The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-07-20
Paper from Corn hIAs.

Paper from Corn Husks.
( For many years the Austrian Govern
mcnt have encouraged series of ex-
/ pcriments made to test the value Of
Indian corn husks for making paper, and
from the manufactured samples we have
seen it appears that so far rs the practica-
lility is concerned the scheme has been
successful.
1t is apparent that some substitute for
rags is very much required, for the sup
plies are yearly becoming scarcer. more
particularly since the war, when the
cotton market has been so scantilv filled
Certain kinds of the softer woods are
used to great extent in the manufacture
of paper, and the peculiar machines and
processes necessary to work this sub
stance have been brought to great per
fection; and wood paper may, in time,
supply portion of the demand for the
ordinary purposes of business at cheap
rate.
Paper, it is well known, can be made
from variety of substances but the
cost of manipulation is in many cases
too great to make them available. 1t is
one objection urged against the use of
corn hushs for paper that the stock com
mands at this time very high price,
seven to eight cents per pound, simply
for use III mattresses, and that if brought
forward as 4 substitute for rags, the de
mand would run the price up immedi-
atelv. Be this rs it may the Austrian
Government now makes paper of
superior quality from corn husks alone
and puts it into the market against rag
paper. The Government has an advan-
t.,y. HI.
have not, and that is in being able to
purchase rags at first hands, SO to speak:
the great ports from which they are sent
to this country are chiefly in Austria or
the immediate vicinity. There are,
moreover. other points in the manufac-
ture of paper from corn husks which
render an investigation into its value i'm
portant. The process Of reducing the
pulp or fiber from which the paper is
made. leaves the stouter fbers or skclc-
ton of the husk uninjurcd, and these are
easily woven into strong stout cloth. or
a fabric resembling crash toweling Still
another resultant, besides the paper stock
and fiber is obtained. This is the starch
contained in the husk. which is all saved.
pressed into square cakes, and afterwarl
ground into flour from which bread has
been made. If not desirable for this
use here. it is certainly valuable for
leeding animals. 1t is therefore clear
that the corn husk is capable of variety
Of uses, and it is important that it should
receive serious attention. 1t is not
reasonable to suppose that the Austrian
Government are spending time and
money in the pursuit of a chimera, and
if it can be made an article of commerce
in that country, there IS no reason why
y,-a
subject.
III we sleep upon mattresses made of
husks, it is plain that BY intelligent
we could turn the material
to much better advantage and use the
fhers for bags we may extract the life
supporting principle, and set free the
paper stock to go abroad to our country
men in the shape of weekly journals. anI
vet have mattresses from some other and
cheaper material.
These are not schemes which we have
briefly alluded TO, but only an incomplete
record of the uses to which the maize
plant is now put in Austria. Rolls upon
rolls of cloth are manufactured ana ualIy, .
and it is both stout and strong; a sample
can be seen ut this Office The great
question to be looked at is simply-Will
il pay: The obvious inference is that If
the Austrian Government finds it advan-
tageous to foster establishments for using
corn hushs in this manner manufacturers
in this country may at least examine
into it with profit. If it shall be found
{ and we are sanguinc it will) that corn
huSks can be put to better uses than
feeding cattle or stutiing mattresses, a
very great field is open for the develop
mcnt of a new source of Individual and
national wcalth--ScisRtjFc -i7aericaa.
There was very heavy fire in Brook
lyn, y. Y, large amount of wool living
near . bonded warehouse and free store
house adjoining took fire and was burned.
The fire extended to the warehouses. con
suminr them with their contents. en-
bracing over S200,0 ,000 worth of ruano
belonging 10 the Prussian Government.
saltpeter. hides. molasses, sugar. &c.
The saltPeter exploded. preventing the
firemen from working. and breaking
glass in various parts OF BROOKLYN. and
eyel in New York The total loss is
about 500, 600.
Ir- Peterson's Magazine for August
has been received. 1t is a capital mum
Der. and we commend it especially to
the notice of our readers Peterson i