West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-05-09
Making Clothing Ont Of Paper In
Germany.
BATTLE OF MANILA ANNIVERSARY
Governor Hughes Presidential Posi-.
biIity Transportation Question
Is Paramount.
From or Regular co1re.ponden,.

Or immense interest to the cotton
growers of the south is the reported
use of paper as a substitute for cot.
ton abroad. 1t will be remembered
that recently paragraph went the
rounds of the papers saying that
they were making clothes of paper
in Germany. This bald statement
seemed rather incredible, but the
department of commerce and labor
had the story investigated by the
American consuls in Germany, and
a report from Consul Carl Hurst,
Of Plauen, makes it seem that the
subject is worthy of some attention.
He says that paper, as we under.
Stand it, is not used in sheets for
making clothes, but that there is an
immense industry springing up, es-
pecially In Saxony, in the spinning
of paper fibre into yarn and thread
and then weaving it into cloth. The
new yarn, made from wood fibre, is
called "xylolin." 1t is the result of
years of scientific research by Herr
Emil Claivez, noted German chem.
ist. The process is a secret one,
but mills are springing up all over
the country, and it is said that
preparations are being made to es-
tablish mills and exploit the process
in this country. The wood fibre
thread has peculiarly valuable quail
ties. 1t is very cheap, about half
the cost Of cotton. 1t wears well, is
light and takes dyes OF all sorts
better than cotton. Sometimes it
is woven alone and sometimes in
combination with cotton yarn. It's
uses are manifold. 1t is made into
clothes, carpets, gunDy sacks, "can-
vas" shoes, and a score of other
things. Its cheapness recommends
1t, and so far as experiment has
demonstrated its wearing qualities
are very good,
OF course there have been a great
many discoveries IN the past of
artificial silk" and there are un.
do lbtedly a great many materials
used for adulterating silk. The most
OF these processes have caused more
talk than they have caused real in
jury to the silk business. 1t may
be that it will prove the same with
this substitute for cotton. But the
report of Consul Hurst is so full and
circumstantial that 1t is possible
that there may be more in the dis
covery than is usually to be found
in such alleged inventions.
Last week there was cele brated in
Washington the ninth anniversary of
the battle of Manila Bay. This has
come to be fixture, and it is always
marked by dinner at one of the
hotels, where the guest of honor is
Admiral Dewey and as many of the
captains who served under him as
can be gathered together. This
year there we're but three of the ad.
miraPs captains alive, and only two
could be present. All are now re
tired for age, though Admiral Walk
er is still on active service in charge
Of the Naval Observatory at Wash.
ington. The gathering was a de-
lightful one. Admiral Dewey was
apparently in just as good health
and spirits as on the day he won the
worlds famous fight. The members
Of the cabinet who were in town at.
tended, as did a number Of The dip
lomaiic corps and the higher officers
Of me army and navy.
It's looEsa as though "'Marse" Hen.
rs Wai,eson we're O.. hit. Gyvern,
Hughes, Of New York, Is looking
up as a Republican presidential pos
sibilily People who have watched
the trend Of events say that the pub.
lie utilities bill in the New York
legislature is going to make his tame
nationally whether It passes or
whether 10 is defeated. II it passes
10 wiIl give him prestige as having
won a fight for the people against
almost prohibitive odds, and il does
not pass the governor will be con.
sidered a martyr 20 corrupt machine
politics and probably will be able to
bring the whole Of the New York |
delegation to the convention with
him. The President has not made |
any move toward giving him his sup. |
port, but II the occasion demands it |
there is little doub, that the support |
will be forthcoming.
President Roosevelt has appointed
d commission 90 prepare a compre.
1ensive plan 90 utilize the water
ways and TO connect them by canals.