our office, just as we expect to see others going without coats on
their backs, should the war continue a year or two longer, and our ports remain
blockaded, as there is every reason to believe they will be.
Let
those who know anything about manufactures come forward and tender their
services; let capitalists invest their means, and let the Government offer every
facility for the introduction of machinery, to make clothes, as well as arms and
munitions of war for our army, and we shall be better prepared, in less than a
year, to stand a protracted war than we can ever hope to be by depending upon
foreign importations.
D. R.
COLUMBUS [GA]
ENQUIRER, October 13, 1863, p. 3, c. 8
10,000
Pounds
Of Rags
Wanted at This Office,
For Which the
Highest Market Price
Will be Paid!!
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, November 17, 1863, p. 2, c. 3
Paper
Making.
Editor Savannah
Republican:
In every issue of our Southern Press we perceive advertisements of Rags!
Rags! Rags! and many appeals
to the people to economize the same.
The public no doubt have responded to these appeals, but,
notwithstanding, paper is daily diminishing in quantity and increasing in price,
and without any hope of importation remedying the evil; neither are the paper
mills of the Confederacy able to lessen the exigency.
A question arises to the public minded, what can be done to ameliorate in
some degree this dilemma? The first
point presenting itself is, have we the necessary paper mills in the Confederacy
to manufacture enough paper to satisfy, in some degree, the present limited
demand of publications? On a
careful examination of the subject it will, doubtless, appear that we have.
The next inquiry is, why do they not manufacture the same.
The reply is, because the rags are not to be had, and there is no other
material that the present high prices of labor will warrant the manufacture in
making use of, for though we have an abundance of material in our great staple,
suitable to this purpose, yet paper made out of cotton, at the present prices,
increases the cost to the enormous figure we now have to pay for the same, and
as cotton is bound to rise in price and value, so naturally must paper.
It is well known, Mr. Editor, that cotton will not make as good and
strong writing paper as linen rags, except by subjecting it to very expensive
manipulations, and as the supply of linen rags will soon be entirely exhausted,
it is time that we should look around us and examine all articles that can take
the place of the flax fibre and that are cheaper than cotton.
Fortunately our Southern country possesses more than one article to
supplant the use of rags for the better qualities of paper, and I will take the
liberty of pointing out some of them and the necessary process of preparing the
same for the paper manufacturer.
First of all our attention is claimed by (Josaypium Herbaceum) our own
cotton shrub. Secondly, by (Morus
Papifora Sativa and Morus Alba) the Japan and Chinese Mulberry.
Thirdly, by (Populus Angulatu) the Carolina Poplar and (Poplar Argentia)
Cotton Tree, called on the Savannah River Cotton Wood.
Fourthly, by (Jucca Filamentosa) Thready Adam's Needle, commonly called
Bear or Silk Grass. Fifthly, by (Iuncus Effusus) our common Rush.
Sixthly, by (Apocynum Cannubinum) Indian Hemp.
Seventhly, by (Urtica Divica), the Great Nettle.
Eighthly, by (Althea Rosea), the Garden Hollyhock.
Ninthly, by (Viscus Album) the Mistletoe.
Tenthly, by (Ilix Cassine) the Dahoon Holly of Florida, and other
indigenous plants. [note: the Latin
may be mis-transcribed]
The above plants are principally used by the Chinese and Japanese to make
their cheap and excellent paper, and deserve from us at least an investigation,
and undoubtedly a few experiments would prove that they are all as good, if not
better, than the rags we now use.
As a proof that these assertions are correct, I quote several statements:
the first is an article from the Savannah Republican.
(I found the same repeated in Turner's Cotton Planters' Manual.)
"We called attention some months ago to specimens of hemp made from
the bark stripped from cotton stalks and left at our office for public
inspection. We now learn from the
New York Day Book that specimens of bark have been exhibited to paper
manufacturers at the North, which is found to be of fibrous character, and is
considered to be well adapted for the manufacture of good paper."
"The best period for preparing this cotton hemp will be as soon as
practicable after the packing of cotton has been finished.
The plants should then be pulled up and dew rotted, like hemp or flax,
and afterwards broken up and the bark separated from the wood of the stalk.
The specimens of clean bark exhibited to experienced paper makers was
considered equal to good rags worth six cents per pound, or about $120 per ton,
and was pronounced the best substitute for rags of any raw vegetable material
known to the trade."
