Part 3
On the other hand, Mr. Lovejoy continued, the pulp mill owner is able to use a poorer grade of material than the sawmill, and every time a new way of using still poorer material is found he increases his supply of raw material and extends his period of operation at one place. Another way in which to increase his available raw material is to see that the forests which are tributary to his plant are not burned out. Forest fires cannot be insured against and always result in the end in considerable loss to the industry. A really efficient organization for the prevention of fire can usually be maintained at from 2 to 10 cents per acre each year, Mr. Lovejoy stated, and it is cheaper and more effective to protect large areas over a long period than otherwise.
Wood End of Pulp Production Wasteful.
Mr. Lovejoy pointed out that in many cases the woods end of pulp production was very wasteful. As an example, he cited a given forest area, having a stand of one-third beech, birch and maple, one-third spruce and one-third hemlock and balsam. Only a small part of the stand offers good log timber, not sufficient to attract a sawmill. A contractor is obtained to get out the pulp stock, the mill specifying that the stock shall not exceed 5 per cent. species other than spruce. The spruce comes out, together with all the balsam that the contractor can get by with. That skins the stand, but is not the worst of it. A lot of slash is left on the ground offering good material for a fire. If fire does not come the wind throws a lot of balsam. Side-light hitting the hemlock parch-blights it and it dies. Conditions are favorable to tree-destroying insects. If the forest finally survives it will not longer be a pulp-producing forest.
As a remedy for this condition, Mr. Lovejoy urged a dependable inventory of the forest resources by combined Federal, State and private agencies and the development of greater co-operation between wood-using plants, so that everything the forest produced could be utilized. He suggested that private owners might be induced to go into the business of raising timber, rather than have all the forests owned directly by the mills.
Conservation of Raw Materials Essential.
The conservation of raw materials was essential to a well-organized industry, and there was danger that the pulpwood supply might not be protected. Growth of timber was slow, a cord an acre being the approximate annual rate for well worked forests. The annual consumption is about 5,000,000 cords of pulpwood in this country; a tree of 50 years of age is the best for the purpose. Working on this basis, it would clean-cut from 150,000 to 200,000 acres each year to meet the demand. Under the present system of unscientific cutting, the number of acres cut over each year reaches several million.
5,000,000 Acres of Timber Land Needed.
Putting it another way, Mr. Lovejoy asserted that 5,000,000 acres of timber land were needed to establish the industry on such a basis, provided that only 100,000 acres were cut over each year. Compared with the 500,000,000 acres needed for all timber requirements of the United States, this is a small amount, he explained, and it is up to the pulpwood men to see that it does not get lost in the shuffle.
Fire and heavy taxes prevent the growing of timber from being an attractive investment proposition to the individual, but for a corporation it is different, said Mr. Lovejoy. Under proper management the forest land will begin to render return at once. Several pulpwood mills are already on this basis.
In closing, Mr. Lovejoy urged the importance of less severe competition and greater co-operation. Such changes were radical, but they must be undertaken to preserve the industry.
TRADE ENQUIRIES.
A firm at Bristol, Eng., has asked the Canadian Trade and Commerce Department for quotations for a contract on woodpulp board. They desire the board to be 40 inches by 45 at about 180 sheets to the British cwt., and ask for 100 to 150 tons a year, delivered ten tons per month.
A Glasgow, Scot., firm states that a large demand exists there for straw-boards, leather-boards and pulpwood-board. They have forwarded samples to the Department of Trade and Commerce at Ottawa for quotations.
Two Russian firms have asked the Dominion Trade and Commerce Department for quotations for writing papers for commercial purposes. They prefer white and light blue colors. Quotations for quantities c.i.f. Vladivostok, desired. They sent samples with their request.
Sweden’s Production and Export of Paper
Translated from “Papir Journalen” Christiania, Norway by the News-print Manufacturers’ Association.
In the report of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce is said as a general opinion about the Swedish paper industry in 1915, that it has had to pass through many troubles, and that operation has been difficult and expensive.
Of raw materials, pulpwood prices increased very early on account of forced pitprops export, and because pitprops used much timber previously chiefly had been used for wood pulp and cellulose, that is pine and spruce of large dimensions. To a larger extent there were made purchases of pulpwood in Sweden for export to Norway, which, on which account of the war, could not supply its demand by imports from Russia. On account of the purchases for foreign consumers, the supply in some places was so scant that several woodpulp and paper mills had difficulties in covering their requirements. These conditions caused a great rise in prices. After repeated petitions from the Swedish Paper Mills Association on November 6th, 1915, an embargo was declared on the export of unrefined spruce and pine. In spite of this, felling and purchases for foreign consumers have been continued, in the hope that licenses would be given liberally and likewise with the thought that after the coming peace, it would be possible to ship great quantities of pulpwood from Sweden to countries, where it then would be in great demand. In some parts of the country these conditions have brought about an enormous wood felling which for a long time to come will decrease the supply of pulpwood.
