The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-01-23
THE NEW KING.
Possibilities In the Way OF an Indus
try that Already FIourishes In Maine.


[Troy Times.J
Years ago it was the habit to speak Of
King Cotton as ruling this country. All the
great interests of America, interests which
would appear small compared to those Of to-
day, were then in cotton. But with the in
PRODUCTION Of the protective tariff, by which
it became possible for Americans to COM
pete with foreign manufacturers, the power
of King Cotton began to decline and the
young giant, iron." took his place. II ut to-
day, although it is still claimed that Iron
is king" there appears to be a great insur-
rection among his subjects, with the chances
in favor of over throwing that monarch and
placing paper on the throne.
When we look back to the past it is mar
yelous to recall the rapid growth Of paper as
a substance of practical use in the arts and
manufactures Of the world. But the limit of
the uses TO which paper may be put is unde-
Unable. Twenty-Five years ago paper was
almost unknown as factor OF manufacture.
To-day it is used for the composition OF car
wheels, pals, boats, d0mes, coffnS and
thousand and one different articles.
The advantages of paper over iron, wood
and other substances are many. The great
est point in its favor, perhaps, is Its dura-
bility The famous mummies in the Brit
ish museum are wrapped in papyrus, which
Egyptians 5000 years ago. Paper may be
exposed to the weather without the posi-
bility of its cracking or splitting. as unlike
wood and iron, 1t has no grain or flaws
Furthermore, it is one of the greatest nom
conductors of heat and cold known and the
constant changes of temperature peculiar to
our ATTITUDES have but little effect on it.
The PrOudft observatory of the Rensselaer,
polytechnic institute is crowned with paper
dome, which has withstood the torrid heat
Of summer and the frosts and SHOWS of win
ter for decade, and is as strong and perfect
to-day as when it was first taken from the
molds.
This property of withstanding the incle-
ment weather is one of the principal reasons
for the rapid introduction of paper car
wheels. Many terrible accidents have been
caused by the breaking of an iron wheel on
account of frost By the introduction of
paper wheels the chances of casualty on the
rail are greatly lessened. Moreover, recent
experiments in Germany have produced a
successful paper rail, and it seems only a
question OF few years before the great rail-
road systems of the country will be equipped
with paper rails, paper wheels and even
paper cars.
There is no denying the fact that paper is
much stronger and more resisting than wood
Experiments made in this city have shown
that bullet from a revolver at close range
failed to penetrate paper target three-sights
of an inch in thickness, while the same bul-
leI passed 6DLlTely through u tWO-luCH plduh
under the same conditions.
Some years ago, at banquet in New York
Admiral Farragut predicted that the time
would come when ships OF war would be
sheathed with paper in place of steel and
iron. The great advantage of such an armor
would be its elasticity.
The manufacture of paper boats, which is
carried on exclu sively in this city, is con-
fined to the construction of pleasure and
racing craft, but movement is on foot to-
ward the building of life and ships boats.
1t needs but curSOry glance at the existing
so-called life-boats to show that they are
merely such in name, and the majority OF
them are unfit for service. The handsome
life-boat hanging from its davits, in conform
ity for the law, is apparently a model OF
strength and durability, but in reality it is
perfect death trap. The bright paint and
gilded stripe often hides the rotten hull with
its puttied seams. We often read accounts
of disasters at sea, when it is reported that
the boats were swamped soon after leaving
the vessel. If the truth were told, it would
be shown that in many cases the swamping
was caused by the opening OF these seams
and not from the high sea, as is generally
supposed. In the paper life boat there would
be no seams to open.
which paper can be put is that of ornament
alton. The apparently handsome-bronze
figures and bas-reliefs are often merely EN-
bossed papiermache and so fail to give forth
the metallic ring one would expect. Some
kinds of paper are now made as soft and
pliable as leather and are used as such.
Paper timber is made which possesses
many more advantages than wood and yet is
inexpensive, and thus the old idea of living
in paper houses bids fair to become some
thing more than idle talk not only viii we
live In paper houses, with paper furniture
and utensils, but our gas, water and sewer
age will be conducted through paper pipes.
The paper burial caskets now quite exten-
sively manufactured are possessed OF some
peculiar advantages they can be made absO-
futely vermin proof. They can also be made
for very little money, and in view OF the cru
sade against extravagant funerals recently
inaugrated by some Of the clergy OF the Pro
testant Episcopal church, this will be an i'm
portant Consideration.
Paper can be made fire-proof, and the gov
ernment has successfully experimental with
paper powder barrels. Paper cartridge
shells are now used almost exclusively not
only on account of their being inexpensive,
but because of their not becoming heated
when fired, like brass shells.
In the manufacture OF various articles
from paper it may be said that there are
three main processes. The first and oldest
is the pressing of papier mache by means OF
moulds. Ornamental interior work Is made
in this manner The second method is tnat
of placing layers Of paper one upon the other
until the required thickness Is obtained.
Car wheels, pulleys and boats are made thus.
The third and last way is the shrinking Of
pulp paper wet from the machine, into the
required shape Examples of this process are
the heavier grades of boats, domes, baskets,
etc.
1t is a fact that nearly all articles now
manufactured of wood can be made to better
advantage Of paper, and it is also becoming
an extensive substitute for iron. Even god
has been forced to succumb to paper money
as a convenient method of exchange. There
Is no necessitV of waiting for future develop
ments. Paper is already king.