The record-union., 1896-11-15


steel core set ON end, almost identically
IN the fashion that you stick pile OF
bills over sharp-pointed bill file or
holder. Between each Of these sheets is
a preparation of glue, and when the
core has been covered these are sub
jected to enormous hydraulic pressure,
which gives them a wonderful hardness.
The edges of the paper are then turned
IN lathe precisely in the same way
that steel roll would be turned, and SO
firm is the surface which the edges OF
the paper thus prepared present that a
sharp flint pebble passed through the
rolls will be ground to pieces without
making the slightest mark. Thus, IN
a literal sense, is paper made to make
paper.
With the wood pulp thus prepared, it
happens that it is impossible to secure
the same strength and texture OF rag
made paper, and for a long time at
the beginning rag and straw pulp was
mixed with the wood pulp, in order TO
obtain this desired strength for high
grade papers. But at this point the
chemists took up the problem and dis
covered two processes by which the
wood was reduced to the required state
without destroying the fiber, as is the
case in grinding. These processes con-
sist simply in the treatment of the
wood, cut ia small chips, with alkaline
OF acid solutions. The wood is cut up
into bits about an inch thick and
thrown into watts containing one OF
these solutions and then boiled at a
high temperature. This process reduces
the wood to a soft, saponaceous mix
ture, when it is readily handled for the
making of paper or any other desired
article. This is of course much more
expensive than simply putting the
wood in grindstone, and at the pres
ent time the ground-up wood pulp and
the chemically prepared wood fiber are
usually mixed, in certain proportions,
to make the different grades of paper.
But as already indicated, paper is
now only one of countless forms in
which this wood pulp or wood fiber is
made up. Probably the next and most
important employment is that for car
wheels. These are, as a rule. made
from straw pulp and directly from
straw board. A solid disk or wheel,
made up of a number of layers, much
in the same way as the calendar rolls
are made, is forced under strong pres
sure into a steel tire. Then into the
center of this disk an axle box is thrust
under similar pressure. When first the
straw board discs are put together they
are thrust under a hydraulic weight of
5000 kilograms, for an hour, and a
pressure of ninety to 12O tons is en-
ployed in fitting the tires. In this way
wheel is made that is about three
times as durable as those made of steel,
and Furthermore, far more elastic.
This elasticity not only greatly in
creases ease of railway travel, but it
diminishes the vibration of the axle
and bearings, the effect of these vibra-
tons being to crystalline iron or steel,
where the wheel is made of these latter
substances. AT Pullman, ILL.,. the chief
seat Of manufacture in this country.
a pair Of paper wheels have a recorded
run of almost a million and a half
miles, a record which is exceptional for
| any kind of metal.
This same wonderful hardness which
is obtainable with paper has very re-
| Gently been turned to account in Ber-
lin, Germany, in the making of paving
brick. These latter are made from or
d1nary wood, or straw pulp, to which
sulphate of zinc is added as a preserva-
tive. The material being thoroughly
| mixed, it is put into a vat where other
chemicals are added and then subjected
to a pressure of 1000 pounds to the
square inch. The bricks thus formed
are placed in kiln and baked for for
ty-eight hours, much as bricks of clay.
These wood pulp bricks weigh about
three pounds, and are practically in
cestrucuble. Furthermore, they are
said to make very little noise Under
this same process conduits for the use
of electric or telephone cables are now
being made, and drain tiling as well
Among the advantages claimed for the
latter is its exceeding hardness, its light
weight, its non-conductivity of heat or
sound and sufficient elasticity to meet
| all requirements. The dampness, ex-
perienced usually In the case of stone.
is also absent, and in price and ap-
pearance the tlling takes rank over that
! made of clay. Similarly dentist in
Lubbock is a maker Of paper or wood
pulp teeth, said to be of fine quality.
a slightly different process is en-
ployed in the manufacture of wood pulp
screws. They are usually of the larger
size and are made of a compound of fine
pulp, clay, alkali, salsoda and glue
After casting, or rather pressing, the
threads are cut and the stock then
treated to a bath of sulphate of cop
per. An oil varnish finish completes the
work and a tough. elastic screw valu-
able for various uses is the result
f,,I
this curious substance is In the manu-
facture Of telegraph poles. The latter
are hollow and very much lighter than
those that are made of wood; they are
stronger and are said to be unaffected
by sun. rain or any other causes which
shorten the life of the ordinary wooden
pole. The pulp is cast in a mold with
core in the center, forming a tube of the
desired length. Collins, too, are now
made In Europe of wood pulp, which are
susceptible Of high polish. look as well
as the finest woods, and are much less
expensive. Still another German genius
has constructed a good-sized cannon
out of the pulp, it having steel core,
and the exterior being bound by five
/ layers of metal wire. 1t IS far lighter
| than a steel gun, and is likewise said to
/ be much stronger than a similar thick
| ness of metal. Not to be behind the
| times, q Chicago genius has constructed
a bicycle frame entirely of wood pulp
and would like to start factory for the
/ manufacture of paper bikes. Bicycle
| handles, made out of blotting paper,
which in turn comes from pulp. are now
/ not uncommon.
! Everyone is familiar with paper
] tela-s x,-hich ha1.a carnn In To srctaar.a