World War I 100 Years Ago: April 1-7

From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, April 4: Never before in years gone by has the monotone cry of the rag man for rags and old paper had such a significant twang. The European war has wrought havoc with wood pulp and linen rag importations from across the seas and as a last resort American manufacturers have turned to the rag man for raw material. According to Indianapolis dealers in rags and old paper, the local market price for rags and scrap paper has advanced in the last six months. Housewives have not been slow to take advantage of the situation, and few Indianapolis homes are without rag bags and boxes for stray paper. Churches and societies of various kinds have also taken advantage of the situation by collecting scrap paper and selling it for the benefit of charity funds.