The Press: Paper Chase

In the last weeks of 1945, the Chicago Tribune had to drop all national advertising in its out-of-town circulation (300,000). For seven days, the New Orleans Item came out with no ads. And for five Yuletide days the New York Post did not come out at all.

Many a publisher, having sold too many Christmas ads or too many papers, barely made it to New Year’s Day and the end of his newsprint quota. Once across the line he was, if not safe, at least on his own. The Civilian Production Administration last week abolished paper rationing. Newspapers must now scramble for their chunks of the four million tons of newsprint (98% of the 1941 supply) that will be available this year—if enough pulp comes out of the Canadian and Scandinavian woods.

Probably not for at least six months will U.S. readers see newspapers that are their old, fat, ad-decked selves.