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.

Monsieur Cartel is manager of the Societe Nouvelle des Pape- teries de Champagne in Troyes and is visiting Ecusta for the first time since 1940. He can’t quite get over the tremendous improve­ ment and progress that has been made here since his last visit. W hile here, M. Cartel was invited out to have dinner with one of our fine Ecusta couples. That’s not unusual, except that an ex- GI was anxious to return the hospitality M. Cartel showed him in France in 1944 and 1945. Raleigh Waldrop, assistant chief inspec­ tor here, had the happy privilege of visiting M. Cartel’s home in November, 1944, and again in March, 1945. On one of those trips, Raleigh rode over 100 miles in the back of an Army truck to get to Troyes, but it was worth it.

On Sunday, March 14, M. Cartel was the guest of Raleigh and his wife, Naomi, at their nice home on the Rosman highway. W ith the bit of French he learned in service, Raleigh did well in talking to M. Cartel. And after Naomi’s tasty dinner, we bet an interpreter wasn’t necessary for M. Cartel to tell her how much he enjoyed that fried chicken, and all the other Southern trimmings.

Monsieur Cartel est le directeur de la Société Nouvelle des Pape- teries de Champagne in Troyes and is visiting Ecusta for the first time since 1940. He can’t quite get over the tremendous improve­ ment and progress that has been made here since his last visit. W hile here, M. Cartel was invited out to have dinner with one of our fine Ecusta couples. That’s not unusual, except that an ex- GI was anxious to return the hospitality M. Cartel showed him in France in 1944 and 1945. Raleigh Waldrop, assistant chief inspec­ tor here, had the happy privilege of visiting M. Cartel’s home in November, 1944, and again in March, 1945. On one of those trips, Raleigh rode over 100 miles in the back of an Army truck to get to Troyes, but it was worth it.

On Sunday, March 14, M. Cartel was the guest of Raleigh and his wife, Naomi, at their nice home on the Rosman highway. W ith the bit of French he learned in service, Raleigh did well in talking to M. Cartel. And after Naomi’s tasty dinner, we bet an interpreter wasn’t necessary for M. Cartel to tell her how much he enjoyed that fried chicken, and all the other Southern trimmings.

The world got its first look at Mr. Straus January 9th, 1884. From the day of his birth un­til the turn of the century he lived the life of any normal boy, fishing in the streams, playing with his many friends, and going to school. At the age of 16 he became an apprentice in a large iron works, and later worked in his father’s factory. Having a desire to learn the English language, he came to the United States in 1904 where he was engaged by Gutmann and Company, selling cork sheets to Boucher Cork and Machine Com­pany. Mr. Straus realized that the United States was where he belonged, and he decided to make it his adopted country. In 1909 he purchased Boucher Cork Company, becoming a manufac­turer of cork tipping for cigarettes, an importer of gramophone needles, cork sheets, smoker’s ar­ticles, and an importer and maker of manicure sets. On December 31st of that year he married Martha Washington Landeck.

In 1912 he founded the Rotagravure Company, making calendars and doing commercial printing. The following year he founded the O. K. Button Moulds Manufacturing Company, which made buttons of all types and sizes. One year later he purchased the Funk Machine Company and operated it under the name of Gefes Ma­chine Company, making gold, straw, silk and wood veneer cigarette tips.

Mr. Straus became interested in cigarette pa­ per just prior to World War I, and in 1915 he started importing cigarette paper from French mills. This was the year that he founded Endless Belt Corporation, making endlessly woven belts for cigarette manufacturers. He also purchased the High Grade Button Works.

The period from 1915 to 1918 found him delv­ing into various fields. He founded the Electric Directory Company, which made electric adver­tising signs and city map guides; he manufac­tured snap fasteners; imported bottle crown cork from Spain; exported general merchandise to South America; and made looms to manufacture twill weave belts. During that period he founded Peerless Roll Leaf Company, which hot-stamped gold leaf on pencils, hat bands, books, etc.

