Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-14
FROM WOOD
Ingenious Japanese Make
Substitute for Rubber.
Waterproof Paper Cloth and Its
Many Uses.
japanese in America Less Inventive
What They Make and Sell.

Attention has been directed to some
of the marvellous achievements made
by the ingenious Japanese in utilizing
the bark and wood of trees and shrubs
| We thought our Woodworking fac
tories had begun to make remarkable
products out of the waste of the
woods; but there are many things that
we had not thought Of
Spurred to economy by the mother of
all inventin, the Japanese have learned
to utilize every strip of bark wood,
bud, and leaf of their trees and shrubs,
and he would be considered a poor
workman indeed who failed to realize
| the value of each tiny strip of forest
product. The inventive or adaptive
genius of the japanese compares in
some particular fields pretty favora bly,
with our typical New England Yankee.
Who other than a Japanese could have
conceived such startling ideas in in
terror house construction? The walls
are papered not such as we paper ours,
with dazzling splashes of Autographed
colors and flowers. but with oiled paper
that sheds the rain and moisture, pre-
serves uniform dryness inside, and
= ''du'i tlit lSHl llplli "lthoOl -
that it is never dark and gloomy in
side, nor too bright for the tired eyes.
They light their homes without the ai(,
Of glass windows, and in such a way
! that the eyes can find rest and ease
without artificial shading or extra
light.
A japanese makes his oiled paper
| out of the bark of trees and shrubs.
The wood itself is too precious for this
| work, but the bark is stripped off and
converted into marvellous weaves of
paper cloth. The fibre of the bamboo,
reed grass. and other plants is also
utilized in this way, paper cloth being
| made by hand which for many pur-
| poses is superior to our own rubber
| goods Rubber is a scarce commodity
! in Japan, and rubber overcoats. shoes.
, and similar articles are almost I'M
known
| How the japanese workmen succeed
| in producing such light, gossamer-like
paper cloth that will serve all the func-
lions of our heavy rubber goods is a
mystery. and, furthermore. it is i'm
| possible for the initiated to compre-
bend how they do this out of the ma
terial ut hand, and at cost which
places II within the hands of all Oiled
paper cloth is astonishinEly cheap
cheaper than most grades of our cot
ton goods. Every one purchases it for
one or more of score of different pur-
poses. 1t is sold everywhere, and
used everywhere. An astonishing
amount of bark must be used for
manufacturing it,
a raincoat or cloak that can be
thrown over the head to protect it
thoroughly from a drenching storm can
be purchased for less than twenty
cents, and this can be used repeatedly
for upward of six months or year. 1t
is SO soft and pliable that it can be
folded carefully and put away for fu-
ture use. When again needed it will
shake out without showing crease or
wrinkle
The japanese truckmen and
rlklsha" coolies carry oiled paper
blankets in their vehicles for emer-
sehcy use. If a sudden storm should
come up when perishable goods are be-
ing carried, they instantly bring forth
thelr oiled paper cloth and spread it
over the top. The rain is shed as
'houeh the goods were protected by
rurper blankets. 1t is impossible to
wet goods once covered or wrapped
wiz, TIE best quality of oiled paper
80. other uses for oiled paper are
"lappiiis small articles to keen them
iree iioih Dust and moisture. and pro-
'ectihe provisions from attacks by in
sects ana worms. The paner made of
oanrs ,h mos OF tree bark possesses
ouo n,.,,s ."at are Very repugnant to
Me 49, n m " and insects. These are
maae :" quite Variety Of shapes and