Paper Rebounds.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 08:24PM
Several days ago I tripped over an article I found on the CNN finance website. The article was about the economic rebound of the paper manufacturing industry. The first thing I thought about was New Hampshire and the closure of the mills here.
I still don't think these mills had to close. And more importantly, close with the loss of jobs and the very lifeblood of the economy in northern New Hampshire.
I'm down here in White River Junction now. To the left of the this red Vermont Rail System locomotive are the tracks of the former Boston & Maine Corporation Berlin Branch line. These tracks ran up to Berlin and Groveton. Today, most of these line(s) have either been abandoned or are now owned by the States of New Hampshire and Vermont. And none are profitable.
Reader Comments (2)
Monadnock Paper Mills in Bennington is down to 25-27 employees from 80-ish.
They forgot to read CNN.
I am working with a former employee right now. They told him not to wait around for jobs to come back so he cleaned out his locker for good.
On a freezing cold morning in late January I had a meeting with Executive Councilor Ray Burton. At the time I wasn't particularly interested in hearing how wonderful eveything is and I was very direct in my questions:
Coos County.
Commissioner George Bald.
I won't recount the answers which I'll term political. I can understand why Frasier let Berlin go. They made a strategic choice to make their stand in Gorham which I think is fair. But why did Wausau close Groveton? After a $20 million dollar investment and they have access to their own electricity and markets.
I think Commissioner Bald needs to be fired. What exactly are his qualifications for this position anyway? Please don't say what a nice person he is or the sales ability to ride a surfboard as the tide is moving in the right direction.
The paper industry in this part of the world could thrive just as it has done for hundreds of years but its going to take alot of risk, hard work, direct-hard sales and a recognition from New Hampshire that papermaking is something important to this state.
I'm confident this won't happen.
When I asked Councilor Burton what Commissioner Bald does with his time to build economic development and jobs for New Hampshire?
"Well, the Commissioner does spend alot of time responding to information requests from groups like the Sierra Club and the Conservaton Law Group." Burton said.
I don't know where all this stops it just doesn't stop here.