He founded the Sterling Gold Stamping & Em­bossing Company in 1918 for the printing of candy box tops and general fancy stamping in gold. When Spain started manufacturing Cork Bobbins in 1919, Boucher Cork Company im­ported these bobbins, concentrating on the mak­ing of gold and straw bobbins in New York.

The organization moved to W. 40th Street in New York City in 1923. During that year, Mr. Straus purchased substantial interest in the largest cork factory in Spain, and founded the Cork Im­port Corporation, importing No-Void pipe cov­ering and insulation for refrigerators, ice houses and various other items.

In 1927 he founded the DeMauduit Paper Cor­ poration, importing cigarette paper from France. Three years later he secured substantial interest in leading cigarette paper mills in France, and found­ ed Champagne Paper Corporation, importing on a larger scale than at any previous time. The manufacturing of Tip-Top, first 100-leaf book­ lets of roll-your-own cigarette papers, began the following year, and 6ne year later he designed and built the first machine to produce free booklets.

Just one year after the inauguration of Presi­dent Roosevelt, he developed the American type Rizla Boklets. He secured gumming machines, a Chambon printing press, and built booklet ma­chines. This year, 1933, was the real beginning of Ecusta. On October 18th his plans were first published to make cigarette paper in America with an American Raw Material.

The next year additional booklet machines were built, and the ground was laid for the pro­duction of a raw material when a mill was built for plant research at Estill, S. C. On February 4th, 1934, the first bale of fibre was produced at the Estill mill. This necessitated the test planting of flax in Oregon, Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. On March 26th, 1936, the first American grown flax was shipped to French cigarette paper mills. A big event in his life came on April 25 th of that year. He was present­ ed the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur by the Government of France.

He founded Central Fibre Corporation and California Central Fibre Corporation in 1937, building a plant at El Centro, California. They purchased the first flax from the Imperial Valley, shipped it to France, and the first cigarette paper made from American flax came from the French mills.

On May 5th, 1938, the newspapers displayed the headlines, pleasing to the eyes of many Ameri­ cans, HUGE CIGARETTE PAPER PLANT TO LOCATED IN PISGAH FOREST, N. C. On Au­gust 7th, CONSTRUCTION OF WORLD’S LARGEST CIGARETTE PAPER PLANT WELL UNDER WAY.

The year 1939 saw great activity in the hither­ to quiet mountain community. Boucher Cork Company, Champagne Paper Corporation and Endless Belt Corporation moved into Pisgah Forest. Ecusta was fast nearing completion. On June 14th, the first blast came from the Ecusta whistle; and on September 2nd came the an­xiously awaited moment—the first cigarette pa­ per made in America from flax rolled from the huge paper machines. One year later Mr. Straus decided to double the production, making several changes in the Pulp Mill, adding seventeen larger beaters to the Refining Department, and install­ing four new paper machines.

The ensuing year brought about many changes. Production was doubled, portable decorticators were built, production of booklets was doubled, a large cafeteria was built, new machines v/ere de­ signed and built for making booklets, and new methods of manufacturing came into use. In 1942 Mr. Straus was elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Transylvania Com­ munity Hospital. He was elected Vice President of the North Carolina Engineering Foundation in 1946. On June 9th, 1947, the honorary de­ gree of Doctor of Engineering was conferred to him by North Carolina State College.

Mr. Straus, a mountain of physical and men­ tal energy, has come a long way in his 65 years. He has been a busy man, yet he has never failed to interrupt his busy schedule to be of service to his fellow men. Providing employment for hund­ reds of native Carolinians, he has from the start been interested in their welfare and happiness. He has been a boon to the region, adding finan­ cially and materially to education, religion, health and civic betterment.

The world got its first look at Mr. Straus January 9th, 1884. From the day of his birth un­til the turn of the century he lived the life of any normal boy, fishing in the streams, playing with his many friends, and going to school. At the age of 16 he became an apprentice in a large iron works, and later worked in his father’s factory. Having a desire to learn the English language, he came to the United States in 1904 where he was engaged by Gutmann and Company, selling cork sheets to Boucher Cork and Machine Com­pany. Mr. Straus realized that the United States was where he belonged, and he decided to make it his adopted country. In 1909 he purchased Boucher Cork Company, becoming a manufac­turer of cork tipping for cigarettes, an importer of gramophone needles, cork sheets, smoker’s ar­ticles, and an importer and maker of manicure sets. On December 31st of that year he married Martha Washington Landeck.

