matter. Where formerly newspapers were only afforded to 

 any extent by the more well-to-do, they became a daily neces- 

 sity of the poorest. This cheapness, and the common desire 

 of rich and poor to be acquainted with the events of the day, 

 increased the demand for newspapers. This resulted in a 

 terrific invasion of the spruce forests for pulp. They rapidly 

 diminished. This invasion sweeping westward with the de- 

 crease in available spruce has entered Minnesota in late years. 

 With the decrease in cheaply available spruce as raw news 

 material has come a search for new woods for the purpose. 

 None has been found so. satisfactory and cheap. Consequently, 

 the price of the newspaper to the reader has been going up. 

 Minnesota is one of the last strongholds of the best spruce for 

 pulp in the United States. It is going, even here. Already 

 much Minnesota capital is being invested in Canadian spruce 

 lands, which, in itself, hurts Minnesota. When the time comes 

 that our spruce forests are exhausted and it will come if 

 they are not protected from fire every newspaper reader will 

 have to pay more for his daily or weekly sheet. 



However, there is still great opportunity here for the paper 

 manufacturing industry and vast fields of spruce and poplar 

 are awaiting its coming. 