A number of requisites to the woodpulp and paper industry, which must be imported have not only increased in prices enormously, but it has been attended by many difficulties in obtaining the most necessary supply.
The rise in prices of some raw materials and requirements have at the end of the year been estimated at the following figures:
per cent. Pulpwood has gone up 30-60 Dyestuffs 400 Chloride of lime 1000 Coal 400-500 China clay 100-200 Resin and other chemicals 300 Sulphur 160-200 Felts, wires, reserve parts, oils and everything else necessary to the unhampered operation of the machines 100-500 New machines to replace worn out ones, electric appliances, etc. 65-500
But in other respects too, the production has become more expensive, for instance increased wages to employees and laborers on account of the famine, greatly increased freights for imports and exports, considerably raised railway tariffs, etc.
All these items of increased cost in production and operation, have, of course, brought about an increase in the prices of paper, so far as this has been possible. Some buyers in foreign countries have consented to an increase of price for deliveries on older contracts. The sellers in Sweden, by the bye have arranged to sell f.o.b. Swedish ports, and have avoided thereby the risk of increase in freight and insurance. In the first half of last year, the prices could be raised on a few qualities. But only in the latter half of the year came a systematic co-operation among the Swedish producers for a regulation of prices, and this price regulating was done in concurrence with the Norwegian paper producers.
The foreign demand for paper has increased latterly, and now very high prices are offered for some qualities. The demand for paper suitable for the producing of yarn especially has been very great and of these kinds of paper Sweden has sold quite a good deal. There has been a demand for paper yarns and textiles made therefrom; but the production thereof is very limited in Sweden. The production and the exports of some other paper goods has increased during 1915. But the increase has not always, to cite the report mentioned, been as great as might have been desired in order to get a firm hold on the world markets for the Swedish paper industry, for which the present time is most favorable.
THE GOVERNMENT’S PAPER BILL.
The high cost of paper is hampering the work of the United States government seriously. Publications are being cut down and plans are under way to discontinue those of minor importance. Officials in all departments put into effect today orders to conserve paper. A principal step is use of smaller type in printing.
The United States government annually places the largest individual contract made in this country for paper. When paper required for present fiscal year is ready for delivery, general purchasing agents have been warned that mills will not be able to meet a demand equally as great next year, even at enormous increase in price.
Dr. O. H. Briggs, head of government general supply division says: “Latest reports show a crisis in the paper industry, and retrenchment all along the line will be enforced. Government contract price for fine grades of typewriting paper last year was 12 cents a pound. Today we should have to pay 20 cents. We are using 100 different kinds of paper. Since the war the price has jumped about 100% and will continue to soar.”
Government printing demands about 15 carloads daily and paper for its use alone has amounted to more than $1,000,000 a year. Printing paper for this year’s work costs 4½ cents, but contracts for future supplies will show 100% increase or more in price.
CHANGES AT FOREST PRODUCTS LABORATORY
Dr. J. S. Bates, Superintendent of the Forest Products Laboratories, has left for Shawinigan Falls to assist the Imperial Government in the production of chemical products needed in munitions manufacture. Dr. Bates is “loaned” to the Imperial Government by the Dominion Government for the period of the war.
W. Boyd Campbell B.Sc., Assistant Superintendent, who has been to the front for the past twelve months, has returned to take up the duties of Dr. Bates until his return.
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There arrived 10,368,000,000 matches in New York a few days ago from Sweden on SS. Stockholm to relieve shortage in United States. Steamer also brought 7,500 bales of wood pulp.
INSURANCE OF STANDING TIMBER REGARDED AS FEASIBLE.
Standing timber is one fire risk that hitherto has not been regarded with favor by the fire insurance companies. Some insurance of this sort has been written in Canada by the London Lloyds on separate limited tracts and an excess loss only, the insured bearing all losses below this limit. The Phoenix Insurance Co., of London, is, however, this year writing some insurance upon green standing timber in Oregon and Washington, with certain restrictions, and at rates varying from 1 and 1½ per cent. The timber must be accessible to markets, not unduly exposed to fire hazard, and only one risk is taken in each fire zone or area indicated by the Company. No risk is written greater than $17,500 in any one such area.