This is plain and to the point, but as few of our planters are acquainted
with the mode of preparing hemp or flax, I will add below how cotton stalks
should be prepared for the paper mill, as well as other plants enumerated above.
To secure the cotton stalk successfully, it should be cut close to the
ground, (to pull it up is an easier operation, but the roots will interfere in
after manipulations) place them evenly on the ground to dry for a week.
When they are dry, they must be tied into bundles and put up in stacks to
keep them from becoming moist in sultry weather, (the cover of the stacks ought
to be water proof.) They are merely
put in stacks in case the planter has not time to attend to the preparing of
them at once.
There are two ways to prepare them for market, either by dew rotting or
by water rotting. The last process
is preferable.
In dew-rotting the stalks are spread out in a field or grass plot, and
exposed to the weather for two or three months.
The best plan, however, when the crop is large and the fields are not
needed immediately for tillage, is to leave the cotton stalks lying in the
fields to rot.—They are sufficiently rotted when the ligneous part of the
stalks are nearly decomposed and the fibre begins to separate from them.
In six weeks the stalks will be ready, (if a wet season) for breaking;
this operation is performed by a common brake.
To determine if the stalks are sufficiently rotten or not, a few can be
broken on the brake, and if the fibre detaches easily from them they are ready
for manipulation.
The water-rotting is best carried on at a running stream or a clear pond,
but it can be successfully performed where there is a good pump or well, but in
the latter case, a large water-tight tank or box has to be prepared and the
water changed twice a day.
In a creek or stream a pit should be prepared to receive the bundles of
cotton stalks—they are places in on end and secured by a few boards and
weights. But the better plan is to make a frame ten feet square and
four feet deep of stout rails, nailed or pinned to strong upright pieces.
This frame is filled with the bundles of cotton stalks, standing on end
or laid in rows cross-wise, but closely packed.
The frame is then immersed in the creek or anchored in the stream.
If the weight is not sufficient to sink it, the stalks are covered with
boards and stones until it sinks under water.
If the weather is warm five or six days will be sufficient to soften the
stalks sufficient that its outside bark will come off.
As soon as this is accomplished take them [illegible] and spread the
stacks singly on a lawn or grass plat, let them lie there for four or five
weeks, turning them over twice a week. This
process will make the [illegible]. When
ready for removal [illegible] and carry them to a barn or close [illegible].
The stalks are now ready for braking.
As many planters may not be acquainted with a brake, I will quote
a description of [illegible] Johnson's Farmers' Encyclopedia:
"The brake is generally [illegible] brake which was [illegible] has
always employed here [illegible] though longer than the common flax [illegible]. It is a rough contrivance, [illegible] about two and a half
feet high. The [illegible] consists
of two jaws with [illegible] in each, the lower jaw fixed and immovable, and the
upper one movable, so that it may be lifted up by means of a handle inserted in
a [illegible] block at the front end of it.
The lower jaw has three [illegible], or teeth, made out of [illegible]
oak, and the upper two arranged approaching to about two inches in front, and in
such manner that the slats of the upper jaw [illegible] between those of lower.
These slats about six or seven feet long and six inches in depth, and
about two inches in thickness in their lower edges; they are placed edgeways,
rounded a little on their upper edges, which are sharper than those below.
The laborer takes his stand by the side of the brake, and grasping in his
left hand as many of the stalks as he can conveniently hold with his right hand
he seizes the handle in the [illegible] of the upper jaw. Three successive strokes break the woody and reedy parts of
the stalks into small pieces or [illegible], which fall off during the process.
He assists their disengagement by striking the [illegible] or with a
small wooden paddle, until the interior bark is entirely clean, and completely
separated from the woody particles."
The fibre is now ready for the market, but some (paper) manufacturers
might [illegible] on account of its
not being fine [illegible] purposes. In
that case the planter can subject the fibre to an additional manipulation, like
hemp, which is called scutching and hackling, but I hardly think this will be
necessary as the washing and rotting process at the mill will destroy any woody
substance and [illegible] of the fibre; therefore I do not think it will be
necessary to describe the operation of scutching and hackling.
The common nettle and the Indian hemp are prepared like the cotton
stalks—similar to the above described process.
The mulberry, the cotton tree, the Carolina poplar, and the Dahoon holly
should be prepared in the following manner.
Cut the young shoots of these trees into pieces of about three feet long,
and collect the same in bundles; boil these bundles in water containing a good
deal of ashes. If the wood is too
dry it must be steeped in water for twenty-four hours before boiling.
