The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-12-07
coRNsrALK PAPER.
Government Scientists Think the Prob
lem Is Solved.

|
Nothing hitherto accomplished by Tho
government scientists in Washington i
Of greater importance than the finding oI
process whereby paper can be manu-
/ factred from corustalks. The announce
mcnt Of this discovery has Just beer
made and, if practical tests bear out the
expectations Il viii cause a revolution in
an extensive industry and will greatly
obviate the danger Of having millions
Of acres Of forests wiped ont Of exist
| ence.
The preservation Of the forest land:
is one Of the most difficult problems that
confront the American people, and on its
solution depends the continuance Of ouI
agricultural prosperity. II is in the tim
/ Der land that the streams have their on.
gins and are conseryed and when the
forests are laid bare vast stretches Of
country even hundreds OF mites away
/ from the wooded districts, may become
practically valueless, either through in.
creasing aridity OF because Of spring
time floods.
With the exception Of the setting apart
Of preserves by the federal and state
u
| In which to check the enormous slaughter
Of trees During the last few years a
strong effort has been made to awaken
public opinion in the matter and to
arouse the country to the possibility that
one al our most valuable national pos.
sessions might be as completely and wan
tonly DESTROYED as were the millions Of
bison which covered our plains but a few
wears ago But the demand for paper
was 50 great that wood pulp alone was
available to furnish supply in the vast
quantities necessary.
Chemists employed BY paper manufac-
tllrers, as well as by scientific institu-
tions and the federal government, have
experimental In vain with hbrous grasses
and other forms of vegetation; and as
one after another was found to be i'm
practicable, the determination to obtain
an adequate raw material grew stronger,
for each defeat only made further effort
the more imperative And now. the bu
reaus of forestry and plant industry Of
the agricultural department believe they
have won success by using the humble
cornstalk. From this. it il said they
have already made five grades Of paper
and of five different shades. The dark
and light grays are thick, heavy and
tough and somewhat resemble parch-
ment, but the two shades Of yellow and
one of white are soft and pliable, The
white ID made from the hard outside
she'll Of the cornstalk, and the yellow
from the pith.
The department of agriculture claims
that millions of tons Of cornstalks will
be available each year for the purpose
Of papermaking 1t is estimated that
that amount is now being burned or
otherwise destroyed. although large
percentage Of the total production Is
turned under the soil In fan ploughing,
or Is used as ensilage to provide fodder
for cattle in winter.
Ii the expectation Of the government
chemists are realized it is possible that
the farmers of the country may have
opened to them a new and valuable
market for by-product; the cost Of
manufacturing paper may be cut in halfi
a supply Of raw material practically linn
itless III quantity may be assured and
best of all, the wholesale destruction OF
forests viii cease. aI
No one can deny that the lumber in.
dustry makes enormous inroads upon our
valuable timber lands but by judicious
forestry legislation, we may Offset this
drain upon our resources. In spite OF
modern methods Of ireproof construction
and the great increase in the use of iron,
steel and concrete for building materials,
food is necessarily demanded in much Of
the work. However, the outlook need
not be 50 alarming as to cause despair.
For many years a practical system OF
forestry has been employed IN Europe
with pronounced success, and there can
be no reason why, with a careful study /
Of the subject. the United States should /
not duplicate this feat.-Harper's Week |
y.