The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-06-18
UTILITY OF WOOD PULP.
Growing Demand for the Material
In the Industries.
1t Is Largely Used In the Manufacture of
Tiling, and Promises to Become an
Important Factor In Build
Ing Operations, Etc.

The demand for pulp for other pur-
poses than paper making is likely to
increase largely the next few years
should the various branches of indus
trywhich are cropping up around about
here meet with the great success which
sanguine inventors and patentees
anticipate. Whatever opinion may be
expressed with regard to these new
ventures there are already a couple of
manufacturers who seem to have struck
out in the right direction in the making
of marketable goods where pulp is the
chief factor as raw material. One of the
undertakings which deserves to be noted
is the Fieldhammer Brug, started by
the go-ahead and enterprising H.
Bache-Wug, and managed by the we'll
known Christiania firm of Ambrosius
Hansen. This mill began operations
about two years ago, making roofing
tiles, and is now shipping to different
parts of the globe product which has
gained reputation for its superior
qualities over all other states in the
market. Norway tiles" as they are
termed, are made from wood pulp,
which, under very high pressure, is
formed into thin cakes of sizes like the
ordinary roofing states. After chemi-
cal treatment, which is the inventors
secret, the tiles become hard, like brick,
and attain deep black appearance,
which lends itself admirably to give
soft tone to houses with prominent
roofs and gables. 1t is claimed for the
Norway tiles" that they possess every
advantage of the best states in the
market; their composition makes them
light and durable and they are not so
liable to breakage as the ordinary
states; they are not subject to any ex-
pansion Or contraction, and when
roof is once covered with this material
it will stand for good many years
without repairs whatever. The price
of Norway states" is very low, and
compared with what other roofing
costs admits of a saving of IS per cent,
an item CO no small Importance in our
days, when competition is so keen.
Prominent architects who had the op-
portunity to examine Norway tiles"
pronounce them superior as to quality,
appearance and price, and the insur-
ance companies appear favorably dis
posed and stamp the tiles as a very be-
sirable and safe roofing material. The
new mills Mt Embretsfos, Thursfos and
Skein are covered with Norway tiles"
and from information gathered the pro-
nrinfnrc nf tho willis
with the new roofing.
An enthusiastic advocate of wood
pulp for building material as a substi-
tute for stone is G. D. Rice, who has
made the subject one of close study
and investigation. His conclusion is
that it possesses the needed elements
of durable constructive substance,
being at the same time devoid Of some
OF those features which de+ract from
the value of stone and brick. He sum-
marizes some of the qualities presented
by this new factor in building as con-
sisting Of being light in weight, ex-
ceedingly hard, poor conductor of
heat and sound, and sufficiently elastic
to meet all the usual requirements for
tne purpose; III is tough, though nail
can be driven into it, and it can also be
drilled, while the other necessities of
a stone substitute, are enumerated, to-
gether with resistance of frost and
heat, with ability to stand strain, and
so on, are said to be met, besides the
transportation. 1t is urged further
that the difficulty of producing per-
fectly square stone blocks, except at
high rates, is thus overcome, for the
pulp blocks, being cast in a square
mold. are necessarily uniform. Diff
feriDg from stone and brick, which
absorb Sc much heat in summer, the
proposed material is claimed to be
cooler in summer, while in cold weather
it prevents dampness, so common in
stone.-World's Paper Trade Review.