33 



report showed " that the wood is quite suitable for use as a paper-making 

 material, but in view of the soft nature and shortness of its ultimate fibres it 

 would be best utilized in admixture with stronger materials such as spruce." 

 In any case, it is nowhere plentiful enough to form the sole source of supply 

 of raw material for a pulp factory, though it could probably be used in 

 admixture with bamboo. As the whole future of pulp manufacture in Kenya 

 Colony must depend largely on cheap and plentiful supplies of limestone, no 

 development of the pulp industry in respect of any form of raw material is 

 possible unless the question of supplies of limestone can be satisfactorily 

 solved. 



16. BAMBOO PULP. 



36. PROSPECTS. Attention has been directed recently to the possi- 

 bility of establishing a bamboo pulp industry in Kenya Colony. In weigh- 

 ing the prospects of success in the enterprise it may be of interest to compare 

 conditions in Kenya with those prevailing in Burma, a country possessing 

 large supplies of bamboo, cheap water transport, and limestone in cer- 

 tain cases conveniently situated. Kenya is at a great disadvantage in respect 

 of transport. Most of the bamboo areas are at present too inaccessible for 

 economic working. In the case of those which are accessible the pulp would 

 have to be transported a distance of 360 to 460 miles by rail to the coast, at 

 a flat rate of 1 lls. 4d. per ton. In some cases water may be a difficulty, but 

 this difficulty could probably be got over in areas likely to be workable. The 

 bamboo is present in gregarious masses which may be clear-felled, rendering 

 working easy. Forest and factory labour, though not abundant, should be 

 adequate. The presence of soda in the country is a decided asset, though it 

 will not influence working costs so much as might be imagined, since by the 

 use of a soda recovery plant over 80 per cent, of the soda used can be recovered, 

 and the net amount used is therefore not very great. The good climate of the 

 highlands of Kenya Colony compares very favourably with the hot and some- 

 what unhealthy climate of Burma, and this should be a useful asset in the 

 matter of attracting a supervising staff of Europeans. 



I have framed a very rough estimate in respect of one of the most acces- 

 sible bamboo areas, which, however, I am not in a position to publish, since 

 I was unable, with the limited time at my disposal, to collect data which I 

 can regard as sufficiently accurate in all respects. So far as it can be 

 accepted this estimate indicates that bamboo pulp can be manufactured and 

 delivered at Mombasa at a total cost of of between 13 and 14 per ton of 

 air-dry pulp without allowing for depreciation, and assuming that lime can 

 be obtained at the factory at a price not exceeding 2 10s. per ton. This esti- 

 mated cost of production and delivery at the coast is somewhat higher than 

 what may be expected in the case of Burma, but it should allow a very fair 

 margin of profit after deducting freight, insurance and other charges, and 

 providing a reserve for depreciation and renewals. 



The whole question, however, hinges primarily on the possibility of 

 delivering large supplies of suitable limestone at the factory at a reasonable 

 cost, and until this question is settled no estimate can have any practical 

 value. 



A thorough investigation of all limestone tracts within an economic 

 radius of possible pulp-factory sites ought therefore to be carried out as 

 soon as possible. 



If the question of lime is satisfactorily settled there should be no diffi- 

 culty in interesting reliable firms connected with the pulp or paper trade; 

 such firms could then make investigations on their own account with the view 

 of taking up concessions. The information which follows may be of some use 

 to those who are interested in the matter. 



[243466] 5 



