The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-01

Old Time Productions Superior to Mod.
erp ArticIss--Cheap PAPER.

erp ArticIss-Cheap Paper.
The application of science to the tisefl
arts has not been an unmixed blessing
1t has rendered many things cheap tina
were once very costly. IL has mad
numerous things common that wer
formerly scarce. 1t has shortened IA,
time required To proiace various article,
needed for the common wants OF life. Il
has been chiefly employed for producing
things quickly and cheaply 1t has sui.
stltuted very common and sometimes
waste materials for those that were rare
and possessed of considerable value for q
variety Of purposes. 1t has explained
many old processes, like that of making
steel, leather and mortar, but has not
improved them. In truth, these and
many more articles made before the era
OF scientific invention were much
superior to any produced now
No steel of modern manufacture EQUALS
that made at Damascus centuries before
there was a science of chemistry. No
leather compares with that made by the
oaracens, specimens of which are pre-
served in many public museums and pr-
vate collections in Europe. The mortar
and cement used in the construction of
buildings in the old cities of Italy was
much superior to any produced in any
part of the world today What is true
of mortar is substantially true of brick.
The brick made by Nebuchadnezzar. ac-
cording to report of traveller, having
outlasted their original purpose, are now
employed for paving the streets of mod
ern Bagdad. The temples built by the
shepherd kings of Egypt are still in a
good state Of preservation, having been
used in turn by the believers in three or
four forms Of religion.
Science has greatly cheapened the pro
duction of paper, but it has given us an
article that is very perishable. The gov.
eminent of Prussia lately commissioned
some chemists and expert manufacturers
to examine the paper used for official |
records of the greatest importance To the |
nation. the registers of marriages, births. |
and deaths, and that employed for print |
ing books, magazines and newspapers nc |
home and abroad. They have lust sub.
mltted a report that is as alarming az ii
is interesting. They state that the paper
on which many public records are written
or printed will not last fifty years. Some
used twenty years ago is already exhibit
ing signs of decay. OF ninety-seven
German and foreign magazines and
other periodicals OF the better class
examined the commissioners report
hat only three Of them can 90 down
% posterlty, the paper on which the
others were printed being SO poor that it !,
VIII lose all It's strength IN from twenty
o nifty years. Some of the paper on ;
winch magazines are printed is decayine
o :apidly that near approach to the +
late Of the issue can be determined with
mt referring To the year of publication. b
he three magazines that seem destined il
0 immortality are printed on paper made "
rom cotton and linen rags. while the a
tbers are printed on paper made from f
INSTITUTES like straw and wood pulp. In II
ne preparation of all the cheaper kinds Ell
paper scientific methods have been u
mployed and many chemicals used. The o.
lper on which many of the very old ~
)oks and magazines were printed IL =,
ronounced to be in perfect state OF 90
Such is the case with M
oSt of the paper used in books printed on
ON forty to a hundred years ago. he
Paper made from straw. wood pulp I'll
nj other similar materials by the en- de
oyment of chlorine and caustic alkaIies tri
ay answer for printing newspapers and on
cap novels, but something better should
used for printing standard books, OIL Ia
il reports and magazines The people rei
40 live during the next century may be on
ateful to the manufacturers who sub 'i0
ted oat straw to the action of caustic pa
Ia and produced the paper on which r ~,
+ sensational novels and tariff speeches s I,
re printed They will however, want dT,
, deeds to the property they hold and ia.
; books in which they are recorded is
e report made by the experts in Prus- hid
should claim the immediate attention inf
our national. state, county and muni- the
al officials. 1t should also interest the ron
)lishers of library editions of standard me
rks. Chicago Times. The