Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-05-09
MAKING P1APf I
OF: corn. STALKS
lt.-.'.--s u s54
Hon. Frank P Woods Writes the
Freeman Tribune Regarding
What il Being Done in
That Direction.
3aa lt----.ta tsftf* HI
LITTLE DOUBT OF SUCCESS
Thirty-Five Millions of Tons Of
Stalks Going to Waste Yearly
in the Corn Belt.
LITTLE DOUBT OF SUCCESS

A few days ago the Freeman-Trib-
une called attention to the fact that
some years since the Hon. Frank 2.
Woods had said he was going to try
to get paper mill established some
where IN the Tenth distsict to exper-
iment in making paper from corn
stalks. The present excessive price
of paper has called the attention OF
the country to the necessity OF find
ing new methods>of producing this
necessity;Sif possible, and at the same
time create a market for by-pro-
duct OF the farm that is now without
value. The FreemantTribune wrote
Mr. Woods about the matter few
days ago, inclosing the clipping re-
ferred to, and Mr.. Woods replies as
follows under date of Washington,
May 4: 5lt
Freeman Tribune, Webster City,
Iowa. beg to acknowledge receipt
Of your letter Of recent date in which
you ask as to the manufacture of pa
per from cornstalks.
The Government has an establish
ment here in Washington expert
menting in the manufacture OF paper
from cornstalks and various other fl
bers. We provide quite sum an
nually in the Agricultural Appropri-
alton Bill for this purpose. ] made
somewhat Of an investigation of this
matter a number of years ago with
view that in the event that / con-
cluded that the cost of manufacture
ing paper from corn stalks was not
too great to prevent its being put on
the market at price somewhere
near the selling price of other SINH
! lar. paper.I would make special eff
fort to get a Bill through Congress
establishing plant in Iowa and II
possible in the Tenth District.
Whenever opportunity permitted
have gone over this matter with
some Of the experts. There has to
be considered Of course the value Of
the cornstalks to the farmer and the
cost of getting the cornstalks to the
mill. At the time first made an
investigation of the manufacture OF
paper from cornstalks the process
would not permit of the use Of the
pith to be manufactured into paper.
but only the fiber was used. The pa
per is now being manufactured by
the experimental plant from the
whole stalk, or combination OF
both pith and fiber. Paper Of excel
lent quality is being made, but 1t
remains to be determined whether 1t
can be manufactured at such cost
as to enable the farmer to haul
stalks to the mill at profit and at
the same time enable the manufact-
ure to secure reasonable interest on
his investment.
Corn stalks are probably the
greatest unused crop by-product.
There are probably 35 million tons
Of cornstalks grown in what is
known as the corn belt" area and
the Department is awake to the
great value this would have If ii
could be manufactured into paper.
1t is found to be best to mix the
fiber in manufacturing paper. For
instance not more than so or 60 pei
cent Of cornstalks should be used
in the material from which paper is
made.
Enclose herewith few samples
of the paper.
WAS made wholly OF corn
stalks, both the long fiber and the
pith, no other. material. I,
WAS made wholly from corn
stalks but long fiber only was used,
There is too much waste in using
only long fiber.
3.-Is SO per cent cornstalks us
ed In connection with other fiber.
D. -t
As 40 per cent corn stalks US
ed in connection with other fiber.
OF course these are just samples
and have some dirt or specks in the
paper. but this can be readily elm
mated during the manufacture with
practically no expense.
It is hoped that If a plant is es-
tablished for the manufacture Of pa
per from corn stalks it will be es-
<tablished in Iowa or other equally
good location. This is important on
account of hauling stalks to the
mill and also owing to the fact that
there is no paper manufacturing
plant located there, which means a
saving in freight for the raw mater
ial and In the. finished product. The
experiment station is working on