In 1912 he founded the Rotagravure Company, making calendars and doing commercial printing. The following year he founded the O. K. Button Moulds Manufacturing Company, which made buttons of all types and sizes. One year later he purchased the Funk Machine Company and operated it under the name of Gefes Ma­chine Company, making gold, straw, silk and wood veneer cigarette tips.

Mr. Straus became interested in cigarette pa­ per just prior to World War I, and in 1915 he started importing cigarette paper from French mills. This was the year that he founded Endless Belt Corporation, making endlessly woven belts for cigarette manufacturers. He also purchased the High Grade Button Works.

The period from 1915 to 1918 found him delv­ing into various fields. He founded the Electric Directory Company, which made electric adver­tising signs and city map guides; he manufac­tured snap fasteners; imported bottle crown cork from Spain; exported general merchandise to South America; and made looms to manufacture twill weave belts. During that period he founded Peerless Roll Leaf Company, which hot-stamped gold leaf on pencils, hat bands, books, etc.

He founded the Sterling Gold Stamping & Em­bossing Company in 1918 for the printing of candy box tops and general fancy stamping in gold. When Spain started manufacturing Cork Bobbins in 1919, Boucher Cork Company im­ported these bobbins, concentrating on the mak­ing of gold and straw bobbins in New York.

The organization moved to W. 40th Street in New York City in 1923. During that year, Mr. Straus purchased substantial interest in the largest cork factory in Spain, and founded the Cork Im­port Corporation, importing No-Void pipe cov­ering and insulation for refrigerators, ice houses and various other items.

In 1927 he founded the DeMauduit Paper Cor­ poration, importing cigarette paper from France. Three years later he secured substantial interest in leading cigarette paper mills in France, and found­ ed Champagne Paper Corporation, importing on a larger scale than at any previous time. The manufacturing of Tip-Top, first 100-leaf book­ lets of roll-your-own cigarette papers, began the following year, and 6ne year later he designed and built the first machine to produce free booklets.

Just one year after the inauguration of Presi­dent Roosevelt, he developed the American type Rizla Boklets. He secured gumming machines, a Chambon printing press, and built booklet ma­chines. This year, 1933, was the real beginning of Ecusta. On October 18th his plans were first published to make cigarette paper in America with an American Raw Material.

The next year additional booklet machines were built, and the ground was laid for the pro­duction of a raw material when a mill was built for plant research at Estill, S. C. On February 4th, 1934, the first bale of fibre was produced at the Estill mill. This necessitated the test planting of flax in Oregon, Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. On March 26th, 1936, the first American grown flax was shipped to French cigarette paper mills. A big event in his life came on April 25 th of that year. He was present­ ed the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur by the Government of France.

He founded Central Fibre Corporation and California Central Fibre Corporation in 1937, building a plant at El Centro, California. They purchased the first flax from the Imperial Valley, shipped it to France, and the first cigarette paper made from American flax came from the French mills.

On May 5th, 1938, the newspapers displayed the headlines, pleasing to the eyes of many Ameri­ cans, HUGE CIGARETTE PAPER PLANT TO LOCATED IN PISGAH FOREST, N. C. On Au­gust 7th, CONSTRUCTION OF WORLD’S LARGEST CIGARETTE PAPER PLANT WELL UNDER WAY.

The year 1939 saw great activity in the hither­ to quiet mountain community. Boucher Cork Company, Champagne Paper Corporation and Endless Belt Corporation moved into Pisgah Forest. Ecusta was fast nearing completion. On June 14th, the first blast came from the Ecusta whistle; and on September 2nd came the an­xiously awaited moment—the first cigarette pa­ per made in America from flax rolled from the huge paper machines. One year later Mr. Straus decided to double the production, making several changes in the Pulp Mill, adding seventeen larger beaters to the Refining Department, and install­ing four new paper machines.

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