The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1878-05-04

The Utilization Of Waste Hatters.
The strict economy of Nature, which
never allows particle of matter to be
either wasted or lost, Is 20 manifest
that it could scarcely have escaped the
attention of man; and 80, when circum-
stances compel him, it is not surprising
to see him putting in practicethe lesson
she has taught him, and striving to put
every scrap to the best account. In
China, owing to the crowded state of the
population, this economical outstanding
Of material has, of necessity, long been
in vogue; and to such an extent is it
carried that what would be considered
strict economy in Europe or America,
would there be regarded as absolute
waste. The same causes have been
slowly operating to bring about . sim
liar state of things in Europe. Thou
sands of materials that were but few
years ago thrown away as utterly use
less are now carefully saved and turned
to some account either for purposes of
luxury or necessity. Hosts of costly prod
ucts of distant chimes can now be pro-
cured &C home, at an Insignificant ex-
pense, from the most unpromising
sources. For instance, Science has
evoked the most delightful perfumes
from the most offensive refuse, and ex-
tracted dyes of the most gorgeous hues
from most unlikely looking material
-pitchy. black tar. Accidental discov-
cries, no less than active researches, are
continually Transforming some article
comparatively worthless into something
else that stands high in commercial es-
timation, and supplementary factories
are gradually springing up to utilize the
by-product of others. So numerous
are the discoveries that some
thing useless may be converted
into something useful, and so rapidly
does one follow in the wake of another
that it is difficult to keep pace with
them. Scarcely a scientific exchange
reaches US that does not contain the an
nouncement of some such fact, and the
details of the process by which the re-
suit may be reached. Here, for exam
pie, before US, in the current number of
the Echo Industriel, we have descrip-
ton of the method by which the straw
is extracted from manure-heaps to be
subsequently utilized CATER cleaning
and drying) as cheap bedding for
horses and cattle, packing for glass,
crockery, ETC., but more especially for
making paper-pulp, to which it is said
to be peculiarly adapted; since satu-
rated with urine and allowed to fer
ment, ammonia is evolved, which aids
in separating the fibers, and reduces the
need of using stronger and costlier al
kalies to minimum. After extracting
the straw the remaining manure is sold
for the usual purposes. The simple
machinery for doing all this is the in
vention of an American resident of
Paris. Much of the false hair worn by
the fair sex of Europe and America is
derived from sources that would make
the wearers stand aghast were they to
learn the facts. From late report on
the commerce of Swallow (China) we
learn that large export trade in hair,
gathered in the stalls of BARRIERS, sprang
up in 1873, during which year al pic
uls QS,8OO pounds), worth 1904 taels
Ga, 30O), we're shipped to Europe. In
1875 the exports of this refuse arose to
1000 piculs, with a value of over
1926, 900, certainly a remarkable indus
try to be created at such distant point
to supply the demands of caprice of
fashion.
To chemistry modern perfumery is
perhaps more indebted than any art that
ministers to the luxury of life. 1t is
commonly supposed that all floral es-
sences are the product of distilla-
ton: nothing could be a greater mis-
take; nearly every perfume of the toilet
bottle or sachet of the mouchoir case is
the product of waste matters-some of
them odorless, others most intensely
nauseous and disgusting. "Many a fair
mainden damps her brow with the Eek
tract of Millefeurs,' innocent of the
knowledge that its essential ingredient
is derived from the drainage of the cow
house! The perfumed toilet soap is
scented, and confectionery favored,
with oil of bitter. almonds artificially
prepared by the action of nitric acid on
the fetid oil of gas-tar. The pure fruit
sirups' of some of the saltwater ven
ders are made from Fictitious oils that
chemists have learned how to produce.
Singularly enough, too, the latter are
usually derived from substances of dis
gushing odor. The oil of pine-apples is
obtained from product of the action of
putrid cheese on sugar. or by making
soap with butter and distilling it
with alcohol and sulphuric
acid. The peculiarly fetid substance
called fusel oil serves as a basis for
several artificial flavors; thus, distilled
with sulphuric acid and acetate of pot
ash it gives oil of pears; with sulphuric
acid and bichromate of potash the pro.
duct is oil of apples. And SO, too, by
other means known to the chemist, ref
use corks are made to yield essence of
tallow to put forth essence
Of melons, and the wood of the willow
tree to put forth the oil of wintergreen
indistinguishable from the genuine arti-
cle." The fact, well known to the |
schoolboy, that by the action ofsulphur-
ic acid on starch, sawdust, woody fiber,
etc., saccharine substance called |
Sc glucose, or grape sugar, is produced,
has not by any means been lost sight of |
in this country, Notwithstanding the low
price of cane sugar. Extensive works |
for the manufacture of this article are
located in one of the largest cities of the |
western part of the State, and almost |
every day one or two car loads arrive,
consigned to Europe, but |
oftaner tn the various brewers of the |