PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 393 



and was impressed with the diflerence between the paper of which they 

 were made and the paper that is manufactured at the present day. In 

 tearing that old paper a very rough edge was formed by the long fibers of 

 the material; but if a piece of modern paper is torn, the edge formed is 

 very smooth, showing a veiy short fiber. This is owing to the use of the 

 material so many times. It is collected and worked over and over until 

 the fibers are broken into short pieces. These broken fibers will not answer 

 for filtering paper, for paper made of them, if placed in water, would be 

 converted into pulp. The filtering paper used in chemical analyses is all 

 made in Sweden. It is retailed in this market at twelve cents a sheet. 

 Photographic paper was, at one time, all made in England; then in France; 

 but now Saxon}'- makes the best, and principally supplies the markets of 

 the world. It must be made of perfectly uniform materials. If some com- 

 petent American manufacturer would embark in the business, he might 

 monopolize the market in this country, and would probably find a large 

 export demand. 



Mr. Stetson. — Can any one tell what was the result of Mr. Lyman's 

 experiments ? 



Prof. Seely. — I understand that he is very sanguine of success. He 

 places straw in superheated water; that is, water under pressure, and he 

 claims that the silex is all dissolved. 



Mr. Rowell. — In regard to Mr. Lyman's first process — that of blowing 

 the material from a steam gun — I liad a long talk with a large paper 

 manufacturer who has kept close watch of the experiments, and he said 

 that the only difficulty was the expense. They could not separate the 

 fibers cheaply enough. They had strong hopes that rattan might be 

 worked by the process so as to pay, and were making arrangements to test 

 the matter thoroughly by erecting an establishment on the edge of a cane- 

 brake at the South, when tlie rebellion broke out and the enterprise was 

 of course abandoned. The advantage of canes is that the cylinder could 

 be nearly filled with them, and thus but little steam would be wasted. 



Mr. Churchill exhibited samples of French paper, and explained the 

 method of sizing in an English manufactory. About sixteen pounds of 

 alum was used with 100 pounds of skins, prepared at a temperature of 

 160 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. 



Dr. Minthorne stated that a friend of his had used kelp with success for 

 paper. 



The Secretary said that immense quantities of kelp could be obtained at 

 a ]qw rate, and thought if it was useful for paper the Association would 

 very greatly forward the art bj^ bringing out the fact. 



Dr. Minthorne said his friend worked by hand in a small way. He made 

 good paper, but there was objectionable material in the kelp. It abounded 

 in sizing matter. 



Mr. Stetson. — I have seen seaweed thrown in upon the shore, and lying 

 in a pile several miles in length, and at least two feet in depth. The diffi- 

 culty is in keeping it from one interval to another of its coming to shore. 



Mr. Fisher, — Why cannot flax be prepared by Lyman's steam gun process ? 

 . Mr. Rowell. — Every kind of vegetable fiber was tried, but the insur- 

 mountable obstacle was the expense. 



