Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-04-19
QUEER USES OF PAPER.
Wood Pulp May Yet Furnish Armor for
Warships and Telegraph Poles.

Nothing of recent years has given a
greater incentive 10 the exercise of the
forester's art than the discovery of the
method of Alaking paper ont of wood
pulp says the y. Y. sun. Wood pulp
to-day supplies 20, 900 weekly and daily
periodicals with paper and each year
the number increases from 10 to 20 per
cent, making the demand upon the
spruce forest so great as to threaten
their extinction unless intelligent efforts
are made TO preserve them. In Ger
many where the manufacture of wood
pulp is even greater than in this coun-
try the forester's art is exercised
So that the forests steadily keep up the
supply. 1t is to initiate this method of
using, but not abusing, the natural
spruce forests here that papermakers
are trying 10 buy up large areas of
woodland covered by these trees.
In the arts and trades new uses are
found for paper every year, so that
the demand increases as fast as the
production. The records at the patent
office in Washington show an astOnish-
ing number of uses TO which paper is
put and applications are made for pat
never see the light of day.
Cigar boxes are made of paper and
favored with cedar oil 10 give the inn
preston that they are manufactured of
cedar. Medals are pressed out of pa
per and then coated with a preparation
TO make them resemble either silver or
bronze. Similarly cornices, panels and
friezes are nodded out of the paper
pulp and both inferior and exterior
architectural effects are obtained at a
relatively low cost by this method
The manufacture of wheels out of
paper is an Old story. 1t is probably
the good results obtained with them
that suggested the idea Of coating IRON
clad men-of-war with paper. Inventors
are now working on the problem OF
finding a preparation either of com
pressed paper or of compressed
ramie that will form bullet-proof
coating for war vessels The car
wheels and steam pipes made of paper
admit of being nodded and formed to
suit any purpose, and il is suggested
that by using paper for coating armor
plate the surface could be formed like
fish scales with tiny overlapping plates.
The surface could be made rough or
smooth, and besides giving more
strength TO the steel armor the paper
coating would protect the metal from
corrosion.
Another queer use to which paper
promises to be put is in the manufact-
ure of telegraph poles. The paper poles
are hollow and are made from paper
pulp and then coated with siicate of
potash to preserve them. Electric con-
duits in successful use are made of pa
per pulp. aud also steam and water
pipes of great strength and durability.
Paper roofing material Is 50 common
that it is unnecessary to mention il, and
also paper pals. basins and pans.
Undertakers are using cheap collins
pressed out OF pulp paper When pol
ished and stained such collins are al
most as handsome as those of wood.
They last longer in the ground than cof-
fins of wood or metal, and they can be
Theoretically sealed better than the
heavy metal collins.
Paper boats are generally looked up
on as playthings for very small chill
dren. but la.ge, commodious, stanch
boats are now manufactured out Of pa
per pulp. They can resist the water
and are lighter than wooden or metal
boats. Lead pencils and cigar-holders
made OF paper are in daily use. and
even carpets and mattresses are manu-
featured in limited way out of paper.
The mattresses are made of paper pup
and ordinary sponge, with springs en-
bedded in the composition. Artificial
straws for drinking iced beverages
which are superior to the natural
straws, are being placed on the market,
and SO is a peculiar cloth paper for
printing bank notes on.