Evening star., 1901-09-09
VARIOUS USES OF PAPER
NOW EMPLOYED IN A GREAT DI
vERsIrY oF WAYS.
Prepared as u Substitute for Glass I'm
Ceilings Of Public Buildings-Ex-
periments i'm EireprooanE.
From the Scientific American

From the Scientific American
Paper manufacturers have developed their
industry In two Ways In recent years, and
the results justify all the labor and expert
ment carried on through the application of
science and chemistry. The application of
machinery to cheaper the process of con-
vertfng the raw material into different
grades of paper has enormously stimulated
paper production In this country. and the
various processes employed have often been
described.
But no less important expansion of
the paper industry has been in increasing
the manifold uses to which paper can be
put here. too. science has been the chief
agent. and 1t has wrought remarkable
changes and improvements Chemistry has
oeen laoor1ng In this field for two decades.
and from the laboratory have come dis
coVerles that have made possible the enor-
nous side products of the paper trade that
are no" manufactured on a large scale.
One or the things in the paper industry
that seemed almost incredible number
OF years ago was the manufacture of car
wheels 1t seemed incomprehensible to the
Jay nina that wheels made Of compressed
paper would stand the strain better than
wheels made of steel But the manufacture
OK paper wheels is no longer a novelty, and
they are made in great variety of sizes
ana Shapes for use on roller skates up to
mace OF paper We're announced somebody
applied paper to the construction of hollow
telegraph poles, which were designed to
take the place of those which had hereto
Iore dfsSraced our streets and highways.
But paper telegraph poles have never
proved OF any great value except to Illus
trate to the skepticaI what can be done
with paper.
Water Mains of Paper.
Ihere have In recent years been made of
paper, water and sewer mains which prom
ise to be of value. These are hardened
and treated chemically so that they are
more fmpervious to water than some Of the
iron and earthenware mains. 1t remains
TO be proved by actual test whether they
can outiast some of the latter. The an
nouncement was made few years ago that
paper window panes had actually been
made and used. but these were much like
the oyster-shell window panes Of the Fill
plno nuts They may admit a certain
amount OF light to brighten up the interior,
but they could never be looked through
with any degree OF satisfaction. STILL
semi-opaque glass is often needed for the
ceilings of public buildings, where the light
admitted must be dimmed and diffused In
passing through the substance. Paper
window panes have been used in this way
with more or less success.
we are not only the greatest producers OF
paper In the world. but we have adapted
1t to more practical uses than any other
nation. Our machinery for making paper
and for converting 1t into useful articles
OF commerce surpasses that of any two
European nations and even in France and
Germany, where the refinement of paper
finishing has for years reached the high
water mark, our machinery is largely used.
In fact, it might be said with considerable
truth that our paper machinery has out
stripped our paper production and great as
the latter is, the former eclipses 1t in ex-
tent and variety. a
Thfnnest Of Sheets
By means Of improved machinery and
new chemical processes wood pulp can be
drawn out into the thinnest imaginable
sheets. In this spinning and squeezing the
paper does not lose its toughness. Thus
thin paper napkins and table cloths are
produced and printed with fancy borders
and patterns. Some of these articles are
almost as tough as linen in resisting the
attempt to tear them. OF course, they will
not stand wetting and soon lose their
toughness when moistened But other
wise they make serviceable substitutes for
table linen. Likewise the paper vests and
paper underclothing and lining of winter
suits are prepared for practical use, and
they accomplish nearly all that la claimed
for them. The paper vests and lining are
made 80 thin that their weight is prac-
tically nothing, and yet they keep out the
wind and cold. They are chemically treat
are also manufactured so that they do not
make the rustling sound usually charac-
teristic Of paper, and they are pIiable
enough not to stand out or bulge the cloth
In any way.
Waterproofing, and more recently fire.
proofing, of paper have occupied the at
tention of chemists and practical paper
makers. Paper made waterproof and as
fine as the ordinary napkins and table
cloths would prove boon to many lines of
industries, especially at restaurants and
hotels. 1t Is said that public eating houses
are waiting anxiously for durable paper
napkins and table cloths Waterproof pa
per Is made today, but not in such way
as to be valuable for table use. Water
proof paper sheets are frequently glued to
CLOTH and In this way the latter is rendered
impervious to moisture This waterproof
paper Is good. however. only for limited
lines of articles.
World Of Possibilities.
Lately the paper pulp mills have been
experimenting with ffreproof paper. In
freproofng wood 1t has been found neces-
sary to inject into 1t under great pressure
non-inf1ammable chemicals. and thus either
drive out or neutraliZe the inf1ammable
material of the wood. 1t has been found
that these freprooflng substances can be
introduced into the paper pulp much easier
than they can he injected into wood. Many
III ,1x-~A