The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-17
SILK IRON WOOD PULP wow.
manufactured on u commercial scale In
France and About 20 H. In England
su"s Nnrd 10 Distin uish from Snturn,
SILK - How the SILK Fibre IL spun.

manufactured on II Commercial scale In
France and About to 3, In England It's
su"s Hn-d 10 Distin ui-h from Natural
SIX How the SILK Fibre IL spun.
From he London 7ipes.
There will shortly be started in Lancashire
n new industry of n character so novel that the
mention of it may appear to be suggestive of
an ahsur1ity rather than of sober truth. IL
will he one for nothing less than the manu-
facture of silk out of wood pulp. Quixotic as
the idea seems. II has already been established
that silk. or, rather, artificial silk, can he so
made; that II can he used for the many pur-
poses for which natural silk is used. and others
besides; that It is especially suitable for work.
ing up with natural snk. cotton. or wool for
dress material, ribands. trimmings. church
decorations, vestments, &c: that the artificial
silk can scarcely he distinguished fran that
for which we have hitherto depended on the
silkworm; and that ii can be sold at prices
very much lower, and still leave a substantial
profit. Dress and other fairies made from
this wood silk are. indeed. already being sold
extensively in London rs among the leading
features Of this seasons Paris novelties; though
the appearance of them is so close to that of
the ordinary silks, and so little has been said
of the new discovery. that neither the ladies
who have bought them. nor. indeed. the shop.
keepers who have sold them have realized the
change that has been brought about in the
process of manufacture.
At present the wood silk comes from France,
large works having been established at Besan-
con under patents granted 10 Count Hilaire de
Chardonnet, Chevalier Of the Legion of Honor,
who discovered the process. and first established
In 1893 the fact that it might be made into a
commercial success. Since then the demand
for the new commodity had far surpassed the
existing powers of manufacture; and some
mon hs ago the idea was mooted OF adding to
the number of our own industries by arrahging
TO- make. the artificial silk in England as well.
The project seemed to he especially desirable
in the interests of Lancashire. whose CONNER
cial prosperity has been seriously threatened of
late. while It was pointed out that LANCASHIRE
III. working up those textile combinations for
which the artificial silk is particularly. though
not exclusively. adapted. A number of silk
and cotton manufacturers ulet to discuss the
question. and finally sent out to Besancon II dep
utation consisting of some of their own number,
an engineer. a chemist. and n la =. yer. to inves-
tignte the suhi"ct tLoroughly. This was done.
that certain concessions have been secured and
II company Is now In process of formation, and.
70 begin with. II factory, which will cost $40,
manufacture of artificial silk yarn from wood
pulp. for sale I" weavrrs. who will work It up
by means OF their existing mac. inery, Inas.
much as six weaving firms lave alrc tdy ar
ranged to take the total output of the factory.
even before II single brick has been laid, and
ms Others are proposing To nut down plant of
their own 10 be worked on the royalty system.
Wv \ - y IA WV tN' vi ltt u
ton that Lancashire Is on the eve of some i'm
p"rlant expansions in her textile trades.
yerted into silk yarn Will lie best EXPLAINED
by q brief account of the process a- it is al
oiny OF labor is practiscd by obtaining the WOOD
When it Is in II paper or cardboard" con
used,, and The first 1ncrati"n is ~" to m "a
IT IN u solution Of nitric and sulpluric acid.
After This the acids are squeezed out 10y n ny.
clennscd in large watts OF wafer. II is then par.
italy dried. ana atterwRrd left for some
hol and ether. Alter this it is passed through
a inter. which II leaves looking very much like
thi K Guq,, and Is next put in cylinders, from
which II is forced by pneumatic pressure into
ptpSs passinG into the spinnins department:
In Lancashire spinning sheds, except that one
OF the pi?es referred to runs along each set Of
,Inglhnes. Ihcse pipe, are supplied with
ha.h glass nbe, about the size Of n gas burner.
at the extreme point of which is an aperture
SO minute that the tilam"nts nasSing through
no fewer than ten Of them would Ice required
e Th nm e up lie tnickne,s OF Il human hair,
worns,", and some 10000 of them are in use
cylinders referred To above il to force the
LIQUID matter rot only along the iron tubes, but
through each of the glass s.lkNorms. II ap-
rssnrs there as q sea-, ely, pcrc"ptinle Glohnle.
Ihi,n GIL touches with her thumb, 10 which
alnereS' ana she draws out an almost iuNis
ih'c. hlnment which she passes through the
EuNl'S. anu ONO the bOlbln, Then. one bE one,
she takes eight. ten, or twelve other such lila.
inents, according Ia In" thickn"~s Of I'll" thread
10 he male, and uaSsrs them through the 81 ne
guide ana onto the zane Goblin. This done,
the presses them together with her thumb and
inrrnnGel' ht certain, point between tl" glass
adhere. hut thchrefurWHrd thr tlaments will
continue" To meet and adhere NJ that point,
however long the machinery may be kept run.
ming, In this way the Whole frame will soon
tie BIOL hin Is full, when th"y hrcak HutOu,atI-
CAllH, wnlle they are all ct a uniform thick
MSS. he remaining processes are the shInr
As IN III" case OF 0rdi"Nry s,lh, except ia two
las to be- d"nitriiiei, 80 as To- render il non in
ilHmEIablc amer the chemical mo, cssrs II has
undergone; and, IN the nest place, the hanks
aye placed, an two revolving rollers which
htph degree OF lustr" which Is on" Of the chief
cham, %tcri~tirs Of the artificial sir.
Ihe new. product + san. Ia tlhr dye much
more r'iIdlN than the natural In, ana GER
sons specimens. thal hay" hcrn On view I'm
LpuGnn srrrrl to leave nuthlug I" %" dc'lrei
in this respect, Tia" rhI"t Inference m M
ulrlure between the natural ANA the arti'
though Il Will Lc fouud al-l that, II single
!!4S@ r"SS" ID fsrn + t"SE"i iltt' Snt iu1,y't and T Ea!s
only about 80 per rent. ut it, strength.
The Success already So urvd 10y the new proc
rss I'm fInnre l. such that the lntrodu"tiOn ~
tho iHdu- try iUtu lancashire il expected Ia
produce something Lib" revolution IN ia" "nu-
d,tiUns ~ trade there, not only hv bringtu"
undlng more wu.N tor a g'n,! deal Of the Neay.
Ing mach merry tat l. uuW unlr l~hTlldllN cIu-
while the weaving ~ '>ilk,' or what
only experts will he able to Distinguish from
vast number OF people Ia whom the product OF
the silk worm Is more or less u luxury.