The bundles are kept boiling in a closed kettle till the bark at the ends
of the [illegible] separates from the stem [illegible] they are then cooled, and
the bark is separated and cleaned.
The bear grass and the rush are prepared by tying the leaves in bundles;
then boil and pound them till the soft vegetable [illegible] and the flesh of
the bark is disengaged from the strong fibre.
After this the same is easily washed in clean water.
Another, but not as good a process, is to let them rot in the water or
bury them in the earth until rotted. The
fibres are then washed and ready for the manufacturer.
Before I close this rather lengthy communication, I will add a few words
regarding Garden Hollyhock, (Althea rosea,) the Asiatic Holly (genus Ilex) and
the Mistletoe (Viscus arbum, verticillatum.) These
three plants are used by the Japanese and Chinese for their fibrous bark, and
they prepare them for making paper as other vegetable matter.
They use them principally in certain combinations with the above
enumerated plants, on account of their glutiluous [??] and viscuous
[??]qualities and an extract is made of them and added to the pulp instead of
the sizing now used in our paper manufactories.
In our present crisis these plants would, if used instead of the size now
used, save many dollars. The size
is generally prepared by peeling the root of Hollyhocks and [illegible] into
small pieces and infusing the same [illegible] night in water.
The clear liquid is mixed with an extract of rice prepared by putting the
rice in an unvarnished earthen pot, which is [illegible] agitated gently, and
then more briskly. New water is
next put in, and the whole [illegible] through a linen cloth.
The [illegible] determined by the viscosity of the substance.
In conclusion, let me beg the [illegible] planter to investigate the
subject [illegible] and let him not be deterred by the fear that it may require
too much labor, for the principle part, such as breaking and hacking, can be
easily performed during leisure hours by the negro men, who, no doubt, for a
stipulated price per hundred pounds, would gladly earn something for themselves
during the long winter evening, while to the master it would be beneficial in
keeping them at home and out of harm. And
let me also request our principal planters to benefit their country by preparing
some of the above mentioned fibres for paper mills, and afterwards publishing
the result of their experiments, so that the public can form an idea of the
national importance of the subject, and thereby induce the majority of the
planters that adopt the fibre culture of the cotton stalk and others suitable
indigenous plants.
AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE,
November 18, 1863, p. 2, c. 2
Home
Manufactures.
At the Extra Session of the Ninth Legislature, held nearly a year ago,
several manufacturing companies were chartered, but we have not been able to
learn that even one of them has commenced operations up to this period.
The question naturally arises why is this?
We have occasion to know something, in relation to the difficulties
thrown in the way of importing machinery, by the Military authorities of this
State; and as several bills are now before the Legislature for similar charters,
we think it but right, some cognizance should be taken of these military acts.
The Comal Cotton Manufacturing Company and the Texas Paper Manufacturing
Company were both chartered at the last Extra Session, and the Incorporators of
both companies went to work at once to get them in operation as speedily as
possible. After cotton sufficient
to purchase machinery in Europe had been bought, it could not be moved without a
permit, there being at that time an order from Headquarters, that no cotton
could be taken out of the State, without first introducing goods to a certain
amount; after which came another cotton order, and another, till it was
impossible for any one, starting cotton from the interior, to form any idea upon
what terms it would be allowed to cross the Rio Grande.
Hence all shipments of cotton were at a stand still, except such as
belonged to a privileged few, who could export as much as they pleased, being
protected by Government permits and furnished with Conscript teamsters to haul
for them. During this state of things, the Comal manufacturing Company,
after much delay, obtained an order to ship 500 bales of cotton, but on its
arrival at the Rio Grande, a portion of it was seized under the late impressment
order (not the impressment act of Congress, but an impressment order from
Headquarters) and the last we heard of it, it was still detained at Brownsville
and could not be shipped. The Texas
Paper Manufacturing Company, also after a delay of several months, succeeded at
last in getting a permit to export 140 bales, but owing to the increased
expenses of transport, and the decline in cotton, the incorporators applied for
a permit for an additional amount to which no satisfactory answer has yet be
received; hence the order, that has been sent on for the machinery, cannot be
filled, until a sufficient amount of cotton can be shipped to cover first cost
and expenses of freight to Matamoros. We mention these two instances, as coming under our immediate
notice, for the information of the Committee, who have a Resolution before, them
"requesting them to institute an enquiry in regard to the transportation of
cotton to the Rio Grande and ascertain if the citizens of this State are
prohibited from so transporting cotton, and by what authority." . . .
