Evening journal., 1911-12-01
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Nuisance That EeCame a
Fortune Builder
Rv HoIIand
BY Holland.

told Wednesday the story Of how
the late George West, who gained
great fortune as g paper manufactur-
er, when working in a paper mill as a
skilled laborer discovered a method
by which water marks could be i'm
bedded In letter paper by the use Of
machinery, whereas before II had been
done by hand. AT the same time Mr..
West told me of this incident in his
career, he also related how Joseph
Parker OF Westville, Conn. who fiftp
years ago was regarded as one OF the
leading paper manufacturers of the
country, greatly facilitated by one
shrevd move the process Of manufac-
turing high grade writing and book
paper while at the same time reducing
the cost.
Il knew Joseph Parker we'll" said
) Mr.. West, "and during one OF the
many conversations | had with him
asked him how he had come to hit
upon the idea in the manufacture of
paper which had given him his fame
In te paper-making world.
engaged In the manufacture of paper, ="
he said to me. 1--WE relied almost en-
tirely upon rags. | had an agreement
with the tin peddlars who roamed
throughout Connecticut to take all Of
the cotton or linen rags which they
picked up and for which they ex-
changed their tinware with the farms
ers' wives or with the families in
small villages. II was chiefly with
rags thus gathered that ] operated my
little paper mill.
One day | happened 10 be in East
erp Connecticut where several new
cotton mills had been established.
noticed that the manufacturers we're
greatly bothered with the cotton waste
that is to say, the trimmings from
the bales Of cotton which were un-
suitable for the manufacture of cot
ton goods They gladly gave this waste
away, aud then could not get rid Of
all Of it; It was a nuisance. 1t was
chiefly used by machinists and loco
motive engineers to wipe of their ma
chimes or engines.
Well, for the moment / did not
pay much attention to this waste, but
suddenly the idea struck me that 4
cotton rags we're good material for
the manufacture of paper, why wasn't
cotton waste equally good? So ] went
to a mill owner and got lot Of cotton
waste and experimental With IT, To
my delight / found that 1t made a
splendid quality of book or letter
paper Besides, 1t was very cheap; It
would cost me almost nothing, except
ing for carting OF transportation.
Immediately made arrangements with
the cotton manufacturers to take their
waste, and with il ] manufactured at
low cost the finest grade OF paper that
I had ever offered to the trade.
That" continued Mr.. West was
the first utilization OF the by-pro-
ducts OF cotton. for nobody at that
time dreamed of the mint Of money
that was in ootton-seed. Now every by
product OF cotton IS utilized and saw
not long ago very fair wrapping paper
that had been made from cotton
stalks. But Joseph Pauker, az the time
"A Connecticut manufacturer Of paper
I'm a small way. was the first man to
teach the world what value there was
in the waste products Of cotton
did Mr.. Parker make a fortuneg
| asked Mr.. West
"Oh, yes was the reply. Not a
great fortune as fortunes are now
ESTIMATED; but he became a rich man
Nbecause he had the wit 70 sec that
cotton waste would make good paper"
| Copyright, 1911, by r. J. Edwards. All
rights reserved)