Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1879-08-28
LUMBER FROM WHEAT STRAW.

Certainly by far the most important
discovery Of the last several years is the
art of Converting Wheat Straw into
Lumber IS stated in the following article
which wesclip from late number of the
Philadelphia Trade Journal. Indeedsif
this Wheat 5 traw Lumber proves salts
factory and will answer the purposes of
wood, The discover must and will be Of
boGndless importance in the broad proiries
of the West and North West, where there
il the greatest scarcity Of lumber, whilst
it is the acknowledged great wheat region
ofthe world. We will watch the progress
Of this new and wonderful invention and
in the course Of a few years we shall not
be- astonished to see on the premises Of
every well to do farmer a little Wheat
Straw Lumber Mill, and the present hide
Gus piles of worthless wheat straw trans
mogrlied into handsome cottages, beauti-
full fences, &C., &c. But here is what the
Trade Journal says:
Mr.. S. H. Hamilton of Bushnell. ILL.,,
has been exhibiting samples OF lumber,
which he has made, by a new process from
wheat straw. The samples have attract
e1 much attention among the lunbernen,
and, if they possess all the virtues that
are claimed for them, is one OF the most
important inventions of its kind ever
brought 10 notice. lit is a success it will
FIRM a new era in the art of building 10
make hardwood lumber out OF common
wheat straw, with all effects of polish and
finish which is obtlin IbIe on the hardest
of black walnut and mahogany, at as
little cost as clear pine can be mannlac-
tured for, is certainly wonderful. Such
are the claims Of Mr.. Hamilton for the
straw board lumuer which he has been
exhibiting in western cities, and the SAM
piles which he produces would go toward
verifying his claims. The process OF man
u'acture, as explained by MIR. Hamilton,
is as follows: Ordinary straw board, such
as is manufactured AT any paper mill, IS
used for the purpose. AS many sheets are
taken Us are required to make the thick
ness OF Lumber desired. These sheets are
passed through the chemical solution,
which thoroughly softens IN the fibre and
completely saturates it. The whole is
then passed through a succession OF roll
ers, dried and hald .nad during the pas.
sage, as we'll us polished, and comes out ci
the other end Of the machine hand, dry
lumber, ready for use. Mr.. Hamilton
claims that the chemical properties mar
denlng in the fibre entirely prevent water
soaking, and render the lumber combusti-
ble only in a very hot fire. The harden
ed finish on the outside also makes it i'm
pervious to. water. The samples which
Mr.. Hamilton EXHIBITS could hardly be
told from hard wood lumber, and saving
it the difference could not be detected. 1t
is susceptible of q very high polish, and
samples of imitation Of maple, mahogany,
ETC., were shown, which might deceive the
most experienced eve. Not only does Mr..
| Hamilton claim q substitute for lumber in
| sash. doors and blinds and finishing stun,
but also as a suLst',ute for black walnut
and other woods in the manufacture Of all
kinds Of furniture, collins, ETC., and. also
an excellent substitute for marble-top Ia
| bles, mantel- pieces, bureaus. etc. He claims
hat it will not warp in the least. Mr..
Hamilton is negotiating with parties
west, with the view Of establishing a
mandatory in That region for making
the various articles of building material
Tor which his lumber Is suitable.