W. R. Brown in an article on this subject in “American Forestry” goes in to some detail in discussing the possibilities of this subject. He summarizes the fire experiences within the territory of various fire prevention associations, and his figures include the 22,000,000 acres under the supervision of E. C. Allen in the twelve western private fire prevention associations which he supervises; the New Hampshire Timberland Owners’ Association with 1,000,000 acres; the Northern Fire Protective Association of Michigan with 2,000,000 acres; the St. Maurice Valley Fire Protective Association of Quebec with an area of 8,000,000 acres--the total of the four associations being 33,000,000 acres. The expenditure for forest ranging and fire prevention is approximately 1 cent an acre for the first three and ¼ cent an acre for the Canadian organization. In the western associations the fire loss for the year 1910 was one-half of 1 per cent. In each association since that time it has been much less than that figure, except for 1914 in the Canadian association, when one fire got away and the fire loss of the year was three-fourths of 1 per cent. upon the timber valuation. Taking all four areas together and summarizing the figures for each which Mr. Allen gives, the average yearly losses respectively were as follows:
1910, .005; 1911, .000171; 1912, .0002328; 1913, .0012636; 1914, .00253; 1915, .00427.
The writer concludes from these figures that in such protective areas fire insurance should cost for the loss ratio not over one-half per cent. annually, with another one-half per cent. added for administration cost of the insurance plan. He gives some further experience upon which to base this conclusion. In Minnesota during the last ten years, with its forest wealth of $280,000,000, the average fire loss has been about $100,000 or one-thirty-fourth of 1 per cent. annually.--American Lumberman.
PAPER CLOTHES.
A new German textile in which paper is spun with about 20 per cent. of cotton is being exhibited in Copenhagen.
Unspun cotton in the form of down is glued to one side of endless rolls of paper and the paper is then shorn into narrow bands, which are spun with the cotton side outwards.
Danish experts were shown “paper” underclothing, jerseys, sheets, bandages, and horse blankets, but the cost of production of the cloth is said to be too high to allow its competing with cotton and woolen cloth under normal conditions.
MUNICIPAL FORESTRY.
Forestry can never appeal to individual enterprise on a large scale. Returns are too slow. As a national enterprise of the highest importance it is gaining recognition, and there is a tendency among some American cities to take advantage of its many possibilities. With the exception of the vicinity of the Great Lakes, the world’s largest reservoir of pure fresh water, cities must have water supplies from available drainage or watershed areas. These can be devoted to forestry with advantage from a sanitary point of view, and also with profit when the trees begin to mature. Where convenient, the forested area can also be made to serve as public parks. The city of Fall River, Mass., began in 1909 to plant trees in Watuppa Pond Reservation. There are 3,232 acres of land belonging to the municipality in a natural forest condition and 1,552 acres suitable for reforesting. The trees are supplied by the State Forestry Bureau. The Metropolitan Water Board, which represents Boston and other cities in this matter, has planted, chiefly in the Wachusetts Reservation, about 1,800 acres with forest trees. In six years the State forestry service has furnished to the cities of the State a sufficient number of trees to cover 1,481 acres, and it is estimated that 15,000 acres in city reservoir tracts have been put under some kind of forest treatment. Massachusetts has gone beyond the use of the watershed reservations for this purpose. An act was passed by the Legislature three years ago permitting cities to buy land to be kept distinctly as forests, quite aside from water purposes. There are now several of these city forests in existence.
Elsewhere in the United States the same tendency exists. In ten large and middling-sized cities forest domains aggregating over 150,000 acres are maintained, and it is probable that municipal forests comprise 250,000 acres. Newark, N.J., has a forest of 22,000 acres, and in time the whole of it may be scientifically forested. Hartford, Conn., has a forest property of 4,000 acres, which is being developed for timber production. Here are examples for Canadian cities. Winnipeg’s water development may be made to serve a double purpose. Even Toronto’s suburban ravines, though unsuited and unnecessary for water supply, might serve the dual purpose of timber production and park systems. Municipal trading has many critics, often unreasonable, but municipal reforesting should be made a possibility where Provincial authority is neglecting its duty in that regard and falling behind in the march of progress.--Toronto Globe.
PUBLISHERS TO MAKE PAPER.
Fifty newspaper publishers of Florida are considering establishment of a plant to manufacture paper from pulp of fibrous trees and bushes in that state, particularly palmetto. Investigations have shown fibrous material is of better quality than spruce pulp which is used in manufacture of newsprint.
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In connection with the advance in paper issues, timber limits, which normally have a value of about $1,000 a square mile, have risen to $2,000 a square mile.
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A prominent dealer who returned a few days ago from the Quebec woodlands reports that the supply of pulpwood this year is but 50 per cent. of what it was a year ago because of the inability to get labor.
SCARCITY OF PAPER IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
The following information furnished by United States consuls and published in the United States Commerce Reports, will be of interest to the Canadian paper trade:--
Government May Take Action to Relieve Brazilian Situation.
