The Helena independent., 1892-10-12
MONTANA'S PAPER MILL
Tests Have Proved That This State
Has the Best Grade Raw
Material.
The Manhattan Company VIII
Probably Establish q Straw
Board Factory.
Facts About tho Paper mills in Denver
That show They Win Pay in
Montana Also.

For year or more the question OF the
establishment Of paper mill at some ac-
cessible point in Montana has been dis
cussed by capitalists, but until recently
nothing had been done to definitely deter
mine whether or no Montana produced the
raw materials that enter into the manufac-
ture of paper. Not long ago capitalists in
tereated In the barley industry in the Gal
latin valley sent samples of Montana straw
east for analysis, and the test showed 1t
possessed extraordinarily good qualities for
paper stock. This confirms opinions pre-
viously given, and as there are immense
quantities in Montana of tho raw material
used in making print paper, coarse wrap
ping papers and straw boards, there is little
question but the field will be occupied be-
fore long by some enterprising manufac-
turer or company. What Denver has ao-
comp!ished in this regard it a good in
centiye for Helena capitalists. little
over year ago paper mill was started
there for the manufacture of print paper.
1t was an instantaneous succeas, and
the factory now has orders ahead for
print paper that will keep it going
for six months, If not another order is re-
ceived in that time. This print paper mill
was only the forerunner of other industries
in the same line. The Denver News of
Sunday last SAYS that Col. James II. Platt
has closed the trade with MIR. Jamea Weir
for ten acres of land in Weir's addition,
lying west Of and adjoining the Platte river
on Rio Grands avenue. The consideration
| was half the appraised value, Mr.. Weir
| donating half and adjoining p opsrty
| owners contributing to Mr.. Weir one-half
the difference. or $4,000. There will be
| erected ON this tract paper mill for the
manufacture of manillas. COARSE wrapping
papers, floor and roofing papers to cost
! $3.50 600. mill for the manufacture of sui
phite pulp to cost $l5G,000. mill for the
| manufacture of soda pulp to cost $50, 600.
sulphite rulp is wood reduced to pulp by
chemical process. 1t is used by all paper
makers, and having longer tber than
pulp reduced by grinding, adds strength to
the paper. Until ten years ago nearly all
of this substance used in the United States
| was imported from Germany and Norway,
but now it is nearly all made here. Fou.
! things are necessary in it's manufacture
| wood, coal. sulphur and maQnesia lime, all
of which are obtainable here at reasonable
cost. The process of manufacture ls inter.
esting Huge boilers heavily lined with
tile and lead and called digesters, are pro-
vided; they are half filled with lime watel
and the chipped wood is then thrown it
Sulphurcus acid is then added and ho
steam turned in. The wood cooks in thi
mixture seyenty-two hours, and all but th
fiber is eaten out. The fiber is then blowI
out and run into sheets, precisely as is dom
with ground wood pulp.
The soda process is similar, cauatic sod
being substituted for the sulphurous acid
This makes a softer pulp than the sulphite
and is used to give payer both strength
and softneRs. 1t is used in book and lette
papers.
The building Of the large book and lette
mill, now being built by Col. Platt at Den
yer, and the construction of the three neN
mills ON the land purchased by Mr.. Wei
will make Denver one of the most import
ant paper making points in the Unite
States.
When the Denver paner mills were opene
year ago, Col. Platt stated that the build
ing of that mill fixed Denver as paper
making point for the territory between tn
| Missouri and Columbia rivers. and sal
that if he should live ten years there woul
, be two more mills as large as the one the
| built. and the other mills necessary to sup
ply material. Within one year this prom
iss has meterialized; mill to manufactur
book and letter paper, which cost $500 OO(
is already we'll under way and will be rur
ming within a year, and arrangements hav
been completed for building tht ee more q
once. Paper mills representing full
$2.000,O0O invested cash capital will DO j
operation and supplying the TRANSMISSION
, section with all grades of paper