Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-29

first, a pulp that will approximate spruce
pulp to supplement it; second, other fbers
that may have qualities peculiarly adapted
to special kinds of paper making; third, a
pulp of marketable value a by-product
from the waste material of numbering and
milling operations.
So far there seems to be more possibilities
in balsam to supplement spruce than in any
other wood. Yet the most interesting posi-
bilties Of the forest service investiga lions
lie in the line Of discovering other fbers
that may have properties peculiarly adapted
to special kinds of paper making. Here the
realm of conjecture is as bewildering as it
Is broad, for few countries can present a
greater variety of woods to work with than
can be found in the United States and its
possessions. Special woods may be discov-
cred which will supply the basis for special
papers, until there may, indeed, be brought
about paper age as German scientist
has predicted. wherein all vegetable fbers
will find place in making boards, bricks,
holdings and nearly all structural mate
rails Here, too, there Is opportunity for
utilizing wood waste. sawdust, slabs and
edgings-all to be made into pulp and thence
into finished paper products.
The forest service experiment station is
conducted in connection with model plant
fully equipped. The samples of wood used
will be collected by members of the forest
| service in order that there may be no ques-
! ton as to their identification, and then
| treated in every way as if in a regular pulp
| mill. Sulphite pulp will thus be made from
! a great variety of American woods. The
| fibers will be studied microscopically and
| good sized samples of the pulp will be dis
| tributed among paper manufacturers, so
| they may judge of their usefulness for gen
eral or specific purposes.
Production of Sulphite Pulp.
| More than 100000 cords of wood are used
| annually in the production of sulphite pulp,
and of this nearly four-fifths is spruce.
| With such an enormous demand there is a
rapid diminution of the supply of standing
spruce and consequent marked increase in
| its cost. Moreover since small sizes are not
only available for pulp, but are even prefer
! able, it follows that the lumberman in cut
| ting for pulp is likely to work on the theory
| that "al is fish which comes to his net.
| Notwithstanding this. the principles of for
| estry are being applied by many lumbermen
| to cutting pulp wood, and provision Is being
| made for the future. This is quite practi-
cable, since spruce is fairly rapid grower
and in comparatively few years attains mar
ketable pulp-wOod size. Yet, under the most
| favorable conditions spruce will have to be
| supplemented by some other material, be-
| cause the use of paper, especially for cheap
printing stock, is increasing out of all pro-
| portion to the supply of raw materials now
! in sight.
This is only one Of the many ways in
which the forest service is helping toward
a proper utilzatio of the forest products
| of the country. Pulp wood is recognized as
| a valuable forest crop to be gathered ir
| quantity and from the greatest number OF
| sources. Care should be taken to secure
| future crops by cuttings that will not de-
stroy the growth counted on for a later sup
ply; to SO economically handle the product
that waste will be minimZed both in the
| numbering and milling and to give adequate
protection from forest fires.
| Yet, in spite of the present effort to find q
| paper-pulp substitute, for several years tt
come when you pick up your newspaper
you will be holding a pliable sheet of wooG
or wood fiber