“In writing paper I should estimate that 95 per cent is sold
through the jobbers.
In book paper I should say not over 33½ per cent is sold through
jobbers.
In news paper probably not over 10 per cent is sold through jobbers.
In wrapping paper I should say about 95 per cent is sold through
jobbers.
In box boards probably not over 25 per cent is sold by jobbers.
Tissue paper, perhaps 25 per cent is sold through jobbers.
(The balance is sold direct to manufacturers who re-manufacture it,
like toilet paper manufacturers).”
The indications therefore are, that the very large consumers of
printing papers buy direct from the mills, as do many of the large
manufacturers of commodities composed largely of paper.
The printers who in the aggregate consume large quantities of writing,
catalog, and miscellaneous printing paper, but whose orders are
composed principally of many small items, buy almost wholly from the
paper jobbers. In localities far removed from the Mills, the jobber
very naturally occupies a more conspicuous position than elsewhere, and
his superior facilities for handling the business make him a stronger
factor than in the markets adjacent to the mills, and enable him to
handle much of the largest business to advantage.
In the _New England Letter_ issued in January, 1913, by the First
National Bank of Boston, the following interesting statement was made
in regard to paper.
“The Paper trade is essentially a hand-to-mouth trade in all branches
except the news print department. In general, purchases are made
only as required, and fluctuations in price effect but slightly the
demand. In short, an analysis of the production of the Paper Mills of
the country, taking into consideration stocks on hand, is specially
significant as an index of current trade conditions.
The situation is shown by the following table which gives an idea of
the paper output, the stocks on hand, and the number of days’ supply
available for November, 1912.
_Output and Stocks for November, 1912, of American Paper (in tons)_