342 transactions of the american institute. 



The Utilization of Waste Products. 



The discussion of this subject was resumed this evening' by Mr. Wat soTsv 

 who presented a number of specimens of writing, drawing, and printing- 

 paper manufactured from the husks of Indian corn at the Imperial paper 

 mills, near Vienna. The specimens came directly from the Austrian Consul 

 in this city, Chas. F. Loosey, Esq., and all the facts relating to the process 

 of the manufacture were furnished by him. Paper had been made from the 

 corn plant as early as 1772, but from its cost it could not compete with 

 paper made from rags. The process now employed at the Imperial mills is 

 claimed to be near perfection. For some purposes this paper is superior 

 to that made from rags. Specimens of cloth wer^e also exhibited, manu- 

 factured from the fibre of the corn husks. It is coarse, but of remarkable 

 strength. The enameled oil cloth made from this material appeared to be 

 well adapted to a variety of purposes. 



He, Mr. Watson, had seen rolls of a thousand yards in length. The 

 whole product of the husk is utilized by the Austrian process; that not 

 used in paper and cloth is fed to cattle. The gluten and starch is pressed 

 into brick-like cakes which have the desirable property of keeping- fresh 

 for a long time. They are sometimes used in making bread. Thus we see 

 there are three distinct articles of use made from the corn husk. 



To return to the paper, the first query would be with regard to its cost. 

 It is cheaper than rag paper, and is constantly sold in competition even at 

 the great rag depot at Trieste. It has been manufactured at the Imperial 

 mills since 1860, and is a source of revenue to the Austrian Government. 

 This fact is sufficient evidence that its manufacture is profitable. The 

 speaker saw no reason why this paper should not be made in this country 

 as well as in Austria. As the raw material is here much cheaper and more 

 abundant, while the price of paper is much higher than in Europe, there 

 would seem to be no great risk in the experiment. This raw material can 

 be worked in an ordinary paper mill. 



Mr. A. Nash remarked that the strength of the husk was greatest before 

 the corn was ripe, and in proportion as the corn ripened the streng-th of 

 the husk was reduced. 



Mr. Blanchard said that the strength of flax was diminished in the same 

 way. The best linen was made from unripe flax. So, too, tlie best tow 

 cloth is made from unripe hemp. 



It was stated in reply that machinery had been perfected for utilizing 

 the flax, after the seed had been gathered. 



Professor Joy remarked that the best evidence of the use of the husk, 

 after the corn had ripened, is the fact that corn is now the principal food 

 of the people where the paper is maiiufactmed. He was impressed with 

 the vast extent of its ctdtivation during his recent visit to Europe. The 

 moment you cross the boundary line into Switzerland you will find inmiense 

 corn fields. He had noticed in passing, that the morning, noon and even- 

 ing repast of the oeasants was a preparation of cornmeal, and he had eaten 

 it himself, when in fact nothing else could be obtained. Of course, they 

 allow it to grow until it is perfectly ripe. It would be absurd to think 



