The Dickinson press., 1884-03-29
PAPER LUMBER.
An Invention Of Great value to the
Treeless Regions u the West.

Treeless Regions Ut the West.
A tall, elderly man, with a round.
pleasant face, took from the marble
mantle of a room overlooking Print
ing House Square, yesterday after
noon, a section of what appeared to
be walnut board.
"This is paper lumber" he said.
"You may not be aware that a pro-
cess has been invented for utilizing
paper pulp in the manufacture of a
substitute for natural wood. A mill
has been erected in q western town
for the purpose of manufacturing
artificial lumber, and a number of
capitalists have taken hold of the
matter. We are thoroughly IN
WINGED of the perfect practicability
of paper lumber in the manufacture
of all articles at present made from
wood. 1t is only a question of a very
short time when paper lumber will
come into general use. I feel conf.
dent that it will prove much cheaper
than wood, equally as durable, and
fully as good for fine work."
Attention was directed to several
articles of cabinet-ware made of the
material. Two of these were ordin-
asy parlor tables, n of which resem-
bled the peculiar notified appearance
seen in some choice hard woods.
The surface of the table was var
nished and highly polished. The 9TH
er table was finished in exact imita-
ton of rosewood. A panel door was
also shown, the finish resembling ma.
hogany. A couple of ladies' work.
boxes, made after an elegant pattern
and highly finished, were also ex-
hibited.
"The paper board" continued the
gentleman, sis susceptible of the fin
est polish, and will take any tint or
color. The lumber is made princi.
pally of the pulp of wheat, rye and
oat straw, and other vegetable fibers,
combined with chemical ingredients
and cements. 1t is formed in layers,
about one-quarter of an inch in thick
ness, and these are pressed together
by powerful machinery, and thus rem
dered as hard as the hardest wood,
besides being much more dense. The
boards are also rendered waterproof
in varying degrees, according to the
purpose for which they are to be
used. The material is as durable as
time, and can be sold at a good profit
for almost half less than ordinary
pine lumber. 1t will take any finish,
and in this respect alone is equal to
the finest hard wood. Moreover, it
IAN be marbleized in imitation of any
kind of marble, both in respect to a
high degree of polish and an exact
imitation of grain. 1t will not warp,
and a be rendered perfectly water
proof if desired, thus making it suit
able for the construction of burial
caskets. 1t makes just as solid a sur
face as any wood, and may be made
| of the hardness of stone. AS q SUBJ
stitute for wood in the construction
of buildings, it possesses qualities of
perfect adaptation. 1t will make the
finest material i'll the world for roof
ing, not excepting slate OF iron. 1t
can be sawed, split or planed, and
boards made of it are perfectly
smooth and flat from end to end on
both sides, without any knots, cracks
or blemishes of any kind commonly
met with in wood"
"Do you think that the supply of
paper stock is sufficient to permit the
general use of paper lumber rs a sub.
stitute for wood?"
"Why not? The production OF
straw alone is sufficient. 1t takes
one hundred years to grow 10000
feet of natural lumber on an acre OF
ground. This is according to official
statistics. On the other hand, al
acre of ground will produce every
year straw enough to make 1000 feet
of artificial lumber, and hence in {
hundred years 1T will produce 100000
feet-ten times as much as the quan
tity of natural lumber."-New York
Sun.
Farmers Wanted Most.