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN WATCHMAN, January 20,
1864, p. 2, c. 1
With the new year printing paper has gone up twenty-five cents per lb. higher
than it was the latter part of last year. It
then sold for $1.00 per pound--it now costs $1.25!
GALVESTON
WEEKLY NEWS, January 20, 1864, p. 1, c. 7
The Marshall Republican, of the 2d instant, announces that that paper
will be suspended for a few weeks for the want of paper and the necessary
assistance, but that an Extra will be issued when important news is received.
We hope our able contemporary may soon be enabled to resume, but the
"paper question" is becoming every day one of more and more absorbing
interest to us.
BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, March 10, 1864, p. 1, c. 1
Though the Texas Ranger gave the Countryman a "parting salute,"
saying that we had suspended for the want of paper, the lady editor of that
paper was never more mistaken in her life.
Had she looked at the number of the 28th January last, the
last number issued, she would have seen that the Countryman suspended, not for
want of paper, but on account of the Militia Law, which ordered our printer into
the field. As for paper, why, bless
the Texas Ranger, we expect to have enough good white paper to print the
Countryman upon, for twelve months after the supply of old yellow wrapping paper
on which the Ranger is printed shall have been exhausted.
MEMPHIS
DAILY APPEAL [Atlanta, GA], March 12,
1864, p. 1, c. 2
Change
of Rates.
The advance in the price of white paper and other expenses, makes it
obligatory upon us to advance the price of subscription from four to five
dollars per month. We regret to be
compelled to make this advance, but the facts mentioned above leave us no
discretion in the premises. Should
the fall in the price of paper and decrease in other expenses justify it in the
future, a corresponding deduction will be made in the price of subscription.
Advertisers hereafter will be charged three dollars per square for the
first, and two dollars and fifty cents for each subsequent insertion.
ATLANTA [GA] DAILY
REGISTER, March 19, 1864, p. 1, c. 1
Rags!
Rags!
The highest price paid
for rags, or value given by crediting subscription to the Register.
We will buy all cotton rags brought to this office.
Feb. 22--1 mo.
GALVESTON
WEEKLY NEWS, March 23, 1864, p. 2, c. 7
We are compelled to issue this first number of the twenty first volume of
the Weekly News on brown paper, for though we have just received a small supply
of white paper it came to hand too late for this issue.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, April 6, 1864, p. 2, c. 1
Paper is getting so scarce that we do not know how soon we may be
compelled to make a virtue of necessity and take a holiday.
Some of our readers doubtless think our present price very high, but the
prospect now is that we will not be able to give them a paper much longer at any
price. We have sent money and
orders in various directions long since, and we occasionally hear of paper on
the way at a price that we never before heard or dreamed.
AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE,
April 6, 1864, p, 1, c. 2
We regret to learn, from the last number of the S. A. Herald, that its
publication will be suspended for some time.
The want of paper is the reason for its discontinuance.
MOBILE REGISTER AND ADVERTISER, April 17, 1864, p. 1, c. 3
Letter from Georgia.
Atlanta, Ga., April 13, 1864.
. . .
Marietta from whence I have just returned does not look much like the
town of yore when it was the favorite summer resort for families in lower
Georgia and from the South Carolina coast.
The main hotel building has been transformed into a Hospital, and other
buildings on the square have been similarly disposed of.
Lame, wounded and convalescent soldiers are seen on every side, and other
evidences of the pressure of "grim-visaged war" abound.
While here I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Col. Wm.
Phillips, a wealthy citizen of Marietta, and President and one of the largest
owners in the Marietta Paper Mill Company, the management of whose affairs he
has personally undertaken. Col.
Phillips has seen service in the field, having commanded the Legion which still
bears his name, in the first battle of Manassas, and only retired on account of
the failure of his health. Several
war worn veterans of his company who were home on furlough, called upon him
while I was present, and it did me good to see the warm and cordial greeting
interchanged between them. Such
evidences of esteem and affection on the part of soldiers for their officers,
are the highest compliments that can be paid the latter—for he is the best
officer who cares most and does most for the welfare of his men.
The Marietta Paper Mills, though among the very best in the Confederacy,
and though the Government and newspapers are clamorous for paper, are not
working up to their full capacity. The
cause of this is the want of hands, some of their best paper makers having been
conscribed into the service. This
ought not to be so. Government
should unhesitatingly detail the necessary force to keep every mill in the
Confederacy at work to its full capacity.
