The Hawaiian gazette., 1903-05-26
S|SAL PAPER IS
MADE FROM
PULP
Mill Refuse Put
To a New
Use.

The making of paper from the waste
from the production of sisal fiber may
shortly become a new industry in Ha-
wall should the experiments made here
prove successful on the mainland. A
paper of the finish of that used for
blotters was exhibited on Saturday at
the special meeting of the stockhold
erS of the Hawaii Fibre Co., operating
the sisal plantation near Eva, which
was made in this city, Prof. Edmund
Shorey, chemist of the Board of Health,
attesting officially to the success of the
test. The paper was made from waste
which fell from the decorticator of the
sisal mill. The samples shown were
similar in appearance to tapa, and
when written upon with ink the fluid
did not spread, but traced easily.
The experiments made here with the
waste in the manufacture of PAPER
have convinced the stockholders that
the material can be profitably utilized
in the manufacture Of various grades of
paper. The experiment was undertake
en- with crude appliances, but the
stockholders feel that even II made only
into botting paper, it would be a
marked success. Mr.. Weldon of the
sisal company is now awaiting the re-
suit of experiments in the States, and
is confident that there will be call for
Hawaiian made paper, If suitable ma
chinery can be brought here for it's
manufacture.
At the Saturday meeting it was
shown to the stockholders that COM
plicated machinery was not necessary
to transform the sisal waste into mer-
charitable paper, and it would be the
means of increasing the percentage of
gain from all that the ssal leaves could
give. Statistics We're displayed indicat-
ing that it would be only n matter of
a few years until in Southern Califor-
mia, where much is being made of the
manufacture of paper from the Yucca
plant, the deserts will be stripped of
the plants, for no effort is being made
to replenish them.
1t was shown also that to n ton of
sisal fiber there was required twenty
tons in bulk of leaves. The Oahu COM
pany gets five per cent fiber from its
milling, and there is forty-five per cent
waste. Utilizing this great percentage
of waste in the manufacture of paper,
there would be a material reduction Of
the percentage of loss, from n small ex-
penditure in the beginning, for the pa
per-making machinery.
The stockholders endorsed the pro-
posal of the directors to increase the
capital stock of the company from
$4,000 to $4,000. The treasurer's re-
port showed there was cash on hand,
but instead of distributing cash as n
dividend It was voted to declare stock
dividend, paying thirty-three and one
third a ORIGINAL Etnrk-
holders, and leaving $4,000 worth of
stock to be sold, the stockholders hav-
ing first call on the stock.
The object of the, increase of the
capital stock is to enlarge the area of
the plantation and put in additional
machinery which will be necessary be-
fore the year closes, even though the
area of cultivation is not increased.
The last advices from the Coast show
ed that sisal was selling at nine cents a
pound. or $3.50 ton.
The company proposes to take up
1000 acres OF new land above the sugar
lines of the plantations about Sisal. In
about months time the mill will have
been overhauled and enlarged and will
then be ready to work on a crop of 300
to 400 acres awaiting cutting. The new
machinery proposed will have clutches
and shoes which will take care of the
smaller leaves. At present only the
larger leaves are handled and the
smaller ones so to waste. New sets of
machinery will call for a sorting Of the
leaves into various sizes, and in this
way little waste will be caused.
. .
The battleship band is also one to
he proud of and hopes are expressed
that the organization will be permitted
,,lox, - ,oun ~ laaef ono avanin q