Omaha daily bee., 1906-07-14
PAPER FROM COTTON STALKS
New Southern Industry with Capital
and Confidence to
Back IL.

tory OF CIVILIZATION. II naQ us name from
the papyrus, IL not the first, at any rate
among the earliest sources Of vegetable
fiber used TO make that sort Of a web. The
invention OF printing, OF course, gave an i'm
mense impetus to paper-making and as
printing processes have improved the de-
mand for paper has gone on augmenting
For long time rags Of all kinds were
regarded as the principal material for pa
per-making. During our revolutionary
struggle, though, the demand for paper
was slight Urgent requests were sent to
the housewives to save their rags During
the Civil war the confederates were some
times reduced to such straits as to print
newspapers on wall paper and some noted
reprints Of editions OF that sort have been
circulated. But rags have suffered a sort
OF eclipse in the matter Of paper-making
because the needs of the age have forced
the utilization of other forms of vegetable
fiber Wood pulp for paper has played
distinguished role in modern times But in
practically all ages numerous forms of
vegetable fiber have been tried TO a greater
or less extent for paper-making. 1t is
possible now that the primacy Of wood pulp
is TO be challenged.
Under the laws OF the state of Maine the
Cotton States Products company has tust
been Incorporated with a capital of SIS. 600
900. It's business will be to make paper
from cotton stalks. 1t is said to be the
| conception Of Mr.. Harvie Jordan, president
] of the Southern Cotton association. who
has accepted the presidency of the new
paper company, and for that reason is ex-
pected to retire from the cotton associa-
! ton. The board of directors is composed
| OF men whose names carry an assurance
| that the new company means business
| w. P. G. Harding, one Of them, is presi
| dent OF the First National bank OF Dir
| mingham Another John Walker, is presi
dent OF the Republic Iron and Steel COM
pany Of Birmingham, and William c. Sid
den Is banker OF Baltimore. The vice
president who lives in New York. bears
the historic name OF Samuel F. B. Morse.
Cotton stalks have been what many de-
scribe as a nuisance. They have been a
source OF expense, instead of benefit 10
the planter, because they require To he
harvested and burned in order to prepare
the ground for the next crop To make
paper from them, not only gives them valua
but 1t puts the raw material of the paper
at the back door OF the mill, eliminating
the cost OF transportation. Some say that
there are 100000 tons of cotton stalks in
the south, and that under the new ARRANGE
ment they will be worth from 80 to s. 80
ton. This would mean some $50 900 900
| added to the yearly receipts of the cotton
planters Another estimate, however is a
| ton OF stalks to the bale OF cotton, which
would make the amount considerably less.
Both estimates are guesses, but the fact re-
mains that the success Of this scheme
means that cotton stalks will be a source
| OF revenue instead of an expense to the
planter.
Mr. Harvie Jordan says that the making
OF paper from the cotton stalks is one OF
the most interesting developments OF this
century. and has already passed the expert
mental stages. "It has been unquestion-
ably demonstrated that all grades OF paper,
from the best form OF linen grades to the
lowest, can be manufactured from cotton
stalks. In addition to this a variety OF
by-products, such as alcohol nitrogen, ma
terial for guncotton and smokeless powder,
can also be secured In paying quantities. -
The views OF the new company are sum
GENTLY ambitious. It is suggested that
paper mills shall be placed at intervals OF
five miles over the cotton belt. Possibly
that will be too many paper mills, but the
suggestion is eloquent OF the confidence felt
In the new method. A by-product will be
denaturized alcohol. which is estimated Ia
be per cent OF the total tonnage It will
be used to operate the necessary machinery
This scheme is OF interest to the con-
sumers of paper, who are promised greatly
reduced prices for this product The bulk
OF material now used comes from spruce
which. with the depletion OF forests, prom.
Uses to become annually more expensive
while the demand is continually increasing
Paper manufactured from the cotton stalk
is said 10 be of the strongest texture and
softest finish. Several plants in the south
are expected 70 be in operations by the
beginning of next year
That paper may be manufactured from
cotton stalks, there is no reason to doubt
The economical features OF the experiment
have yet to be tested by the manufactur,
of paper in commercial quantites.-Louis
Vile Courier-JournAl.