Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20
SOME ODD PAPERS IN JAPAN
Varities which Some Federa Off
cials Think Could BE
Made Here.

WASHINGTON, Feb. l9.-Efforts are be-
Ing made by the Agricultural department
to induce paper manufacturers to profit by
the Japanese paper plants, which were in
PRODUCED several years ago and which are
now thriving In various parts of this coun-
try. David Fairchild, chief of the office Of
plant Introduction of the department,
through whose efforts the mitsumata and
other paper plants of Japan were brought
into this country, is enthusiastic in urging
the Introduction here of Japanese methods
Of making paper. Said Mr.. Fairchild:
From the banks of trees and shrubs the
Japanese make scores Of papers which are
far ahead of ours. The walls of the Japan
ese houses are wooden frames covered with
thin paper which keeps out the wind, but
let's In the light, and when one compares
these paper walled doll houses with the
gloomy bamboo cabins OF the inhabitants
Of the island of Java or the small win
dowed huts Of our forefathers one realizes
hat without glass and in a rainy climate
these ingenious people have solved in a
remarkable way the problem of lighting
their dwellings and. at least, in a measure
OF keeping out the cold"
Mr.. Fairchild has secured specimens OF
paper productions from Japan and the vari-
~ - 49, ~ AAN nv y
are durable and are said to be very creap.
AS a protection for his load of tea when
a rain storm overtakes him the japanese
farmer spreads over II a tough, pliable
GOV er of this oiled paper, which is almost
as impervious as tarpaulin and as light
as gossamer. The rickshaw coolies in the
large cities wear rain nantes of this
oiled paper, which costs less than Is cents
and lasts for a year or mora with con-
slant use. An oiled tissue paper which is
as tough as our writing paper can be had
at the Japanese stationer's for wrapping
up delicate articles.
The shibu gami forms an unrlvalled
wrapping paper for tea, as 1t is practically
impervious to atmospheric conditions.
1t is prepared by a tanning process and
retains its efficiency with careful use for
many years. Grain and meal sacks are
almost always made of this paper in Japan,
for 1t IL not easily penetrated by weevils
or other insects.
Perhaps the most remarkable specimen
in the lot is a leatherlike paper of which
tobacco pouches and pipe cases are made.
This Is almost as tough as French kid, so
transparent that one can nearly see
through it and as pliable as oalfskin. a
tobacco pouch made of OF this material
changes one y nolOns OF the cnafactefls-
tics OF paper, for the stuff II as thick as
cardboard. but as flexible as kid. The use
Of paper napkins and handkerchiefs, UNI.
brellas and lanterns in Japan is as common
as the use OF cheap tin articles is in this
country.
These Japanese papers are made from
the inner bark of shrubs or small trees,
while the papers of Europe and America
are made either from wood pulp, the
m~acerated stems OF wild grasses or cotton
or linen rags. To the fact that the Japa-
nese papers are made from bark they owe
their peculiar character. They are as a
rule softer, silkier, tougher and lighter
than any home made product. If wet they
lose their strength, like tissue paper, but
in drying regain it. They are usually alb
sorbent, q fact which made them useful
In surgery before modern methods were
introduced.