The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-01-26
Paper Lumber.
From the New York Sun.

A tall, elderly man, with round
pleasant face, took from the marble
mantle ola room overlooking Print
ing House Square, yesterday after
noon, section of what appeared to be
walnut board.
This is paper lumber" he said
"Ion may not be aware that a process
has been invented for utilizing paper
pulp in the manufacture of a substitute
for natural wood A mill has been
erected in a Western town for the pur-
pose of manufacturing artificial lum-
Der, and number of capitalists have
taken hold of the matter. We are
thoroughly convinced of the perfect
practicability of paper lumber in the
manufacture of all articles at present
made from wood. 1t is only ques-
ton Of a very short time when paper
lumber will come into general use.
feel confident 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 ordinary
parIor tables, one of which resembled
the peculiar notified appearance seen
IN some choice hard woods The sur
face of the table was polished. The
other table was finished in exact imi-
tation 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 exhib-
ed.
"The paper board" continued the
gentleman, SIS susceptible of the finest
polish, and will take any tint or color
The lumber is made principally of the
pulp of wheat, rye, and oat-straw, and
other vegetable tibers, combined with
chemical ingredients and cements. 1t
is formed in layers, about one-quarter
of an inch in thickness, and these are
pressed together by powerful machin-
cry, and thus rendered as hard as the
hardest wood, besides being much
more dense. The boards are also rem
dered 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. More
over, it can 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 can be rendered perfectly water
proof if desired, thus making it suita-
bic for the construction of burial cask-
cts. 1t makes Just as solid surface
as any wood, and may be made Of the
hardness of stone. As substitute for
wood in the construction of buildings,
it possesses qualities of perfect adapta-
ton. 1t Will make the finest material
in the world for roofing, not except
ing slate or iron. 1t can be sawed,
split or planned, and boards made Of it
are perfectly smooth and flat from end
to end on both sides, without any
knots, cracks or blemishes ofany 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 as a sub
stitute for wood?"
"Why not? The production ofstraw
alone is sufficient. 1t takes one hun
bred years to grow 10000 feet of nat
ural lumber on an acre of ground.
This is according to official statistics.
On the other hand, an acre of ground
will produce every year straw enough
to make 1000 feet of artificial lum-
Der, and hence in a hundred years it
will produce 100000 feet-ten times
as much as the quantity of natural lum-
ber."