“The past year has been one of marvelous expansion in the export trade of this country. Our industry has shared in this increase of foreign trade, but not to the extent that it ought. Our own markets being the best in the world, manufacturers in past years have naturally confined their efforts practically to them, but we have reached such proportions in our ability to manufacture all kinds of paper that it seems as though there was never a more opportune time to explore and make conquest of the foreign paper market. The amount of paper exported during the eleven months ending with November, 1897, was $4,014,842, and for the eleven months ending November, 1898, $5,143,055, showing an increase of $1,128,213.”
During the past two years there has been even a greater proportionate increase. Considering the fact that ten years ago the exportation of paper was practically unknown, it will be quickly seen that we are fast forging to the front and taking the position in foreign fields which, as the leading paper manufacturing country of the world, we now fully merit. Our products are generally at a premium in foreign markets, and American genius, enterprise, and versatility are everywhere recognized. This export trade also acts as a safety-valve against overproduction, and by thus preserving equality between supply and demand lends stability and confidence to the industry.
♦Number of mills in operation in United States♦
There are to-day in the United States 762 different concerns owning and now operating one thousand and seventy paper and pulp mills; these are distributed through thirty-five different states. Of these, New York shows the greatest output, the capacity of her mills being 7,854,000 pounds daily, or nearly one-quarter the total daily output of the United States. Next to the Empire State comes Maine, with a daily capacity of 3,723,000 pounds, while Wisconsin and Massachusetts take third and fourth rank, their mills producing, respectively, 2,674,000 and 2,195,000 pounds daily. Massachusetts upholds her literary reputation by ranking first in the production of both writing and book papers. In the production of wood-pulp paper New York easily outstrips all competitors, her output being nearly double that of any other state, while Maine stands second and Wisconsin third. The total daily capacity (not production) of the paper and pulp mills of the United States is estimated at 28,100,000 pounds, divided according to varieties as follows:
♦Division of product♦
| Writing | 1,074,000 |
| Book | 2,650,000 |
| News | 4,856,000 |
| Wrapping | 3,617,000 |
| Boards | 3,230,000 |
| Miscellaneous, including varieties too numerous to mention | 1,707,000 |
| Ground wood and chemical wood pulp | 10,966,000 |
The process of paper-making is continuous, owing to the great expense involved in wiping or cleaning the machinery, an operation necessary to prevent the pulp from drying to or rusting the many parts through which it passes from the time of its entrance into the washer and beater until it comes forth as a finished and perfect product. Allowing three hundred working-days a year to each mill, the total annual output possible would be 4,215,000 tons, which, allowing thirty thousand pounds to a car, would make 281,000 carloads. According to statistics gathered by the United States Commissioner of Labor for the first six months of 1898, the seven hundred and twenty-three plants, many of them having two or three separate mills, actually produced 1,733,019 tons of paper and pulp. This would make 3,466,038 tons for the entire year, although the mills were not run to their full capacity, by any means. The six months from October 1, 1899, to March 31, 1900, mark probably the greatest activity the paper trade ever experienced. The mills were taxed to their utmost to supply demands which were fierce and exacting. The difference between the actual production as estimated for the year 1898 and the present estimated capacity of the mills is 750,000 tons; and as the increased demand has taken up a large proportion of this, it is safe to assume that not for many years have the mills run so nearly to their full capacity as during the two just past. ♦Estimated value of total output for 1900♦ Estimating an average price on all the different classes of paper, not including pulp, the total value of the output for 1900 would amount to about $150,000,000.
THE HYDRAULIC PRESS
♦Paper ranks third among staple commodities♦