The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-31
PAPER FRoM eAeAssE.
Experiment Successfully Tried in the
 Hawaiian Islands.

Tn view of the recent experiments Tn Louisiana with bagasse as material out of which paper might be manufactured special interest attaches to the follow ing excerpt from the Boston lA1ass.) Evening Transcript written by corres- pondent in Honolulu. and detailing what has been done in the Hawaiian Islands along the same line
 ''The manufacture of sugar cane reruse into paper has taken practical form, and parties with eastern capital are now Tn Honolulu, and say they will establish paper mill here within a short time. For years the cane from which the sugar was extracted has been not only of no value to the plantation, but a source Of expense in that it had to be disposed of in some way. Some of the plantations have used the cane bulks for fuel, but this has not been very successful because Of the diffi- culty in handling 1t and the slight heat which it generated. The advent Of crude petroleum for fuel upon the plantations had made it's further use as fuel Of no value, and lately the refuse cane had to be burned as waste. Now 1t IS planned to establish a paper mill in Honolulu, and the paper will be shipped to the United States. The experiments made with the bagasse in the eastern mills are said to have proved that paper could successfully be manufactured from it, though no re- ports have so far been received. In the meantime. however. s. N. Mayer. of St. Louis. and Seattle who became interesy- ed in the idea while passing through Honolulu few months ago, mas come 10 the conclusion that paper mill would be a paying investment in the Territory, and he is now in Honolulu for the pur- pose of establishing one Seattle, St. Louis and eastern capitalists are interest," ed in a company which has been formed to promote the enterprise and ample cap ital has been secured. A site for the mill has already been secured and the arrival of an expert papermaker rom New York is now being awaited. Upon his arrival active work will be begun upon the estaD- lishment of a mill, and Mayer says that within less than a year Hawaii will sup ply sufficient paper for the use of a con- siderable portion of the world. According to the estimates made, paper can be made in Hawaii much cheaper than in the pres ent manufacturing centers of the indus try. The use of the refuse is much more economical than either rags or wood pulp and tale and other necessary ingredients could be imported at less expense than would be required in sending the cane re- fuse to the mills in the United States The plantations here yearly burn thou sands and thousands of tons of this re- fuse and very little of 1t is consumed in fuel for the mills. It could be bought for almost the cost of transportation from the plantation to the factory, and paper could be manufactured at a price which would allow 1t to be shipped to the United States for competition with the paper trust. There is but one mill in China, and one in Japan. and both these countries could be supplied by the Hawaiian mills. People of the Orient are said to be great users of enameled and writing papers, and Hawaii could supply that market, fn- cluding the Philippines at a price far less than the mills in the United States, which are located several thousand miles rur- ther east Tale. which Is one of the prin- cipal constituents in the manufacture Of paper, has already been contracted for in sufficient quantity to insure supply for the mill for many months. The fact that the tale mines are on the Pacific coast within easy access of Hawaii will be an- other advantage for the local mills, as 1t can be shipped here at but little cost.
 Mayer says that the machinery for the mill will be ordered within a short time, and it will be less than year pe- fore Hawaii Is able to supply the markets of the world with her paper products. Two hundred and fifty employees will ps given work in the mill at the beginning,
  sand as soon as the mill is in running order. Most of these men VIII be Import ed from the paper mills in the United States, though a good many residents Of Honolulu will also be taken care of. The sugar planters are anxious 10 acquire an interest in the new mill, and are assist ing in the establishment of the enterprise. Whatever price is obtained Tor the cane refuse is profit for 1t has always been a waste and source of expense on the plantations The planters are bending every effort to a more economical produc- ton of sugar, made necessary by the ex- ceptiopally low price obtainable for the raw product, and the sale of the refuse will probably help to make small mar gin of profit which has been impossible under conditions existing at present for the great majority of the planters"