812 



WOOD PULP. 



WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. 



quired, and of the same strength as generally 

 used, is employed. 



The product resulting from this apparatus is a 

 Tiniformly reduced material, in which no portion 

 is either over- cooked or under-cooked, and no 

 powder-like particles are formed, to be washed 

 away in subsequent operations. This uniformity 

 of cooking of all portions of the charge enables 

 the manufacturer to produce at least 100 pounds 

 more of a commercial fibre from a cord of wood 

 than is generally produced under the old process; 

 and it also produces a stronger fibre, because of 

 the great reduction of the time of subjection of 

 the wood to the combined action of great heat 

 and strength of the alkaline liquor used in cook- 

 ing. 



A cord of wood will make about 1,650 pounds 

 of ground pulp, 1,000 pounds of sulphite fibre, or 

 800 pounds of soda pulp. Soda mills use all 

 kinds of mill refuse, thus effecting a great saving 

 of expense and utilizing a vast amount of ma- 

 terial that would otherwise go to waste; but sul- 

 phite and grinding mills require wood in the log; 

 and in this is found the only serious objection to 

 the pulp business. Ground pulp is worth from 

 $22 to $28 a ton. Domestic sulphite fibre sells 

 at $67.51) to $70 a ton, and the best imported at 

 $67.50 to $100. The Germans have a superior 

 sulphite process, and produce the best fibre in the 

 world. The duty on sulphite fibre is 10 per 

 cent, ad valorem, and large quantities of it are 

 imported. This fibre is rather stiff and wiry, and 

 all the ingenuity of men of science and manu- 

 facturers is being applied to the problem of soft- 

 ening it. Solution of bisulphite of lime or mag- 

 nesia removes all organic matter from wood, 

 leaving only the fibre, which is used in conjunc- 

 tion with rags, or even alone, with ground pulp 

 for paper. It is estimated that, by the new proc- 

 ess, the cost of production of fibre will be still 

 more reduced, so that the paper-maker can fur- 

 nish to the book-maker, news publisher, and other 

 users of paper, at less rates than now. As the 

 manufacture of fibre from wood is a specialty, to 

 a large extent, so will the manufactures of fibre 

 from straws, grasses, jute buts, etc., soon be- 

 come specialties. Wood pulp has brought the 

 price of white paper down to three or four cents 

 a pound, and it provides an article that readily 

 takes ink and is especially adapted to fast 

 presses. Ground pulp constitutes over 80 per 

 cent, of the common white newspaper in use ; 

 rags and sulphite fibre making up the remain- 

 der. Even the contractor for making postal 

 cards is allowed to use 75 per cent, of wood pulp. 

 Sulphite and soda fibres are largely used in the 

 manufacture of fine grades of paper. 



Another use for pulp has been found in the 

 making of water pipes, which are treated by a 

 process that makes them practically indestruc- 

 tible. In this form the product is known as in- 

 durated fibre. Pipe is made from a specially 

 prepared pulp which is forced into a rubber bag 

 in the centre of which is a brass strainer or form. 

 The form gives the size to the pipe. If the 

 strainer is two inches in diameter, the pipe made 

 upon it will be of that diameter. When the 

 rubber bag, which is three or four inches larger 

 than the brass strainer, is filled with pulp, sev- 

 eral tons of hydraulic pressure is laid about the 

 rubber bag from without. As the strainer and 



rubber bag are inclosed in a large iron pipe, the 

 hydraulic pressure holds the rubber bag firmly 

 about the pulp and strainer. The strainer being 

 perforated, the water in the pulp escapes freely. 

 In about ten minutes the pulp has been reduced 

 to a pipe three-quarters of an inch thick. The 

 pipe is then saturated with a preparation con- 

 taining a large percentage of asphaltum. The 

 pipes are baked in kilns, thus rendering them 

 strong, hard, and impervious to acids and moist- 

 ure. Great care must be taken during this proc- 

 ess to prevent the pipes from warping. If the 

 slightest imperfection is detected, the pipe is cast 

 into a vat and turned again to pulp. When 

 thoroughly baked, the pipes are trimmed ;md 

 shaped in a machine, and finished when the 

 threads are cut in the ends. 



WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. 

 The last issue of the " Annual Cyclopedia " con- 

 tained such facts as were available, up to the 

 day of going to press, concerning the World's 

 Columbian Exposition from the time of its in- 

 ception. The article reviewed briefly the history 

 of similar enterprises during the past forty years, 

 and described the proposed site at Chicago, with 

 dimensions of the buildings then in course of 

 construction, and numerous facts and figures 

 relating to appropriations and estimated expen- 

 ditures. Many plans, measurements, etc., hav- 

 ing been changed during the past twelve months, 

 the figures and statements given in this volume 

 must be considered as canceling those previously 

 published. The area in acres, whenever given, 

 includes floor space and galleries. 



In this article will be set forth the present con- 

 dition of affairs connected with the Exposition ; 

 the exact location of important structures, and 

 some details as to the arrangements now in course 

 of development for carrying extensive plans and 

 projects to a successful issue. Rapid progress has 

 been made in every department, more particu- 

 larly since the dedication ceremonies were held, 

 in October, 1892. 



The Reception. On Wednesday, Oct. 21, a 

 brilliant reception, admirably arranged and man- 

 aged, was held at the Auditorium. The most 

 distinguished men of every State and nation were 

 invited and took part in the proceedings on this 

 memorable occasion, Hon. Levi P. Morton, Vice- 

 President of the United States, occupying the 

 post of honor as representative of President Har- 

 rison, who, owing to the severe illness of Mrs. 

 Harrison, was unable to be present. Fully 3,500 

 persons responded personally to the invitations 

 of the Directors. 



The Civic Parade. On Thursday, Oct. 22, 

 Vice-President Morton reviewed, from the Gov- 

 ernment Building within the Exposition grounds, 

 a great Civic Parade, marshaled by Major-Gen- 

 eral Nelson A. Miles. This procession, princi- 

 pally composed of organizations and societies, 

 took three hours to pass the reviewing stand. 

 This part of the ceremonial programme was in 

 every way a success. 



The Dedication. On Friday, Oct. 23, the 

 dedication ceremonies took place. More than 

 250,000 people were carried to the parks on the 

 trains, cable lines, and boats. The number who 

 visited the Exposition grounds and vicinity in 

 other vehicles or on foot was enormous. The 

 day's proceedings began promptly at 9 A. M. Many 