The change in the currency, the new military law or something else, has
put a remarkable check to travel. Railway
cars which used to be crowded to excess, are hardly half-filled now, and the
hotels have abundance of room for all their guests.—Speaking of hotels, the
Trout House here has recently changed hands and has been greatly improved
thereby. The table is much better
and the prices are considerably reduced. If
the proprietor would renovate his rooms and pay a little more attention to the
bedding, this hotel would be a very good one for the times.
C.
AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE,
April 20, 1864, p. 1, c. 3
The San Antonio news says "the same amount of paper that formerly cost us
$3 50 in specie, now costs us $360 in Confederate money."
That is exactly what we have to pay, and yet we are only charging five
times the price for subscription we formerly did, while for everything we have
to buy, which costs less in proportion, from twenty to thirty times former
prices is charged to us.
CHARLESTON
MERCURY, April 22, 1864, p. 2, c. 1
The Marietta Paper Mills, though among the very best in the Confederacy,
and though the Government and newspapers are clamorous for paper, are not
working up to their full capacity. The cause is this is the want of hands, some of their best
paper makers having been conscribed into service.
This ought not so to be. Government
should unhesitatingly detail the necessary force to keep every mill in the
Confederacy at work to its full capacity.
AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE,
May 4, 1864, p. 2, c. 2
The
Telegraph of the 26th, after apologizing for using brown paper, says:
"We are now left but one alternative, either to double the price
again or diminish the size. Will
our readers advise us what to do?" We
would ask the same question, if we thought it would do any good, but we do not
believe it is the business of our readers to tell us what we should do. It is our business to publish a paper and charge what we
consider a fair price for it, in accordance with the times, and it is the
business of our readers to decide whether they will take it or not on these
terms. The editor of the Telegraph
is evidently afraid to run the risk, for the next day he publishes a long
lugubrious article about the high rate he has to pay for everything, and hints
indirectly at having to come down to a specie basis, while he at the same time
invited his subscribers to give him their views on the subject. We have been watching this beating about the bush for some
time, thinking, as we were only playing second fiddle, we would wait as long as
we could, provided we did not in the mean time get used up entirely.
We have now been waiting till we cannot buy a ream of paper except for
specie, or its present pro rata, thirty for one.
The Telegraph, in the article above referred to, says:
"It may be asked how we manage to sustain our paper. We reply our newspaper has not sustained itself, and is not
now doing so. It is eating itself
up. So is every newspaper in the
State. The course we have hitherto
pursued will shortly leave the people without a press."
If this be so, and we have no doubt of it, so far as we are concerned,
will it, we would ask, be regarded as disloyal to adopt specie rates, and take
the equivalent in Confederate money at what it is going for?
So far as we are concerned, we have either got to do this, or stop very
soon, and we only wait for the Houston papers to set the example before it is
too late. The specie price of paper
is now about five times what it was before the war, and as it is regulated
mainly by the San Antonio market, which is now quoted at thirty for one, while
our subscription price is just five for one, at our old rates.
We even heard of $600 per ream having been paid for a small lot of
printing paper 24x36 only last week. We think any further comments on this
subject needless.
AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE,
May 4, 1864, p. 2, c. 3
The Houston papers have got down to about the size of our little
"Almanac Extra," owing to the scarcity of paper.
They have been getting, "smaller by degrees and beautifully
less" for some time, which is not at all remarkable, as the white paper
alone costs more than the price of subscription.
There is plenty of paper now on the way from Mexico, which can be bought
for specie, and we presume they will have to acknowledge at last that it is the
only basis upon which a paper can be now sustained, and come down to it as a
matter of necessity, or soon be compelled to suspend.
For a long time, we have done all in our power to keep down our
subscription list, and so long as we are compelled to continue our present
rates, we hope our friends will send us no more new subscribers, and not even
renew their own subscriptions, if they can get a paper to suit them elsewhere.
AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE,
May 11, 1864, p. 2, c. 1
The San Antonio "News" is the only paper now published in that city,
and it comes to us this week without a single local item of any kind, except
that it will be issued hereafter on Saturdays, and that the publisher has a
supply of white paper to last him a year or more.
It also mentions the re-opening of the Menger Hotel, but does not even
tell us the price of board, a very important item of news to those who have
occasion to visit San Antonio at this time.
AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE,
May 25, 1864, p. 2, c. 3
The San Antonio "News" comes to us this week on a double sheet of
white paper, which is an evidence that it is flourishing during the temporary
suspension of the Herald. San
Antonio, like Austin, cannot support two papers.
