The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-20
TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 1908.
USEFUL DISCOVERY.

We are all more or less familiar with the expression credited to Dean Swift, tbat whoever could make two ears Of corn. or two blades of grass. to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind. and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together"
 The author of that sentiment was evidently not an adnirer of politicians, but the doubling of any crop useful and necessary so man or beast is cer- tainly doing a great-service to human ity. whatever the politicians may or may not do. Something of the same kind may justly be said of a man who devises way to save and utilize the waste that we see on every hand. To convert straw, cornstaI<s. bagasse, and other waste products Into paper will be great saving of that which is now of little use.5 besides the conservation Of the forests as a result. So of many other things which are now practically useless, but which might be made to add much to the general wealth. One of the latest discoveries Is that said to have been madefn Germany to man. ufacture furniture and other articles of sawdust. A correspondent of The Manufacturers Record says of 1t:
 Articles of every fashion formed from hardwood of the best types are duplicated. and. it is said. surpassed in quality by the new process. All that is learned of 1t so far is that the material which is used to turn out manufactured goods of the kind mem tioued is pressed sawdust. Just what thel cherminal combination or binder is has not been divulged. The material in the matter of durability, elasticity and hardness. It IS proof against cli- matic influences. whether tropical. tenn perate or extreme with regard to cold. and. unlike the ordinary timber of commerce. Is immune to the presence of insects.
 To understand something of what this may mean it is only necessary to visit any of the saw-mills or large shops which abound in all parts of the country and think of the millions of tons of sawdust annually produced. Some of it is utilized as fuel for the furnaces. but that is but a small DOT ton and is not really a great saving. If it can be made into handsome and durable furniture. mSptles. balustrades and other articles for which solid wood is now used. the saving will be almost incaIcuiable. Although 1t is new inc dustry. and as yet only one plant of the kind Is In operation, we learn from the correspondent mentioned that it Is em- pIoying a great number of hands and is already on a paying basis.
 It is plain that there is something in this beyond it's utiIitarian feature. There are so many varieties. textures and colors of sawdust resulting from the many kinds of wood that it will be no cause of surprise if the process will result in many and more beautiful articles than can possibly be made from any but the finest and scarcest kinds of timber now available. Although the process is as yet a secret 1t cannot remain so if 1t proves the success claimed for it. It will naturally be extended to all countries where saw dust may be obtained, and the inven- tor will do more good than some, at least, of the race of politicians