1925 Glens Falls area — Paper industry

The downturn in the local paper industry was ended as local paper companies sought to increase domestic production of newsprint.

It was not a matter of limited demand.

Production capacity in the United States had not kept up with increased demand, in part due to mills that had been closed during a more-than-year-long strike at many paper companies that began in 1921.

Some mills remained closed or operated at reduced capacity after the strike.

Because of limited domestic capacity, newsprint imports drastically increased.

“Imports of newsprint into the United States between 1911 and 1924 increased over 24 times, and the difference between production and consumption reached over one million tons a year,” The Post-Star reported on March 20, 1925.

U. S. papermakers were attempting to regain a larger share of the market.

International Paper Co., for example, was preparing to resume operations at its South Glens Falls mill, which had been shut down since June 2024, The Glens Falls Times reported on Feb. 24, 1925.

About 250 employees would be recalled.

“Instructions have been received from the New York office to operate two machines just as soon as they can be conveniently started. Work toward getting the machines ready has begun, and it is believed that they will be running during the second week of March.”

The pulp mill, too, was to resume operating.

IP also was increasing production at the Fort Edward mill.

“It is understood that Machine 3 at the local International Paper mill is being put in condition to start operations. When this machine starts, four will be running in this mill,” the Fort Edward correspondent reported in The Glens Falls Times on Feb. 18.

There were 175 applicants for 75 new positions at the Fort Edward mill.

“The first newspaper was made early this morning on the two paper machines started yesterday morning at the local plant of the International Paper Company,” the Ford Edward correspondent reported in the Times on March 3. “The pulp mill, which has been idle for several months is now in operation and eight of its nine grinders are turning out ground wood pulp.”

The increased production brought confidence in the local economy,

“Merchants are optimistic over the business outlook in the village for the opening of Spring,” The Post-Star reported on March 4. “They see reason to believe Fort Edward will be in a most prosperous condition by May 1, due largely to the activity at the plant of the International Paper Company, where things look most encouraging.”

The restart of paper machines at South Glens Falls left just one IP mill, at Watertown, out of operation, the Ticonderoga Sentinel reported on March 12.

The market turnaround was good for papermakers, but logging jobs would remain scarce until a surplus of pulp wood was used up.

“For the first time since 1862, there will be no log drives on the Hudson River this spring, according to an announcement made this afternoon at the annual meeting of the different drive and boom associations held in the offices of the Finch, Pruyn & Co.,” The Glens Falls Times reported on March 18.

John Donohue, of North River, agent of woodlands for Finch, Pruyn & Co., speaking of the log drive situation this spring, said that there is an over production of logs in the Big Boom, a short distance above this city. It is estimated that there are 100,000 cords of logs in the boom. These logs will be used before there is another drive.”

There would be minimal activity along other rivers.

“The Union Bag and Paper Company will have a small drive on the Cedar River, and the International Paper Co. will conduct a drive on the Indian River.”

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