The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-05-13
" Made OF PaDer.O

We have so long cherished we'll
founded prejudice against paper as being
f1imsy and unsu bstantial substance
that we are surprised at its recent utili-
zation in manv ways where strength
and durability are the important requi-
sites. Many articles, il we learned that
they were made entirely or in part from
paper, Immediately lost favor in our
eyes, and we looked at them askance.
When the soles of our shoes soon wore
out tie fact was often attributable to
the use, by the INSCRIPTIONS maker, OF
shoddy strips of paper in the place OF
inside layers Of durable leather. and this
is only r single illustrat on among many
that might be given to show to what
miserable, If not despicable, uses paper
has been put. The daily tearing OF
newspapers and light wrapping aper
for the purpose Of doing up parcels has
also done much to impress us with the
lragility of the frequently handled ma
terial. 1t was natural that we had come
to regard paper as a cheap and unreli-
able substance.
As consequence, we cannot readily
conceive of the successful application of
paper where great strength, tenacity to
Withstand powerful strains and dur
ability are required of it. But the one
process of compression, enormous in its
power, gives all these highly desirable
constituents to solid, compact SUBJ
stance, which. although harder than
wood and taking to some extent the
place of iron, is formed of the same ma
terial that makes the fragile newspaper
sheet.
Paper car wheels are successfully
manufactured and used. paper bricks are
| becoming desirable as building mate
rial. Professor Green. of the Troy Poly
technic institution, has erected great
revolving dome whose light frame work
is covered with hard, enduring papicr-
ni1che only one-sixth of an inch thick.
Paper has been successfully employed
rs an anti-fouling sheathing for an iron
vessel and in other things almost as un-
| expected.
1t must be observed in connection
with paper, however employed, that ii
possesses two very manifest advantages
-lightness and cheapness-and when
compressed into a solid substance it is
also rs hard and durable as several
other strong and more costly materials
| No one will hesitate to employ paper in.
stead OF iron in any construction pro.
| vided that the former can be shown tC
and cheapness are most important con
siderations in its favor.
The range and mutability of paper are
remarkable. The same material that
forms the delicate valentine enters int
the composition of the stalwart car
wheel that sustains the weight of tons
and endures constant friction as it gid
along the iron rails. According as paper
may be prepared, it ranks among tn,
most fragile or the stoutest substances
Harder than wood and i'm mpervious tc
water. Just think of it. How people
fifty years ago would have been sur
| prised at such accomplishments. Blu
being establishe' faats, they are fraugl
with great significance. They have en-
larged the possibilities of paper wonder
fully. They have opened wide fielt
for experiment and invention. Paper il
destined to take the place of many sub
stances that will be found inferior to it
while its application in numerous unde
veioped ways, wherein nothing else cal
he used: may confidently be expected
Paper World.