392 transactions of the american institute. 



Dry Gas Meters. 



Mr. John Johnson. — The dry meter on the table I placed there for the 

 inspection of members. In connection with the subject I will state that 

 the first dry meter in America was made at the suggestion of Wm. S. 

 Johnson by James Bogardus in 1832, and there has been on the average a 

 patent a year granted since. 



Paper and its Uses. 



Mr. Fisher. — I would ask if any one present has any definite information 

 in relation to the manufacture of paper from the husks of Indian corn? 

 Many years ago there was a good deal said on the subject, but recently it 

 has been revived as something new. In 1852 a book was published by the 

 Smithsonian Institute, which contained varieties of paper made from some 

 ihirty different materials, and I believe one has been published in England 

 which contained paper from over a hundred materials. 



Mr. Chambers. — I have seen in the possession of the Austrian Consul- 

 Creneral, in this city, some beautiful specimens of paper made from the 

 leaves of the maize, by a process discovered by Mr. Alois Auer, director of 

 the imperial printing establishment in Vienna, Austria. 



The Chairman. — I have here a communication to the society from a cor- 

 respondent in Ohio, accompanying a sample of grape leaves. 



' ' Mount Carmel, Ohio. 



" I observe in the discussions, on the 23d October, of the Polytechnic 

 Association, the subject of the manufacture of paper and materials for the 

 i^ame was introduced. Having for a long time remarked the fine fibrous 

 f-.haracter of the grape leaf after being touched by frost, I came to the con- 

 tusion that it would be an excellent article for the manufacture of paper, 

 for when crushed in the hand it adheres together almost like cotton, which 

 IS not the case with any other kind of dry leaf with which I am acquainted. 

 The Labrusca or Fox family of grape all possess the peculiarity of wooli- 

 ness mentioned above. The' color might be an objection, but if it could 

 not be bleached it would still answer for colored paper, and I think that 

 large quantities could be procured, as there are hundreds of acres annually 

 added to those already in cultivation. I inclose you a few leaves by which 

 you can judge of its appropriateness. Hoping it may prove of some bene- 

 fit, I remain yours, &c., T. V. Peticolas." 



Mr. Fisher.— I should think the fiber was too weak. 



The Chairman. — Here is another communication on the subject of Ameri- 

 can jute; will the Secretary please to read it ? 



Mr. Fisher. — I should think it was hardly worth while to read it; I see 

 it is very long. 



The Chairman. — If the reading is objected to, it must be omitted. 



The Secretary. — The communication is interesting, and, with the consent 

 of the society, I will briefly state its substance. The writer points out 

 that the plant known as American jute is not allied botanically to the 

 Indian jute, and he then shows that it may be cultivated in this country, 

 probably with profit as a material for paper making. » 



Prof Seely. — I recently had occasion to examine some very old books, 



