The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-08-09

In recent issue Of the Dispatch it was
noticed that the Choatc farm, near Norfolk,
Va, had been sold to party of gentlemen,
md that an establishment of what is known
as the American Fibre Company was to be
erected thereon for the purpose OF blowing
the cane which abounds in the southern
swamps into fibre the pulp or fibre to nc
carried to Richmond and manufactured
there. In this connection an article taken
from The Cincinnati C0nene0ncr Will be found
Of interest That paper says:
1--WE think we may congratulate the
South on the prospect OF this new manu!ac-
turc, of which it Will become the seat. The
cane. from which the fibre can be made in
any quantity required by the wants of the
world, is the spontaneous growth OF the
swampg and lowlands of the southern States.
The patcntccs Of that product, to be known
very extensively hereafter in commerce as
the cane fibre, have secured by their patents
the rsonopolv of both the article itself and
the peculiar process oil It's manufacture.
They have made up their minds that 1t VIII
he most profitable to them to set up thcir
works ut Norfolk and Richmond and Balti-
more, and probably Petersburg, ana TO 60
into the business TO an extent that shall
know no limit hut the demand. 1t Is there
fore a business that will soon amount TO
twenty, fifty, or a hundred millions OF dol
lars per annum. The patcntces are solid
men, and intend to keep control oil the whole
affair themselves, by their agents, but Jos
silly allowing some of the manufacturing
of the articles from fibre 10 be done by per-
sons engaging to pay royalty.
"No doubt that in the cities OF the
North. rs now ut st. Louis, factories Tor
making all manner Of articles will be
established; but the southern States can ada
to their cotton staple another new article OF
commerce which bids fair to be only second
to il. and not unworthy Of such u distin-
rlishcd associate. Cheap fbrc-chcaper
than cotton, and adapted to coarscr uses
il dcsidcratum Of the age. And cane is
the most abundant, cheap, and inexhausti-
bic, source Of supply. The process Of con-
ycrting cannot possibly be superseded, for
il is efficient and expeditions, requiring
very little labor and no chemicals nor de-
lay. 1t is the expectation Of the patcntccs
that they have monopolizcd not only an ar
ticlc for papcr-making, to be used in all
ordinary cases, but also Tor houses and
ships, which, il is claimed, can be built
lighter, tighter, and stronger, than IN any
other way. They make the same claim Tor
buckets, barrels, tubs, and for furniture,
and even for clothing itself They an
nouncc that III consequence Of their lnycn-
ton, which they say is the first example on
record of the monopoly of any rev mate
rial Of extensive use, the whole manuiac-
turc Of papcr-hox board and common wrap
ping paper will be transferred from the
North to the South. They say iii one OF
their circulars that Richmond ought, and
probably soon Will, in consequence oil their
invention, become OF more Importance than
Lowell as manufacturing city.
" 1t is claimed that straw makes too hard
a paper, but mixed with little cane fibre
the paper is soft and flexible indeed, that
the mixture Of straw and cane pulp is the
thing-just right. Every day deyclopes
some new feature of the invention. 1t has
recently been discovered that the cane can
be reduced to fibre n an actual cost Of three
dollars q ton for all expenses, and that III
most cases n ton OF fibre costs less than
ton Of timber. The fibre is easily mixed
with clay, and can be made up into boards,
slabs, or panels and that with powdered
slate and coal-tar it viii make an incom-
hustblc roof which will lie both fire and
water proof. II VIII make eEccllcht CLAP
boards; and not only roofs, but floors, outer
and inner walls and ceilings may be pro-
duccd from the cane fibre. All these can
he put up in winter rs well as summer, aud
the house made ready for immediate occu-
patton. There is no warping, cracking, or
shrinking; and Il house Of extra comfort
can be built for half the ordinary cost so
that there will be cheap houses for the mil
lions. Ships and steamers can also be con-
s;rUctcJ for a great deal less money from
this cheap material, and they will last
much longer than the wooden ones, and
defy the dry-rot, the worms, and dcstruc-
ton by fire. The twin products of the
South, cotton and cane, if properly man
aged, will bring back to her greater pros
pcrty than ever; for which she has our
best wishes and hcarticst congratulations"