BULLETIN 



VOL. 18. SALEM: JAN., FEB., MAR., 1886. Nos. 1-3. 

 MR. TOPPAN'S NEW PROCESS FOR SCOURING WOOL. 



JOHN RITCHIE, JR. 



Read before the Essex Institute, March 15, 1886. 



Ladies and Gentlemen, Two years ago, almost to a day, 

 I had the pleasure of discussing before you what was at that 

 time a new process of bleaching cotton and cotton fabrics, a 

 process which, since that day, has been developed with steadily 

 increasing value by a company doing business under Mr. Top- 

 pan's inventions. This evening [March 15] I desire your 

 attention to a consideration of the effects of the same solvent 

 principle upon that other great textile material, wool. 



The lecture of two years ago was illustrated by the pro- 

 cesses themselves, practically performed before your eyes. It 

 is our intention this evening to follow out the same plan and 

 to illustrate and, so far as may be, prove by experiment the 

 statements which shall be made. 



It is our intention to scour upon the platform various speci- 

 mens of wool, and as well, to dye before you such colors as 

 can be fixed within a time which shall not demand, upon your 

 part, too much of that virtue, patient waiting. 



Mr. Toppan, who needs no introduction to this audience, 

 will undertake, later in the evening, the scouring of wool, 

 and Mr. Frank Sherry, of Franklin, has kindly offered to 

 assist in the work of dyeing. To those of you who are not 

 familiar with the authorities in this country, in the work of 

 dyeing, I need only say, that Mr. Sherry is an expert in his 

 chosen business, and that his books are the standard in a 

 majority of the mills in New England and in Canada. Inas- 

 much as the time necessary for dyeing is somewhat long, 



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