One may make a living, but if two, one or both must starve, as past
experience has proved.
MEMPHIS
DAILY APPEAL [Atlanta, GA], June 10,
1864, p. 2, c. 7
Fulton Paper Mills.--We were extremely delighted yesterday evening on a
visit to the Fulton Paper Mills, to witness the energy with which this valuable
enterprise is being conducted. It
is situated on the classic waters of Sugar creek in DeKalb county, about six
miles distant from the Gate City, and surrounded by picturesque hills and dales.
On the 24th of June, 1863, the work was inaugurated by the commencement
of a dam across the creek to supply water for the huge rag wheel.
The dam is massive and substantial, affording an abundant supply of
water. Arrangements are being
perfected for the conducting of pure spring water to the building, for the
purpose of aiding in the manufacture of a whiter and better article of paper.
The buildings and machinery are new and perfect, and although not
complete in all its details, under the guidance and skill of its energetic
foreman, Mr. T. F. Scully, a veteran in the business, the mills are turning out
an excellent article of paper. It
is not as white as desired because they have not secured as yet bleaching
powder, but the body is good. Several
months ago, ere they commenced making felts at Columbus, Mr. Scully, assisted by
a lady, spun the filling and wove the dryer felts now used in the mill.
The felt is equal to the best English manufactured, and attests the
capacity of our people to manufacture all necessary articles.
Capt. G. J. Foreacre, well known to our citizens for his ability and
enterprise, is superintendent. The
success of this enterprise is equivalent to a brilliant victory.
DALLAS HERALD,
July 2, 1864, p. 1, c. 1
We re-commence the issue of the Herald
this week, after a suspension of several months. The paper on which we print at present is thin, dark, and
rather small, but it is the best we can do for some weeks and perhaps months.
We expect, however, to have white paper before a great while, and shall
spare no efforts to keep on hand a constant supply thereafter.
We can do this if we are sustained by our readers, and paid up promptly
in such funds or produce as will enable us to buy paper.
We shall endeavor to make the paper as readable as possible, and trust to
the generosity of our patrons.
ATHENS
[GA] SOUTHERN WATCHMAN, July 6, 1864,
p. 2, c. 3
The
Yankees will keep the cotton and Woollen Mills [at Roswell] in operation.
Capt.
Clark brought down with him, as prisoner, the Yankee Capt. Austin, of the 8th
Kansas Infantry, captured by his command near the Paper Mills, between Roswell
and Marietta.
Gen.
Phillips' Paper Mill, at Roswell, was burned on Tuesday morning.
The General sent them word that "the mill belonged to a man who had
fought them from the beginning of the war, and who would continue to fight them
to the bitter end; that he had been taught from childhood to hate them as
enemies to him and his, and that he would die hating them; that he did not ask
any favor from them; and they might burn to their hearts' content."
These bold words of defiance, as a matter of course, did not have any
influence in protecting the property. It
was dismantled completely before the proprietor retreated.
He remained in sight of the place until he saw the flames consume
it.--Atlanta Intelligencer.
MOBILE REGISTER AND
ADVERTISER, July 10, 1864, p. 1, c. 7
Gen. Philips' paper mill, at Roswell, was burned on Tuesday morning.
The General sent them word that "the mill belonged to a man who had
fought them from the beginning of the war, and who would continue to fight them
to the bitter end; that he had been taught from childhood to hate them as
enemies to him and his, and that he would die hating them; that he did not ask
any favor from them, and they might burn to their heart's content." These
bold words of defiance, as a matter of course, did not have any influence in
protecting the property. It was
dismantled completely before the proprietor retreated.
He remained in sight of the place until he saw the flames consume
it.—[Atlanta Register.
AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE,
September 7, 1864, p. 2, c. 1
We were greeted on Monday morning by a visit from an old familiar friend,
whom we had not seen for five months. This
visitor was no other than the San Antonio Herald, which we could hardly
recognize on account of its increased size and improved appearance.
The Herald was compelled to suspend publication on account of the loss of
a large supply of paper it had purchased when the Yankees entered Brownsville,
but we think the long nap it has taken, has certainly been attended with good
results. It now comes out a full
sized, half sheet double medium, containing a larger amount of matter than any
paper now published in the State. It
is issued at a point we have always been in the habit of looking to for
important news, and as stirring events are now transpiring on our Western
frontier, the reappearance of the Herald at this time is most opportune.
