The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-12-06

The Paper Famine.
There is just now an excellent oPportu-
nifty for some shrewd Yankee TO make 9
fortune. Paper 10 becoming high priced
For many years past ingenious men have
endeavored 10 make it out Of other materials
shan rags. but cotton and fax have held
their ground heretofore AS the materials from
which it could be most easily and cheaply
made, the fbres being used in the form Of
rags. Aside from the present scarcity. the
s"rsg question" has been for some years
atieniively discussed in Europe. Formerly
| white paper was made altogether from rags;
but cotton waste. hempen bale ropes and
bageing have since been employed for the
purpose in this country. Old Gunny and
jute are used to make brown paper: perhaps
these could also be turned into white.
Straw has been used in England to mix
with rags in the manufacture OF printing
paper. Straw paper has also been used in
this cosntry; seven years ago Philadelphia
journal Was printed on paper OF this de-
scrip,ion; aud We notice that some OF our
exchanges are once more giving it q trial -
Il has a greyish yellow TIT, and is stiff and
easily torn. 1t will not bear folding well.
breaking in the creases. Eastwood and
hemlock have been used for making paper,
and there is in the Smithsonian Institute .
copy Of work by Jakob Christian Schaef-
fer. on experiments in paper. which is print
ed on more than sixty varlt'es OF paper,
made from rs many different materials.
There is one msterial which has been
used to some extent, but which should be
more generally utilized. 1t exists in the
greatest abundance and has hitherto merely
numbered the earth We mean the cane.
or reed, of the southern states. We have
seen beautiful paper made from this sub
stance; We have seen even samples OF ex.
cellent calico made Of il. 1t could be easily
and cheaply obtained in immense quantities.
and by the novel "explosivs" process, which
was explained last year in the Evening
Post, it's fibre can be quickly, and We be.
lieve. cheap'y separated from the silica
" hich envelopes it in the reed rs II grows.
The canes, in this process. are shut into an
ron cylinder. Of great strength, which il
made steam tight aud then filed with steam
at considerable pressure. The steam PEN
etrates the cane, dissolves the silica, and
when the canes are suddenly shot out OF
The cylinder into the cold air-its explosive
power tears the canes to pieces and leaves
Ihe iib,ous parts cleared Of the others. The
white fibre. after q slight cleaning. has the
feeling and spp@aranc Of fine cotton. and
can be used for all manufacturing purposes,
We have been assured, for which cotton is
used.
Two years ago paper mill was going
up at Wilmington. North Carolina. in which
this process was to be applied for the disin-
OF cane. There is no reason why
1t should not be generally introduced: and
he parts OF the southern states now in our
hands would yield abundant supplies of the
cane to work with.
We notice that Buffalo paper mauufac-
turer states that straw will be extensively
used at once. Among the causes of the
appreciation Of paper are the short supply
and hig price OF cotton, and the high rate
of exchange, which shuts of importations
IF rags.
The present prices Of printing paper are
such as will materially affect the condition
Of the American press. If they continue
the newspapers must either raise their prices
Or stop. To show how it works. We
may say that such OF the morning journals
'f this city as have circulation daily Of
fifty thousand copies lose. by the recent
Use, not less than one hundred and ffty
thousand dollsrs per year. II q New York
iaiIy has a circulation Of one hundred thou
'and copies it's loss. II paper continues at
present prices. would be .. the end of the
;ear not less than three hundred thousand
ioilars. OF course, this would be ruinous
o any business enterprise. Ne doubt the
morning journals dislike to raise their price,
,ut they must do SO, unless some change
axes place 10 bring paper back to its old
'rice. The speedy opening Of the Missis-
,ippi river would probably help us to cot
on, 10 considerable quantities, but this
taple would be appropriated at once for
LOT hs, and would affect but little the price
f paper for some time to come. We look
nore to enterprises by which other and now
nused materials may be brought 10 the
ervice Of tho paper maker.-Nsw YorE
Evening Posf.