Page:Littell's Living Age - Volume 128.djvu/327

Rh esparto was found to be superior to straw, and he has accordingly patented his invention. The following is a brief sketch of the way in which he proposes to deal with bamboo for the manufacture of fibrous paper-stock: "First and foremost, it is essential to operate on the stems of the plant when young, and preferably when fresh cut. Brought to a factory in this condition, the stems are passed through heavy crushing rolls, in order to split and flatten them, and at the same time crush the nodes. The stems are then passed through a second series of rolls, which are channelled, or grooved, in order further to split or partially divide them longitudinally into strips or ribbons; these being cut transversely into convenient length by a guillotine-knife or shears, are delivered by a carrier, or automatic feeder, direct to the boiling-pans. Both the boiling and washing processes ordinarily in vogue for producing half-stuff or semi-pulp, Mr. Routledge conducts in a battery, or series of vessels connected together by pipes or channels, furnished with valves or cocks, so that communication between the vessels may be maintained, disconnected, and regulated as desired, in such manner that the vessels being methodically charged in succession, the heated lyes (composed of caustic alkali) can be conducted from vessel to vessel. The lyes are thus used again and again (each successive change or charge, of lye carrying forward the extractive matters it has dissolved from the fibre with which it has been in contact) until exhausted or neutralized (when they are discharged), fresh lyes being methodically and successively supplied, until by degrees the extractive matters combined with the fibre have been rendered sufficiently soluble, when hot water for washing or rinsing is, in the same continuous manner, run from vessel to vessel, until the extractive matters rendered soluble by the previous alkaline baths have been carried forward and discharged, leaving the residuary fibre sufficiently cleansed. A final cooling-water is run on and through the fibre, which is then drained, and the contents of the vessel are placed in a press, in order to abstract as much of the remaining moisture as possible. The dry or semi-dry fibre is then submitted to the action of a "willow" or "devil," by means of which it is opened or "teased" out, and converted readily into a tow-like condition, when it is dried by a current of heated air, induced by a fan-blast, and finally baled up for storage or transport. In this condition of paper-stock it may be kept for an indefinite length of time without injury; and when received by the paper-manufacturer, it has only to be soaked down and bleached, in order to fit it for making paper, either by itself or as a blend with other materials. It may here be mentioned that the brochure of which we are speaking is printed on paper made by the author from bamboo.

To turn Mr. Routledge's invention to practical account, it will of course be necessary to form plantations of bamboo in those countries where it flourishes and grows untended, with almost inconceivable rapidity; and, further, to erect there the works and machinery requisite for the manufacture of the paper-stock just described, because, owing to its bulk, and the consequent cost of carriage, it will never pay to bring bamboo to this country in any other form.

The second material which, in Mr. Routledge's opinion, fulfils the main conditions demanded by a paper-manufacturer, is "megasse," or "begasse," the fibrous residue of the sugarcane after it has been crushed to extract the juice. This, when "properly prepared, affords a strong, nervous fibre, or fibrous stock, which bleaches well, and possesses all the characteristics of a first-class paper-making material." For obvious reasons, megasse would also have to be "converted into a fibrous stock at or near the sugar-factory where it is produced, then dried, and put up in hydraulic-pressed bales for economical transport." At present, megasse is only made use of as fuel in the sugar-factories and in some countries as manure. "As its' value, thus considered, is very low," Mr. Routledge thinks that "factories established in connection with existing sugar-mills for the manufacture of paper-stock, where sufficient quantities of so bulky a material could be concentrated, and where other favourable conditions exist (of which an abundant supply of water is an essential), would yield a large profit to the planter or sugar-manufacturer;" indeed, he has "made both paper-stock and paper of good quality from megasse, and determined the profitable nature of such a manufacture beyond dispute." It may be interesting to mention here that bamboo and megasse yield sixty and forty per cent, of fibre respectively.

As Mr. Routledge alludes to it in commenting on the present position of the paper-trade in relation to the supply of raw material, we shall perhaps be pardoned for adding a few words with regard to the attempt which has been made to 