The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-09-20
An Old Industry.
THAT WILL SOON AGAIN PoRGR TO THR FRONT
"A PRw PARTIOULARs.

A PRw PARTIoULARs.
The plant Of the Catawissa Fibre Com.
psny is to be improved. The scheme pro-
posed by thu Company has met with such
favor as to warrant them in going ahead
with the proposed Improvements. A meet
ing of the subscribers will be held some
time this week to perfect an organization,
! and inside Of two weeks work will be COM
menced upon the new buildings. These
will be Of brick, and will consist of an ex-
tension of the mill towards the bridge 40 x
go feet, and further extension Of that
building in the same direction 80 X 126
feet.
The first named will be for the machin-
cry used in preparing the wood pulp and
fibre for the paper machine, and are called
engines. Two OF these are for washing
the material, and are known as washing
engines. These the company have on
hand, being part Of the old mill plant.
Two new engines, called beating engines,
will be purchased to complete the compile
ment OF machinery for the engine room.
The 5Ox125 building will accommodate the
paper machine, an S6inch Fourdrinier,
upon which the pulp will be manufactured
into manila paper. The building will be
built large enough to accommodate two ma
chimes, the other 96.inch machine, but
the business will be started with but one.
The product of the paper machine goes
to the bag department, about one hun
dred yards distant Here are now four
bag machines, manufacturing what is
known to the trade as the flat.bottom bag.
The capacity of these machines is $50 900
per day. As soon as the patent on what
is known as the square bag runs out,
which will be in December next, attach
ments will be put upon two of these ma
chimes to make square bags. Two addi-
t!onal machines, for making what is call
ed the satchel-bottom bag, will be placed
in this room, each with capacity Of 100,
900 bags per day. This will make the ca
pacity of the bag plant over half million
per day.
When finished the plant will be the most
complete in the United States. 1t will vir-
tually be taking in hemlock slabs and turn
ing out paper bags. The present capacity
Of the pulp mill is eight tons of chemical
fibre per day. The capacity OF the paper
mill will be seven tons per day, and the
bag works will use nearly all the paper
product. But the excess of both the pulp
and paper mills will allow the Company to
take part in that trade, and they can make
all the profit there is in the three depart
meuts. II pulp mills make money selling
their product to paper manufacturers, and
paper mills can buy the pulp and manufac-
ture it into paper. at profit, .and paper bag
manufacturers can 60 into the market and
buy the paper to make their bags, and sell
the bags at profit, we fail to see why the
Catawissa Fibre Company wouldn't come
in for all three profits-on their pulp, on
their paper and on their bags.
To start with, about a. hundred hands
will be given employment, but as the bust.
ness gets into working shape and the
works are developed to their full capacity
the payroll will carry nearer two hundred.
The benefit to our town and the surround
ing country can hardly be estimated. All
the raw material, with the exception OF a
few chemicals and some ground wood,
which is considerably cheaper than the fl
bre manufactured here, will come from
this vicinity, and the expense incident to
its manufacture into merchantable shape
will be spread through business channels
here.
In time, the flour sack machinery be-
longing 10 the Company will be brought
here and that branch of the trade, taken up
This plant is in itself no incon siderable af-
fair, consisting of bag machines, six cylin-
der printing presses, six job presses, withla
complete printing outfit.
The entire amount needed has not vel
been subscribed, but we are informed that
it Is so near and the assurances for the bal
ance such as to warrant the Company in
going ahead with the improvements. The
plant in its improved condition could not
be duplicated fer $3.50, 900, so the investor
will have ample security for their money.
Mr.. Edward McCready has the matter in
| hand, and will take pleasure in explaining
it to any who desire. II Catswissa could
raise $40 900 or $25, 900 to give away to a
carpet factory, she should not find much
difficulty in raising $4,000 to invest as
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