Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-17
WAR AND PEACE
Busy Theater of Stonewall Jaekson's
Exploits.
ARSENAL GIVES WAY 10 PAPER MAKING
Harpsr's Ferry's important Wood
Pulp Industry.
INTER ESTIN PROCESS

TERES TING PROCESS
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
HARPER'S FERRY, September 49,
The Vicinity of Harper's Ferry was occu-
pied seventeen times alternately during
the late war by the northern and southern
armies. Generals Stonewall Jackson and
A. +. Hill began a siege of Harpers Ferry
on September IL, 1852. Gen. Miles then
held Bolivar Heights and Col. Tom Ford
OF Ohio had quite large force stationed
on Maryland Heights. Lee was then cross
ing the Potomac for the purpose of reach
ing Frederick. and Mcclellan was on his
way from Washington to oppose him.
Jackson's battery was planted on Loudoun
Heights and opened fire upon Maryland
Heights. Ford was also opposed in the
rear by force of South Carolina troops.
He then withdrew from his position 10
Harper's Ferry. On the morning Of Sep
TENDER IA. 1862, Gen. Miles surrendered, and
was shortly afterward wounded by piece
of shell supposed to have been fired from
an Indiana battery Some people, how
Which struck him was fired from the bat
terry on Loudoun Heights. He died in the
house now. occupied by Mr.. ]. G. Hunt, ex-
sheriff of the county. The colonel of the
cavalry regiment stationed at the north
end of Bolivar Heights refused to sur
render. and succeeded in escaping from
Harper's Ferry with about 1,10O men, af-
ter making gallant charge and crossing
the country to ARtietam. On his way he
captured a large number of wagon trains
belonging to Longstreets corps. The bat
tie of Antietam was fought on the 18th of
September. 1852, and shortly afterward
the confederates abandoned Harper
Ferry.
The Old BreastwOrl1s.
The breastworks made by the Union
forces at Bolivar extend from the Potomac
to the Shenandoah rivers and are viewed
with interest by all who visit the place.
Near the summit of the Maryland Heights
are the ruins of the old stone fort which
was occupied by the federal troops during
the late war. Notwithstanding the diff
Guilty in reaching these ruins, many per-
sons still climb the mountain to see them
1t Is said that 900 acres of land have been
purchased on the mountain for the site of
a new hotel
The principal industry of Harper's Ferry
Is the manufacture Of pulp. There are
two OF these mills, one situated on the
Potomac and the other on the Shenandoah
Each mill has a force Of thirty-five men
employed and is run day and night. The
men work twelve hours, one force relieving
the OCner. Inc mill on the Shenandoah
seems to do the most business.
The Shenandoah mill has been in opera
ton about eight years and has ten stones,
which are two more than the one on the
Potomac. The logs used by this mill come
from Piedmont, W. Va, and are Of spruce
pine. They used to be conveyed down the
river on gondolas, but the recent floods
caused this mode of transportation to be
abandoned. and they are now brought to
the mill on freight trains.
The Wood Pulp Industry.
The logs are soaked in what is known
as the head race. and then fioated under
the mill, where a man stands with a long
spear, with which he guides them to an
endless chain called the log holster, that
takes them up into the mill. They are then
carried to the saw, and after being cut in
proper lengths, they go to the barker, con-
sisting of large wheel with four knives
which strips them of their bark in few
large knife. which splits them into
suitable shape for the grinders on the floor
below, to which they are dumped through
an immense funnel.
Tremendous Pressure.
pressure and vacuum pump force and
stop the water on the grinders. The water
pressure is sixty pounds to the square inch.
And the grinders are right and left-hand
wheels, which grind the wood finer than
the finest gunpowder. They weigh between
thirty and forty tons. The pressure OF the
water on the stones is very great. 1t pro-
duces such heat that the vapor rising
from it creates the impression that the
grinders are run by steanL The screens
through which the pulp then passes on the
floor above are very fine, and somewhat
resemble a large mouth organ, only the
holes are much finer. The pulp is then
brought out in sheets Upon large belts over
rollers. like those Of printing press. 1t
is then folded up, tied In bundles. weighed
and ready for shipping. These bundles
weigh a hundred pounds each.
This mill turns out sixteen tons Of pulp
per day. This pulp is sent to paper mills in
Philadelphia and Reading. Pa; Cumber-
land, Md; Steubenville, Ohio, and Rich
mond. Va, where it is repulpiied. The
largest mills are in Pennsylvania. Pull
man car wheels, collins. weather boarding
and heels for shoes. as well as printing
PAPER, are made of this pulp.
When knots are discovered in the logs at
the mill they are cut out with Ratchet or
removed in other ways, as they cause dark
specks to appear in the paper. The action
Of different waters causes some paper to be
whittier than others. The paper which is
made chemically by the action of vitriol on
small chips is stronger and tougher than
that made by water, and sells for one cent
more a pound. 1t takes about cord Of
wood to make a ton of pulp. The paper
made of the pulp manufactured at the mill
on the Potomac is one-third whittier than
that made at the Shenandoah mill. The
water in the head and tail races is between
six and ten feet deep, and the place was
deepened by blasting while the mill was be-
ing built.
Very few people know that we are in
debted to the hornet for the discovery of
pulp This insect makes Its nest out of a
pulp that is produced from bits of wood
gathered from logs After examining the
hornets nest, a man came to the conclusion
that If this insect could make pulp on a
small scale, he could certainly do SO on a
larger one, and this is how this useful ma
terial came to be manufactured.
No Proof Against Them.
The Attorney General has received re-
port from United States Attorney Wolfe at
Pensacola, Florida, stating that two par
ties who were arrested on information fur
nished by the Spanish vice consul at
Tampa, upon trial, had been discharged by
A. OF ode or