Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1892-02-04

Robert Laing, resident of Boise,
has made discovery which may be of
great value to the sage brush districts
of Idaho, Utah, Nevada and other
states. Mr.. Laing is practical paper
maker, and some time ago he became
imbued with the idea that the sage
brush which grows so rankly between
Boise and Nampa might be converted
into coarser grades Of paper. He Sc
cured wagon-load of the supposedly
useless shrub, and began to experiment.
BY using the lime process, and treating
the limbs of the brush to protracted
boiling, he secured apulp that more
than satisfied his expectations. 1t was
equal to the very best wood pulp, and
the presence of long and strong fiber
was plainly demonstrated. Mr.. Laing
states that he can manufacture sage
brush paper at small cost and that he
can make profit by selling it at four
and one-half cents per pound. He
will start east soon. his idea being to
interest capitalists to aid him in devel-
oping his discovery.
The Chinese New Year has just been
celebrated with its usual amount of
noise and din. The average Chinese
resident has been full of happiness and
gin since last Thursday night, when,
with gong and fire crackers they began
driving the devil out of town. All the
Chinese have taken the week off and it
is useless to send for a laborer or cook,
and will be till the celebration is over.
Each Chinaman keeps open house and
entertains his callers with cigarettes,
Water melon seeds, betel nut, candies
and tea, with generous libations of sake
(Chinese 40-rodD to wash down the
good things. In their social festivities
they play at one game which, for nov-
city equals the famous tiddle-de-winks.
1t has no name. Four people play at
each table in the center of which is
placed bowl of sake. Two of the
players chant a rigma-role, after the
style "f "Simon says thumbs up" and
the player who makes blunder is
compelled to take swallow of the
sake. This liquor is strong enough to
knock the spots off the sun and before
the players have progressed far the
players tongues get thick and one by
one they go down under the table. On
the wind up of the feast there is never
a sober Chint.nan in the town.
| The work on Harrington's saw mill
plant is progressing rapidly. Mr.. Forte,
who has charge Of the work, says that
the foundation will be ready for the
carpenters in about three weeks. The
foundation has been built on u novel
plan; as no piling could be driven
through the rocks they were set on the
level ground, and solid siding o
boards nailed to them, making u com
: plete box. Across this box run heavy
sleepers. The outside of the frame /.
protected by riprap Of rock extending
from the top Of the frame to a distance
: of eight or ten feet from the bottom
with the exception Of the outer corne
facing the stream where the rocks ex
tend to a distance ofeighteen or twent,
feet, and will be further protected b.
heavy bouiders brought from tn
mountains. The inside of this corne
is braced with rock the same AS the out
side, as this will be the most expose,
point of the foundation. The inside Q
, the frame is filled with dirt, solidl,
. packed in, and this will receive u Gov
ering of rock to prevent washOut il
case of unusual high water. Those az
quainted with the river seem to dOuh
the power of the foundation to with
;, stand the current, but if finished as
contemplated, we see no reason to fea
= such result, as there would be no res
son to fear the effect of a wash, and q
there would be no means of moving
except bodily, in all likelihood it wi
stand. Besides the men at work hel
a large force are busy cutting timbt
y for the drive in the spring. Mr.. Fort
says they are well pleased with Clea
water timber and their boom site, an
y he estimates the latter capable, wit
= slight extension, of holding one millio
:, feet of lumber. He also informed =,
" that the plant was loaded on the ca
v ready for shipment, but would NJ
~ reach here until the river opened an
!, the boat commenced to run. With fe
"a more such enterprises headed by me
y, of such energy and ability, Lewiste
!, would have foundation for health
, business growth.
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