Exhibit 24.1


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Raymond
M. Curran and Patrick J. Moore, and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-
in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him
and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign Annual
Reports on Form 10-K and all required interim reports and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, regarding
Stone Container Corporation, a Delaware corporation, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority, granting unto said
attorney-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.


           Signature                                       Title
------------------------------------      --------------------------------------

/s/ Raymond M. Curran                     President, Chief Executive Officer and
----------------------
Raymond M. Curran                         Director (Principal Executive Officer)



/s/ Patrick J. Moore                      Vice President, Chief Financial
------------------------------------
Patrick J. Moore                          Officer (Principal Accounting Officer
                                          and Principal Financial Officer) and
                                          Director


Date:  February 23, 2001