We see the editors have announced our name as agent, without consulting
us on the subject, but wee will not back out from serving our contemporaries in
any way in our power, as we are under similar obligations to the Herald, as well
as the Houston Telegraph for receiving subscriptions in specie for us which
cannot be conveniently sent by mail. The
price of the Herald is now four dollars per annum, and those wishing to
subscribe for it can leave the money at our office, when it will be ordered
immediately and forwarded without delay. We
may also add that we receive subscriptions in specie for the Houston Telegraph,
and that parties wishing to subscribe for our paper at either of these points,
can pay the money for us at those offices.
DALLAS HERALD, September
10, 1864, p. 1, c. 1
The San Antonio Herald comes to us again, after a suspension of several
months, for the want of paper. It
is now the largest paper in the State, printed on fine white paper, and
presenting a handsome appearance. It,
as well as most of the other papers in Southern Texas, is on a specie basis.
DALLAS HERALD, September
17, 1864, p. 1, c. 1
We are pleased to greet in our sanctum the Marshall Republican, which has
been suspended for several months, on account of scarcity of paper, and now
comes to us with the assurance that it is to be continued. We are glad to see friend Lowrey on his feet again, and hope
that he may not again be compelled to suspend.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, September 28, 1864, p. 2, c. 1
The Texas Republican reached our office yesterday.
The editor intends to enlarge it so soon as he is certain of getting more
paper. We are truly glad our friend
Loughery has "resumed."
By the same mail we received the Army and Navy messenger.
The Messenger is a "soldiers paper," published at Shreveport,
and edited by the Reverends H. M. Smith and Wm. B. Norris.
We bid the Messenger "God speed," with its messages of love to
the army.
ALBANY
[GA] PATRIOT, November 3, 1864, p. 2, c. 3
New Goods. Fine English Letter and
Note Paper, and Confederate Paper of all kinds, Imported envelopes, Playing
Cards, Gillett's Pens, Fine Rifle Powder, Caps, Needles, Pins, Tacks, &c.,
Guitar and Violin Strings, &c. Also,
a few Large Blank Books. For sale
at the Book Store. Albany, Nov.3d.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, November 23, 1864, p. 1, c. 5
According to a statement in the New York World more than one-third of the
newspapers in the United States, published four years ago, have suspended
publication. The aggregate circulation of the remainder has much
diminished. The price of all
printing materials has doubled and trebled, and of paper has almost quadrupled.
ALBANY
[GA] PATRIOT, November 25, 1864, p. 2, c. 2
We learn from the "reliable gentleman," of course, that the train on
the Savannah Road, containing the types, presses, &c., of the Atlanta
Intelligencer and Southern Confederacy, was captured by the enemy, and all the
material of these papers destroyed. For this we are really sorry, as there were already little
printing material in Georgia--in fact in the Confederacy.
DALLAS HERALD,
December 24, 1864, p. 2, c. 2
We are pleased to see that the Galveston Bulletin comes out in an entire
new dress, making a very handsome and readable appearance. It is a good paper and deserves patronage.
Its new material was purchased in Havana and brought to Galveston via
Matamoros.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS February 15, 1865, p. 2, c. 1
We have received a second prospectus of a new paper to be issued, called
the "Texas Christian Herald," to be devoted to the family circle, the
farmer, the artisan and the housemaid. This
paper is to be published under the auspices of the Texas Baptist State
Convention. It is to be the largest
paper in the State, on good paper, and printed with new material.
Price $4 per annum weekly, the first number to be issued as soon as 500
subscribers are obtained. The
Executive Committee are B. Blonton, W. C. Crane, James W. Barnes, Jno. M. Knight
and H. Clark. Under such auspices,
we cannot doubt but that this new paper will be a most valuable acquisition to
the journalism of our State.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, February 22, 1865, p. 1, c. 6
Having procured some better and larger type than we have been heretofore
compelled to use, we shall now increase the size of the Bulletin to that of the
News, making the News a daily paper which will be sent to all who are
subscribers for both. Hereafter, no
matter contained by one paper will be copied into another, except
advertisements. The subscription price of the Daily News will be the same as
for both the News and Bulletin, that is $12 per year, or at that rate for a
shorter period. Our city
subscribers to the Tri-weekly will be furnished with the Daily for a few issues,
which, after an opportunity of judging, we hope they will be induced to take, as
it will save us the trouble of employing two carriers.
Those who do not wish the Daily will please notify us.
