MAIZE-PAPER AND MAIZE-CLOTH. 437 



The result was, if not a material for paper cheap as rags, the discovery of a new 

 fibre capable of being spun and woven, and furnishing, in its waste, a cheap 

 paper. 



The endeavor to procure paper from unworn plant fibre was always met by 

 its great expense ; and the fact that cotton, hemp, and flax were first woven and 

 worn, and afterwards converted into paper, suggested the possible conversion 

 of the new material into textures first, and paper afterwards, and led to the 

 production of coarse cloth from the husks of maize. Thus the first process be- 

 came last, and the manufacture is yet in a crude and imperfect state, having 

 been experimented upon for only two years. It is not expected to compete 

 ^\;ith fine linen, but is designed as a substitute for common flax and hemp linen, 

 for oil-cloth, tar-cloth, &c. Specimens of crash are on exhibition at the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, and oil-cloth which seems a perfect fac aimile of the best 

 oil-cloth of commerce. These specimens look well ; their durability will be 

 tested by use. 



Three components are developed by the result of the process : fibres, flour- 

 dough, and gluten. The fibres are spun and woven; the "flour-dough," or 

 nutritive element, has a pleasant taste, (improving poor qualities of flour by an 

 admixture,) is wholesome, and has the peculiarity of resisting putrefaction for 

 mouths ; and the waste, consisting of gluten and broken fibres, is used for 

 making paper. Thus our Indian corn furnishes the ear, and this maize extract, 

 for the food of man, fibres for his clothing, and beautiful paper from the shorter 

 fibre and gluten ; and when the textures are worn, they are reduced to rags and 

 converted into paper. The lower part of the stalks furnish fuel for the steam- 

 boiler used in reducing the raw material to its separate elements. 



The progress made in perfecting the manufacture of paper has of late been 

 very satisfactory. Evidence of this is abundantly afforded in the specimens 

 recently received at the department from Dr. Chevalier Auer de Welsbach, 

 director of the imperial printing establishment at Vienna, and superintendent 

 of the imperial paper-mills at Schlogelmuhl, who has been unremitting in his 

 efforts, which have been crowned with a large measure of success. Among 

 these papers are found parchment and document papers of great strength and 

 durability ; tracing paper of superior tenacity and transparency — an effect of 

 the natural gluten of the husks, rendering unnecessary the present expensive 

 process of its manufacture, and supplying draughtsmen with the cheapest ma- 

 terial known ; letter paper in various styles and in several colors, with a smooth 

 and polished, but soft sm-face, which takes the ink kindly ; " chancery papers" 

 of great variety — in size, very heavy and durable ; beautiful silk paper of several 

 colors, of wonderful delicacy in structure and finish ; paper for the manufecture 

 of artificial flowers, in lilac, rose, blue, green, and brown, gossamer-like, yet 

 strong, weighing but six pounds to the ream ; and cigarette paper, but little 

 heavier, weighing but seven pounds to the ream. Of most varieties, both ma- 

 chine and hand papers are produced. 



A peculiarity of this paper, due to the large proportion of gluten it contains, 

 is worthy of mention. Placed with common paper in water, and left to soak 

 until the latter will fall to pieces by its o\vn weight, the maize-paper, on trial, 

 seems nearly or quite as tenacious as ever. 



The price may be judged by the following specimens, reduced to our currency : 



' ' Eoj^al chancery, 32 pounds, 20 by 26 inches, $4 16 per ream. 



"Letter paper of ditfereut kinds, from 22 to 32 cents per pound. A medium specimen, 

 weighing 12 pounds to the ream, 17-^ by 22^ inches, is valued at $2 40 per ream. 



"Flower paper, weighing G pounds, $2 88 per ream. 



"Cigarette paper, 7 pounds to the ream, J9-J by 28i inches, brown, $2 24; white, $2. 



"Silk paper, 4 pounds to the ream, 14^ by \1\ inches, white, $1 60: yellow, $2 20 per 

 ream. 



"Drawing paper, 16 pounds to the ream, 13 by IG inches, $4 80 per ream." 



