The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-08-27
PAPER MADE IN FLORIDA

If the specimen of Florida made
paper received at this Office is repre-
sentative of what may be done, and
the process is not too expensive. the
question of a supply of print paper
is solved in this state, at least.
From the Grass Fibre and Paper
Corporation, with headquarters at
Leesburg, there comes sample OF
Florida sawgrass fibre paper, that
unsized and unfinished as it is, is
proof of the fact that fine quality
of print paper, at least. can be made
from one of the commonest of raw
materials in the state. This particu-
lar sample was cooked in open wash
tubs, beaten by hand and run out on
wallpaper machine, and yet it read
lily takes printing ink and is much
stronger than the ordinary print
paper in daily use.
As it is not sized, the specimen
shows some of the rougher elements
of the raw material out of which it is
made, and is little off color, but the
manner in which it was produced and
the fact that it is not finished and
surfaced as print paper usually is,
| indicates that there is a basis here
for any quantity of real paper, for
which the world is now looking.
We cannot conceive of the supply
of saw grass being exhausted. There
| of this heretofore useless material in
Florida, and as it grows rapidly it
may easily be replaced when once a
portion of the land is cleared of it.
1t is said that company owning
the many patents covering this new
form of paper is installing large
mills at Leesburg. Evidently. the
promoters of the enterprise have
studied the question of costs of pro-
duction deeply, or they would not
NOW be installing a costly plant to
manufacture sawgrass into paper.
Before the end of this year, it is ex-
Ipected, the pulp mill will be turning
tout pulp in large quantities, and the
Irets of the program of preparing
print paper is comparatively easy.
| What this means to the state of
Florida, and especially to that por-
ton in which there are extensive
fields OF sawgrass, is not difficult to
imagine. The worlds paper situa-
ton is exceedingly serious. The con-
sumption of white print paper is en-
ormous, and the drains upon the
spruce forests of the north has been
such as seriously to deplete the for
ests upon which the northern manu-.
faeturer depends for his supply. A
spruce tree cannot be replaced in
decades and when once the ground is
cleared of available material the
pulp manufacturer must go else.
where for his supply. That supply
is rapidly vanishing.
If the sawgrass of Florida afford:
a practical pulp making product par
of the great problem is solved, ant
the company that first begins th'
manufacture of good quality o.
print paper from this widespread
Florida grass is assured of a prof
table and growing business from thu
! start.
If the Leesburg mill proves a sue
cess, other pulp mills and other paper
mills will spring up all over South
Florida, and this industry promises
to be one in which Miami could very
well become nterested.-Miami Her
aid.
The Star has received sample O
the paper and finds it light AM
strong. With good management, tn,
industry is bound to be great sue
,, cess and of prime benefit to the state
! The Star has enough faith in. it t,
: take stock and if every other news
paper in Florida will do so the stat,
press will secure base near hom
that even war will find it difficult t,
disturb.