The destruction of our office, near three years ago, at a time when new
printing material and type, could scarcely be had, has compelled us to use type
too much worn to be always easily read. We
trust our readers will find our present paper a considerable improvement.
We have had many difficulties to contend with under our heavy losses by
the war and fire, but shall spare no labor or expense within our power, to make
the News satisfactory to all in point of typographical execution, and to every
true Southerner, in all other respects.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, February 22, 1865, p. 2, c. 2
Telegraph Line to San Antonio.—We learn that Mr. D. P. Shepherd,
Superintendent of the Southwestern Telegraph Line, in connection with other
parties, have ordered material and made other preliminary arrangements for
building a line of telegraph from Hempstead, via Brenham, LaGrange, Bastrop,
Austin and New Braunfels, to San Antonio. The
proprietors will have the co-operation of the military authorities of this
Department and every thing augurs favorably for the early completion of the
line. The work will be
commenced as soon as the weather will permit.
DALLAS HERALD,
March 2, 1865, p. 1, c. 5
"Sioux," the intelligent travelling correspondent of the
Houston Telegraph in one of his recent letters, says:
I had the pleasure of meeting D. Richardson, editor of the State Gazette,
while passing through New Braunfels, Comal county.
He has located his family at that point, while he has lately spent the
most of his time in Austin, attending to the management of his paper.
He is now here superintending the erection of a paper mill.
Mr. Sam Mather has charge of the mechanical department.
This enterprise has not been given up yet. Hands are now at work constructing a new water power, and
pushing the work forward as fast as the means of the company will allow.
The machinery has been ordered, but the means upon which the company
depended having failed, they have been unable to send for it.
They expect ere long to make such negotiations as will enable them to
have the works in operation in a few months.
The Company are anxious to sell stock so as to enable them to go on with
the work which has only been delayed for the want of means. This enterprise should be liberally encouraged, for such an
establishment would not only be useful to very family in the land who reads
newspapers, but an ornament to our State, and reduce the price of newspapers
considerably. Old rags and waste
cotton, suitable for the manufacture of paper, can be had more plentifully and
cheaper in this State than in any part of the world. The Comal river furnishes one of the best water powers in the
State.
This kind of power can always be depended upon, and costs much less than
steam power, besides the mill will be located in the heart of a rich farming
region of the country.
Spinning and weaving machinery has been ordered, and if the proper
encouragement is given to the enterprising managers, they will build up an
establishment that will be pointed out with pride by the people of our State.
New Braunfels is destined to be at some future day, what Sheffield or
Manchester is to England, the great workshop of the State.
The immense water power furnished by the Comal river, and the rich
agricultural region surrounding it, warrants me in making this prediction.
BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, March 7, 1865, p. 2, c. 1
We have a considerable supply of printing paper at Hempstead, but owing
to bad weather and worse roads, we are unable to get it home.
Should our paper fail next week, we opine it will be for the want of that
paper.
BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, March 7, 1865, p. 2, c. 4
The Confederate News publishes a full sheet, doubling some of its matter.
A half sheet would look better to our mind's eye.
But this is a bad time to criticise a paper for doing too much.
We notice that the news office is for sale.
DALLAS HERALD, March
9, 1865, p. 2, c. 1
The Galveston News come to us enlarged to double its late size, printed
on larger type, its columns widened, and vastly improved in every way.
The news is one of our most valued exchanges, and we rejoice to see this
evidence of the appreciation of its enterprise.
We most evidently wish our venerable friend will meet with the
encouragement which his efforts to furnish a valuable family journal so richly
deserve.
DALLAS HERALD, March
23, 1865, p. 2, c. 1
The Marshall Republican comes to us largely increased in size, and very
much improved in appearance. It is
now one of the largest, as it always has been one of the ablest edited sheets in
the Trans-Mississippi Department, and being at a point where the news all
centers, and immediately on the telegraph line, it has peculiar advantages for
furnishing the latest news. Were
our mail facilities anything like what they ought to be East of this the
Republican would be able to furnish us with the latest dispatches.
As it is, we must still wait for news to be conveyed to Houston, and
thence sent to us per mail.
DALLAS HERALD, April
6, 1865, p. 2, c. 2
We have been very grievously disappointed in not receiving a supply of
paper which should have reached us some two months ago.
We are, consequently, compelled to print on a little smaller sheet than
usual, this week. We hope to resume
our usual sheet next week, though we have no assurance of it, and may be
compelled to print on brown paper for several weeks.