200 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



Ti.e Chinese were the first to make paper from vegetable fibres 

 about the beginning of tlie Chi-istian era. 



The Hindoos and Arabs carried the art thence to Spain and from 

 there it found its way to all parts of Europe. Paper made from 

 cotton, dates in Europe, from the tenth century, and from linen, 

 from the thirteenth century, when it took the lead and maintained 

 it to the end of the eighteenth century. 



In the establishing of a papermill it is necessary to select a site 

 where water of good quality and in great quantity can be had. 



It may also be necessary to construct filter-ponds so as to have 

 plenty of clean water when freshets and heavy rainfalls soil the 

 rivers. Then a solid stone foundation should be built, for the machin- 

 ery is ponderous and hardworking and the foundation on which the 

 paper machine is to be mounted must be solid and firmly united, so 

 that not the least vibration or change in position of any of its parts 

 can take place. 



Timbers that will best withstand the influence of water, such as 

 white oak, or hard yellow pine should be used. 



Rubber belting is always preferable to leather as it withstands the 

 influence of water and moisture so certain to be in every paj>ermill. 



875 difierent materials of a v getable, fibrous and cellulose nature 

 have been worked into paper pulp, but only a few are worthy of 

 special consideration. 



Esparto-grass is a spontm^ous product of sandy soils, is abundant 

 in Eastern Spain and Nor; .^x-n Africa, makes a beautiful paper and 

 yields 4:87o of pulp 



Manilla grass is a product of Eastern Asia, is extensively made 

 into ropes and bagging and reaches in due time, like rags, the paper- 

 mill. It is considered the strongest of all known fibres, and furnishes 

 the well known tan colored wiapping paper. Competition, large 

 demand and skillful manipulation, have produced manilla paper, 

 however, with much straw, old paper, some jute and very little 

 manilla grass in it. 



Jute is another East Indian fibre very similar to manilla, is much 

 cheaper and makes a good substitute in appearance, though not 

 nearly so strong. 



Cane : — In the Dismal Swamp and along the rivers of North and 

 South Carolina, as well as in the low lands of the Mississippi the 



