Then follows a long list of articles in daily use which have advanced from 25 to 467 per cent. showing that the advance in the cost of paper is not an isolated case. The cost of living index accordingly to the New York Annalist increased from September 1915 to September 1916 from 135 to 185, an increase of over 37 per cent., and the market value of securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange increased from July 30th, 1914 to September 1916, deducting value of new editions, by over $3,000,000,000.00, a net increase of 33 per cent.
According to Bradstreet’s, out of 106 commodities which their index table embraces, all but 17 advanced in price between September 1st, 1915 and September 1st, 1916, representing for the entire groups an average increase of over 16½%. According to Dun’s last review, out of 328 commodities quoted, 42 showed advances in price over the previous week, while but 25 showed decreases.
There is another matter to be considered. During 1915 there was a decided increase in the price of practically every commodity, except paper. The Journal of Commerce quotes from the United States figures as follows:
“Wholesale prices of commodities in the United States averaged considerably higher in 1915 than in the preceding year, according to Bulletin 200 of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor. ***The Bureau’s weighted index number for December (1915) stood at 105, the highest point reached in any year since the collection of data for the present series of reports on Wholesale Prices, dating back to 1890, was begun.
“Violent fluctuations were recorded during 1915 in the prices of all commodities, particularly drugs and chemicals and metal products. ***In the fuel and lighting group*** in August the prices again advanced (after a Spring slump) the increase continuing for the rest of the year. ***Articles belonging to the food group were in the aggregate highest in price in December and lowest in September. The increase between January and December in this group was nearly 4%.” The paper market, however, remained unchanged.
In other words, the price of other commodities advanced rapidly during the year 1915, while the price of news-print paper was stationary, and at the present time the advanced selling price of news-print paper does not compare unfavorably with the high cost of living as evidenced by practically all other staple commodities.
COMING TO CANADA.
The Bryant Paper Company, of Kalamazoo, is planning the construction of a pulp mill in Canada, involving the expenditure of approximately $1,500,000. The company is now one of the largest book paper manufacturers in the United States, its daily output being 200 tons. It operates ten machines at present, but has prepared plans and specifications for the addition of two more machines, each 154 inches in width.