March 27, 1863, Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia)
–The Columbus Sun says:
“If you would like cheap newspapers, a good supply of writing paper and envelopes–all of which are almost as indispensable as clothing–save your rags. Let the rag bag become a recognized institution in every household. Nothing would tend more to increase the quantity of paper, and cheapen its price, than the general institution of the rag bag. Let every scrap of cloth, rope and thread, refuse cotton, flax or hemp forms the fibre be diligently saved, and sold to the paper mills and paper will become abundant and be furnished at reduced rates.
“People of the South, if you would read and write, save your rags.”