New-York tribune., 1910-09-18

plant is still used to some extent in India IN
the manufacture of paper for deeds, genoa
logical records, etc.
The earliest paper makers in America were
the AzteCS of Mexico who are said TO nave
prepared a substance somewhat resembling
the papyrus of the Egyptians from, the
leaves of the maguey, or century plant.
The first paper mill in this country was es-
tabliShed in the locality of what IS now
Philadelphia, about 1890.
What Fiber Is Best
WIHILE paper can be manufactured from
w almost any fbrOuS substance, the use
funesS of fiber for paper making depends
upon the amount of pure CellulOSe 1t Will
Weld under treatment and also upon the
cost of the process employed. CellulOSe IS
the indestructible cell structure or solid
framework of plants deprived of all ex-
traneOuS matter, such as the gums and resins
that serve to cement the fibrouS bundles to-
gether Pure CellulOSe is taSteleSS, lnodor-
Gus, translucent, and insOluble in water, al
cohol, or oils, though it can be converted
into starch and sugar by the action of heat.
Unsized, unloaded white linen paper IS
practically pure cellulose. It's physical prop
critics, after it has been purified and freed
from all extraneOus matters, determine It's
value to the manufacturer. If the ultimate
fibers are short, hard, and smooth, like the
fibers of straw, it will make indifferent
paper, lacking in tenacity and hneness. II,
on the other hand, the fbers are long and
flexible, with good felting properties, that IS,
fibers that will adhere together, fine,
though flexible, paper results. Common
straw and flax represent two extremes, De
tween which wide range of characteristics
will be found for out of the thousand or
more species of the worlds flora enumerated
as fiber plants a large proportion Would
Weld paper of some sort.
The percentages of cellulose in some of
the more important fibers are as follows:
Bast of Sda, SO; flax and hemp, 80; Jute
and ramie, IS; agaves, such as the century
plant, 76; New Zealand flax, 81; manila
hemp, 90; baobab bark (African monkey
bread tree, 80; pulpwoOd 80; esparto
grass and common straw, 81. While high
percentage of cellu1ose is always desirable,
together with good length in the ultimate
fiber, quantity and CheapnesS are factors
that go far in fixing the availability OF pa
per fiber Many plants that are capable OF
manufacture into paper OF superior quality
are not available in a commercial sense, be-
cause they cannot be produced IN sufficient
quantities at cost that would make ex-
ploitatiOn practical.
w nen Lne ue1lldnu IOI paper Ill L4IlS SOtti-
try was largely increased, and processes for
reduction had been improved and cheapened,
the forests were found to furnish the great
est available supply, and woodpulp came to
the front. How far this supply will remain
available, at the present rate of cutting, IS a
question that at the present time is causing
more or less concern. BY far the greater
part of the paper we are using to-day IS
made from the chemically or mechanically
treated wood of spruce and hemlock, with
some pine, poplar, and other soft wooded
trees, amounting to total of over two and
a half million tons of native and imported
pulp annually. The portion produced at
home represents upward of four million
cords, costing over thirty-two million dol
lars. In addition to woodpulp something
like a million tons of rags and straw is used
to make up the total output of paper used
in this country every year, representing two
hundred million dollars of value.
Every Country Has Fiber Plants
A LIST of the fiber plants of the world
that have been recognized as capable of
producing paper would be a long one; for IN