The scarcity of paper, and particularly of news-print paper, in Rio de Janeiro is still a serious matter. While stocks have been replenished, there are signs that another crisis is approaching. The “Jornal do Commercio”, the leading daily paper of the city, in an editorial on July 7, seriously proposed that unless the Brazilian Congress saw fit to reduce the import duties on news-print paper for a time, all the newspapers of the country should begin to eliminate news that was superfluous and print smaller daily editions so as to save paper.
The matter has attracted widespread attention, perhaps on account of the impressions that importers usually profit by a scarcity on the local market to make exorbitant demands for what stocks they may have on hand. Although the serious situation now confronting the country has been looming up threateningly for a long time past, no effort seems to have been made to save paper or to collect waste paper and rags.
Senhor Dunshee de Abrantee, of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, himself a man familiar with journalism and the needs of the paper trade, has already presented to Congress a proposed amendment to the forthcoming budget law, providing that imported paper shall pay no duty and only the expediente tax on entering the country.
Spanish Government Asked To Seek Remedy.
The scarcity of paper in Spain has caused some anxiety, and representatives of Spanish publishers, printers, and manufacturers of paper and cardboard have informed the Government of their willingness to postpone filling export orders until after the domestic demand for their products has been fully met. They also expressed a desire that the Government fix prices and conditions to control the export of raw materials used in paper manufacture. Accordingly, a royal order, published June 15, 1916, appointed a commission, a representative of the Government presiding, formed of three delegates chosen from each interested group, namely, paper manufacturers, newspaper publishers, and those engaged in bookmaking arts.
This commission is to pass on all complaints formulated, proposing, if necessary, such methods as it judges opportune with respect to the export of paper and un-manufactured cardboard. The custom house authorities must submit to this commission a sample of every class of paper or cardboard exported, its origin, and the name of the exporter.
The paper-making interests in Spain employs chiefly wood-pulp, and its price has increased about 85 per cent since the war began. Imports of wood-pulp in 1913 amounted to 61,000 metric tons of 2,204.6 pounds each; in 1914 to 40,000 tons, and in 1915 to 50,000 tons. More than half of this supply comes from Sweden; other sources are Germany and Norway.
Wood-pulp and logs for making pulp coming from foreign countries were exempted from the transport tax in March last, and an export duty of 18 pesetas gold per 100 kilograms ($1.58 per 100 pounds) levied on endless paper weighing from 41 to 50 grams per square metre and containing mechanical pulp.
SUPPLY AND DEMAND LAW CONTROLS PAPER PRICES.
In his address before the New York Business Publishers’ Association, formerly the New York Trade Press Association, at the Advertising Club of New York on Oct. 2, Judge C. F. Moore, secretary of the Bureau of Statistics of the Book Paper Manufacturers’ Association, declared that there was a real paper famine in the United States, and that the law of supply and demand was solely responsible for the present high prices of book paper.
He went on to say that the people in the United States were enormously busy and that they were using more paper than ever before; that there was a more acute paper famine abroad than in America, that the mills in the United States were all working day and night six days a week, and that because of discouraging legislation passed by Congress in the past the paper manufacturers had not been keen on building new plants and installing new machinery when there was such a chance for keen competition from abroad. He asserted that there had been no agreement by paper makers to boost the price or to regulate it.
LOCKWOOD’S DIRECTORY.
Lockwood’s Directory of the Paper & Stationery Allied Trades for 1917, has just been received by the Pulp and Paper Magazines. The work has come to be regarded as a standard publication, and is eagerly looked for by those engaged in the pulp and paper industry.
The Directory this year contains 768 pages as compared with 742 pages for the previous year. It contains a vast amount of information relating to paper dealers, rag and paper stock dealers, paper box manufacturers, twine manufacturers, wall paper makers, envelope manufacturers, paper bag producers, trade associations, the stationary trade, water marks and brands, etc.
The Trade Statistics contained in the Paper are brought right up to date, which in view of the changed conditions brought about by the European war, make it of particular value. The price to anyone engaged in the trade is $3.00. It is published by the Lockwood Journal Company, 10 East 39th St., New York.
THE WOOD DISTILLATION INDUSTRY.
It is estimated by the New York State College of Forestry that 640 cords of beech, birch and maple wood are used every day in the wood distillation industry in New York State. The industry has been greatly stimulated by the European war inasmuch as acetate of lime, of one the principal products of the industry, is used in the manufacture of high explosives.
THREE IDLE MILLS.
At the present time there are but three idle pulp and paper mills in Canada, two of which are located in British Columbia, and the third in Nova Scotia. These are all small mills, and in contrast to that, it is only necessary to point out that all the other mills in Canada are working to capacity.
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The annual consumption of paper pulp wood in the United States is 4,300,000 cords, representing an expenditure of $36,000,000 by approximately 250 companies.
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