Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-02

past few months of The winter no less
than $50 carloads Of pulp wood have
been drawn into the Shawmut lumber
yards and turned into sheets of pulp.
Such facts as these hardly need repeat
ing for the numbering centers of the
Pine Tree state are well known and ap-
preciatcd by all New Englanders.
The story Of the !;hawmut Manufac-
turing Company. formerly known by
the name of Lawrence. Newhall & Page
has been for so many years familiar to
the people of Maine, that a repetition
of it would excite no particular interest.
but the idea that this little community
has become the birthplace, in its old
age. of another industry, is an idea
which will grow until the eyes of neigh
boring states and finally of the states
of the Union will begin to open with
Amusement and to watch it's develop
ment with increasing wonder.
One of the principal characteristics Of
the typical Yankee is his fondness for
pic. No less a writer than Rudyard
Niplng, it will be remembered made
fun of the Yankees aptitude for this
particular diet. and his allusion to a
part of Vermont ami a section of New
Hampshire as the pie belt" has found
its way into the volumes of American
classical literature But there is a
strong objection to the pie habit which
is especially vehement on the part Of
those who have been most addicted TO
the same. This objection has arisen
from time to time. as Il result of its
indigestihle qualities. Cor it is we'll
known fact that this article of food in
No'Nes in its baking large amount Of
grease. and for this reason is consider
ed harmful
A practical Yankee from the section
OIL New Haiupshire which has been
termed tho pie belt" has undertaken
Icr the benefit of his brethren who
cannot eat pic because il hurts them
i solution of the pie problem and has
heeh able after years of struggle in
the work shop and i'll legal compli-
cations as We'll. to produce a pie plate
WhlcE is as inexpensive as paper and
when draws the objectionable element
81 grease from the crust while in the
process Of baking, and leaves a crust
winch IS yet crisp, sarory and palata-
bic
Martin l.. Kcyes to whom reference
- iii''', saw Ill sNfittNlluI, q lew
months ago an opportunity for the de-
Nelcpment of his idea. According to
ms successful plans, there now stands.
Ill connection with the Shawmut
Manufacturing Company a pie plate
Factory which is capable of producing
"oo.C"J pie plates per day of "A hours.
out of the inexpensive material known
as wood pulp. This plant represents
the Martin l.. Reyes. Fiber Company.
and is connected with the other mills
only as 4 friendly ncxt-door ncighbor
from whom it obtains its supplies.
The Interior of this factory is a most
interesting study to one who enjoys
tie sensation of seeing an immense
amount of work performed without
even requiring the contact of the l1u-
man hand with the raw material from
the time it enters the watts and goes
through the heater until it is brought
to light as finished product. The
pulp is first put into the watts as in the
ordinary rulp-mil process ana re-
duced to liquid pulp, by the work of
the beating engine. BY means of
pumps which arc both vacuum and air
conpressing. the water bearing pulp
is brought to the upper floor where the
plate manufacturing is done and dis
tribltrd into the five receiving tanks
which are connected with us many pie
plate machines.
These machines, although of most
complicated design. are very simply
cXplrined. provided one is Interested
simply i'll the way in which the work
is zone. Each machine consists es-
III 3
tains on its outer rim ten platc-fornl-
ing dicS, ar moulds. This wheel re-
volvinS ut the rate of three revolu-
tons per minute. submerges the dies
in the pulp-laden water. and as often
as 4 die is plunged into the liquid. Il
certain suction sufficient to draw
enough of the liquid pulp into the die
which is necessary for the thickness of
The ni;ite. is brought to bear on the in
noT surface of the mould. This sur
face. being perforated, and covered |
with 4 wire fStuzc. the water is drawn |
through the tiny meshcs and the
sep;'ra ton thus effected. AS the in |
side forming die energies from the |
water. the outer. or male" die comes |
into position by moons of an adjusting
hollow arm and. as the wheel re-
volNcS, It pressure is eXertcd upon the |
pulp If 4 tons to the square inch. The |
ann then r"ccding, by means of a sue
ton of Hir. draws with it the plate |
formed nrln. after which, by a con-
tinucd circular movement. the suction
being released. another arm swings
around in "a circle at right angles with
that described by the former. and, by
the same means as previously dcs-
crined, draws the plate from the outer
or male die and deposits it on wire
belt by which it is carried for dis
lance of $50 feet through a kiln in
which il is dried on its slow journey to
the finishing room, and finally dropped
onto a pile for the final treatment of
tho grinding process which produces a
smCoth-edGed, attractive plate. The
process above described occupies but 81
riinutas, during which time the liquid
pulp is carried from the water. and
dropped in the form of plates into the
packing room.
This plant has made use of no wa
ter privilege, but has received steam
pressure from the Shawmut Manufac-
turing Company. Hitherto the factory
hac hepn running nights hy l,Sinp the