J. R. M. Hutcheson Memos on Two-Ply and Three-Ply Paper Bags for Fiber Shipments (1968)

Two one-page memos from J. R. M. Hutcheson of Johns-Manville's Asbestos Fibre Division in Asbestos, Quebec. On February 15, 1968, he told J. E. Hesse at Manville and other plants that the division was "taking positive steps to improve the condition on arrival of shipments packaged in paper bags": the paper would be at least 50 percent heavier, and J-M would convert to 3-ply bags. On May 24, 1968, writing to the Jeffrey, Reeves and Coalinga operations, he cancelled that order: "We will return to the use of 2 ply bags," except for Group III fibers at Jeffrey and cold-weather shipments from Reeves.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

Johns-Manville's own chronology of what the company knew describes this document as follows:

J.R.M. Hutcheson, in a memorandum dated 2/15/68 to J. E. Hesse (Manville), states that the AFD is taking positive steps to improve the condition of arrival of shipments packages in paper bags and will be converting from two-ply bags to three-ply bags. On 5/24/68, J.R.M. Hutcheson retracts this statement: "J-M will return to the use of 2-ply bags except as qualified below."