Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-08-02
WOMEN GLAD IN WOOD.
New Process by Which silk Can he Pro-
duced from Wood.


A process has been discovered by
which "A material closely resembling
silk may be manufactured from wood.
Even now women are walking about
the streets of European cities in the
most elaborate gowns of silk IN the
manufacture of which the worm had
no part. In fact, the silNworm has lost
its occupation.
The palm for this valuable discovery
In chemical science must go To Switzer-
land, for "A native of Zurich, DR. Lehner
by name, is the inventor of the process,
says the New York World
Some years ago ne began To make
observations on the habits and physical
characteristics of the silllworm and be-
came deeply interested in the subject.
He discovered the chemical action
which took place in the worm in pro
ducing its cocoon, and at odd times
sought 20 counterfeit the work of ma
ture. So convinced did he become Of
the Feasibility OF his ideas that he soon
abandoned all other work and devoted
his time TO this single study, in which
he has achieved a signal triumph.
In the process of manufacturing the
new fabric the principal ingredients
used are sprucewood pulp. cotton or
iute waste, etc, combined with large
quantity Of alcohol. The use of the
substantial or solid materials men
toned creates market for what was
hitherto of no use whatever, being
burned in factory furnaces to get it out
of the way.
Spruce sawdust now has market
value. for this as well as the other ma
tcrials are digested by a chemical proc
ess in which alcohol plays an impor-
tant part The material thus digested
is 50 much like the cocoon spun by the
silkworm that when the two are placed
side by side in finished state II takes
an expert 20 determine which is which.
The artificial material at one state is
in a liquid condition and of density
about equal To the ordinary sirup of com
merce When in this state a machine OF
/ DR.. Lehrer's invention. which may be
! called an artificial silkworm. comes in
! TO play. This machine, which is very
simple in construction, requiring so lit
tie attention that it can be kept at work
with about as much labor as is devoted
TO a twenty-four-hour clock, performs
exactly the same mechanical work tina
a silkworm does. II draws from the
LIQUID continuous unbroken thread O
even diameter and unlimited length
As this thread is spun another portion
OF the machine takes it up and twists /
into any desired thickness OF yarn Will
regularity.
Thus the fabric can be made of an.
desired weight or thickness, so that /
will be seasonable a all times.
This artificial silk has been spun II
Bradford, England, and worked up in
To a large variety of fabrics. In tn
dyeing. weaving, and finishing o
these no special treatment has bee,
found necessary. 1t has been dyed II
all imaginable shades and colors, anC
owing to the peculiar qualities Of thu
material il takes dye more readily an
gives more brilliant effect than TIA
natural article In texture 1t is tn
equal of the best of Chinese and Italia
silks, being soft and silken To the touci
It is expected that II will be used large
" in combination with natural silk an
cotton for producing brocaded etfect
These latter have been so expensiy
lately as TO be out of reach of all br
the latest purses. The new inventio
will greatly reduce the cost.