O.C.B. et papetiers Bolloré en Caroline du Nord, The Echo et Time Magazine 1940-50

By the time Harry Straus was dubbed Chevalier, some 26 French paper plants were furnishing 75% of the paper used in U. S.-made cigarets. Seeing another world war ahead. Paperman Straus was then already deep in plans to move a big piece of France's new industry west again—to the U. S.

Last week before the National Farm Chemurgic Conference in Chicago, big, balding Harry Straus rose to report on cigaret paper's newest move, to the broad Davidson River plain in the timber-clad Toxaway mountains 30 miles southwest of Asheville. N. C. There, on the day Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany, his Ecusta Paper Corp. turned out its first bobbin of cigaret paper. There the 17-building plant of Ecusta today runs 24 hours a day, employs 900 workmen, turns out some 50% of U. S.-made cigaret paper.

The rest was from substantial credits from the Irving Trust Co. and whacking advances by the U. S. cigaret manufacturers, who put up $1,000,000 each. To them the advances were worthwhile as a hedge against possible wartime disruption of the French supply. But what interested the Chicago conference most last week was that Ecusta had made a short cut in technique, and (as Schweitzer and other tissuemen had done) made a new cash crop for farmers.

Until a few years ago linen rags were the only base for cigaret tissues. Then chemists made what seemed to many a layman an obvious discovery—that the rag stage could be bypassed and tissue could be made direct from flax. To U. S. flax farmers, principally in Minnesota, California and North Dakota, this means that Ecusta alone will take the crop from 75,000 to 100,000 acres. If other U. S. cigaret paper makers complete the switch from rag base to flax, farmers of another 75,000 to 100,000 acres will have found a market for their crop.

Last week in the close-mouthed tobacco business, best estimate was that since World War II began, domestic production of tissue had increased from 25% to 40% of the total bought by U. S. cigaret makers. With both Ecusta and Schweitzer about to double their plant capacity, by war's end the U. S. may have another complete new industry, reaching from farm to factory, with a manufacturers' gross of some $10,000,000 a year.

Au moment où Harry Straus était nommé Chevalier, ... some 26 French paper plants were furnishing 75% of the paper used in U. S.-made cigarets. Seeing another world war ahead. Paperman Straus was then already deep in plans to move a big piece of France's new industry west again—to the U. S.

Last week before the National Farm Chemurgic Conference in Chicago, big, balding Harry Straus rose to report on cigaret paper's newest move, to the broad Davidson River plain in the timber-clad Toxaway mountains 30 miles southwest of Asheville. N. C. There, on the day Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany, his Ecusta Paper Corp. turned out its first bobbin of cigaret paper. There the 17-building plant of Ecusta today runs 24 hours a day, employs 900 workmen, turns out some 50% of U. S.-made cigaret paper.

Le reste provenait d'importants crédits ... from the Irving Trust Co. and whacking advances by the U. S. cigaret manufacturers, who put up $1,000,000 each. To them the advances were worthwhile as a hedge against possible wartime disruption of the French supply. But what interested the Chicago conference most last week was that Ecusta had made a short cut in technique, and (as Schweitzer and other tissuemen had done) made a new cash crop for farmers.

Until a few years ago linen rags were the only base for cigaret tissues. Then chemists made what seemed to many a layman an obvious discovery—that the rag stage could be bypassed and tissue could be made direct from flax. To U. S. flax farmers, principally in Minnesota, California and North Dakota, this means that Ecusta alone will take the crop from 75,000 to 100,000 acres. If other U. S. cigaret paper makers complete the switch from rag base to flax, farmers of another 75,000 to 100,000 acres will have found a market for their crop.

Last week in the close-mouthed tobacco business, best estimate was that since World War II began, domestic production of tissue had increased from 25% to 40% of the total bought by U. S. cigaret makers. With both Ecusta and Schweitzer about to double their plant capacity, by war's end the U. S. may have another complete new industry, reaching from farm to factory, with a manufacturers' gross of some $10,000,000 a year.

From all indications, shrouded somewhat by the secrecy of the sailing date, our friends de­parted January 17th aboard the S/S "De Grasse".

Letters written by our friends from New York before sailing intimated that they were "in the army now", being guests of the French Government at a New York Hotel somewhat regimented, They stated, however, that they had no complaints to register and their few days in New York were full of interesting tours.

At this writing we have yet to receive confirmation of their safe arrival in France.

It is the wish of all at Ecusta that our friends reach home safely and that they do honor to the flag of democracy, the flag of freedom and of France.

J. Cartel, of Troyes, France, a veteran cigarette paper maker has been director of Ste. Nouvelle de Papeteries de Champagne for several years. M. Cartel came to Brevard in April of last year to supervise the opening operations of the Ecusta Paper Corporation; since the French method of manufacturing cigarette paper is a departively new industry in America. The policies and methods of production in the plant here were under the direction of M. Cartel.

Mr. Gros, supervisor of the Beater new machime rooms while here, is remedly an outstanding expert in the such making cigarette maker. M. Lenoir, who was a tender ??? of the machines in France, assisted M. Gros in the machine room at Ecusta.

The party from Ecusta sailed from New York on February 24, aboard the S/S Manhattan for France to serve their mother country.

As the paper goes to press, we learn in a cablegram from Mr. Cartel that they arrived in Paris and in health.

De plusieurs sources, quelque peu brouillées par le secret de leur date de départ en bateau, on sait que nos amis sont partis le 17 janvier à bord du Croiseur "De Grasse".

Letters written by our friends from New York before sailing intimated that they were "in the army now", being guests of the French Government at a New York Hotel somewhat regimented, They stated, however, that they had no complaints to register and their few days in New York were full of interesting tours.

At this writing we have yet to receive confirmation of their safe arrival in France.

It is the wish of all at Ecusta that our friends reach home safely and that they do honor to the flag of democracy, the flag of freedom and of France.

J. Cartel, de Troyes en France, un vétéran spécialiste en papier à cigrette fut directeur de la Société Nouvelle de Papeteries de Champagne pendant de plusieurs années. M. Cartel came to Brevard in April of last year to supervise the opening operations of the Ecusta Paper Corporation; since the French method of manufacturing cigarette paper is a departively new industry in America. The policies and methods of production in the plant here were under the direction of M. Cartel.

Mr. Gros, supervisor of the Beater new machime rooms while here, is remedly an outstanding expert in the such making cigarette maker. M. Lenoir, who was a tender ??? of the machines in France, assisted M. Gros in the machine room at Ecusta.

The party from Ecusta sailed from New York on February 24, aboard the S/S Manhattan for France to serve their mother country.

As the paper goes to press, we learn in a cablegram from Mr. Cartel that they arrived in Paris and in health.