The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1910-06-07
AFTER SUBSTITUTE
FOR WOOD pulp

German paper makers are expert
menting with various fiber plants IN
the hope of finding a material sufficient
ly cheap for use in supplying the con-
~stantly increasing demand for paper.
The u. s. government is engaged in
similar work. They are looking for
some substitute for wood pulp to check
the great drain on forests.
Here is a pointer for building up a
new worlds industry of unlimited pro
portions. There are yet millions of
acres of u~noccupied lands in the Unit
ed States that could be planted to
fbrous plants, which would produce
even better paper than wood pulp.
The agricultural department will glad
ly cooperate with any one who may en-
gage in the industry by giving them
the benefit of it's experience in tests
already made and now under way.
Also by importing seed, plants, ETC., to
start the business. Some of the best
fiber plants grow almost as rapidly
as weeds. Some require moist land,
while others thrive on arid lands. The
proposition will require considerable
capital to start with in order to plant
a very large acreage. A large acreage
Is necessary 10 IOduN0 q - hNS
of raw material to constantly supply
the paper mills. Even in settled com,
munities there is a great deal of land
always idle that could be prontably
planted as soon as the proper manu-
facturers determine the kind of plants
preferred and provide the market. In
this way every farmer might produce
"a few tons of fiber plants. The aggre-
gate would be thousan Is of tons. All
fiber plants produce bi-products OF
great value, if properly treated.
The department of agriculture has
made many tests on these lines n
have issued an interesting bulletin for
free distribution in reference to de-
natured alcohol. Denatured alcohol is
the chief b~i-product of distillation OF
fiber plants. BY using the Hartzfelt
recess the fiber is reduced to pulp by
steam and the volatile alcohol is con
densed and saved. BY other processes
the D pulp would be converted into
charcoal, a less valuable product.
II will be seen that in establish
ing the new paper industry another
lust as important and profitable
would also be started by the one CO
~tinuous process. that is the manufac-
ture of denatured alcohol. Here again
the government has already paved the
way bv its exhaustive fuel tests, prov
ing the superiority of alcohol over all
other fuels for light, heat and power.
While alcohol is proven to be su-
perior to oil, gasoline or coal, its gen
eral use would conserve the supplies
of those fuels. which from enormous
consumption are gradually ~failinf
Where coal or wood were the universal
fuels a few years ago, oil and gasoline
have entered as a factor, and the In
ternal combustion (gas) engine. es-
p~eciaIlv on light work, has almost en-
Ifirelv superseded coal steam. on mas
displaced coal on many rallroads ana
steamships as well as factories, me
history of oil, proves that as a lasting
supply. it cannot be depended upon.
Even now ~prospectors are searching
the world over for new supplies OF OIL
What will happen when the supply VIII
not equal the demanda Even electricity
cannot fill the void. The only soiu-
tion is alcohol. which can be made
from annual crops and waste materials
of all kinds. There never was before
such An opportunity for the safe and
profitable Investment of capital in legi-
innate industry as is now offered in the
manufacture OF paper pulp and alco-
hol. The government offers every en-
enlargement and is anxious TO see the
work commence, for it is in direct line
of forest. coal and oil conservation as
we'll as affording profitable employment
to thousands of men, women and
children.