356 ON MAIZE PAPER. 



institutions of States, the stimulus of competition, increased communi- 

 cation, &c. A great quantity of paper is also now used for other purposes 

 than for printing and writing on, such as for paper hangings, cartridge, 

 packing paper, &c. 



The consequences of this enormous paper consumption are felt more 

 and more, because the paper manufacturers meet every day with greater 

 difficulties in procuring a sufficient supply of the raw material necessary 

 for the working of their factories. The rags which are mostly used for 

 the paper pulp cannot be produced at will, like other raw material ; the 

 supply is, as well in regard to quality as quantity, to a certain limit 

 influenced by the activity of the rag gatherers. 



It is therefore evident, that the moment must come, sooner or later, 

 when it will be absolutely impossible for the paper manufacturers to 

 keep pace with the paper consumption — if they should not succeed in 

 discovering a suitable substitute for rags. To this end their exertions 

 have been directed for years, and experiments tried with different degrees 

 of success have proved tbe existence of many substances containing fibre 

 which might serve as a substitute for rags. Few, how T ever, are adapted 

 for manufacturing purposes, either because they are too costly, or be- 

 cause they cannot be obtained in sufficient quantity. Culture or food 

 plants are those which are produced in the greatest quantity, and of 

 these the maize plant seems one of the best adapted for paper-making. 

 This fact was ascertained long ago, and hence it has been tried on 

 several occasions. According to Dr. Schaeffers " Sammutliche Papier- 

 versuche" (Reginsburg, 1772J, two maize straw paper factories existed 

 in Italy in the last century. But the process in use by the makers 

 seems to have been lost with the decay of the paper mills. A certain 

 Montz Diamant, from Bohemia, recently again drew attention to the 

 maize plant as a substitute for linen rags, and indicated a process for the 

 transformation of maize fibre into paper pulp. He submitted in 1856 

 to Baron Bruck, the Austrian Minister of Finance, a project with regard to 

 it. The Imperial paper manufactory at Schlogelmuhle, near Gloggnitz, 

 was consequently authorised to make, under Diamant's direction, paper 

 out of a certain quantity of maize straw. The paper so produced was not 

 satisfactory in regard to quality, and the cost of making it also proved to 

 be much higher than that of rag paper. The Minister of Finance 

 therefore gave orders to stop further experiments. 



In consequence of a recommendation from experienced men whose 

 opinions had been taken, Baron Bruck consented to have a second trial 

 made in the Imperial paper mill, under Diamant's direction. The mill 

 was at that time under my superintendence, and I interested myself very 

 warmly in the experiments. Different kinds of paper, writing and 

 printing, were manufactured, which were not entirely satisfactory as far 

 as quality was concerned. The cost of producing the paper was still, in 

 spite of all exertions to reduce the manufacturing expenses, considerably 

 higher than that of rag paper, consequently the director of the Imperial 



