TO THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER. 69 



blend with the ordinary rag material, the results are very satisfactory, 

 demonstrating that a new material has at length been brought into use, 

 meeting this long-desired requirement both as regards quality and 

 economy. 



" One satisfactory feature in Mr. Routledge's process is the fact that no 

 material alterations in existing machinery or appliances are required ; 

 no higher pressure boiling in expensive vessels is necessitated ; the silica, 

 always more or less combined with a coating of raw fibres, is got rid of 

 and the gummo-resinous matter neutralised, permitting the fibres to be 

 eliminated and drawn out by the ordinary pulping engine as now prac- 

 tised with rags. The assurance of a successful result appears to be de- 

 pendent on the proper adjustments of the proportions of the chemicals 

 employed : this secured, and the process is extremely simple ; the issue 

 appears to be reliable, and, what is of no little importance, invariable 

 and constant. The fibres produced from esparto are specifically lighter 

 than those from any other paper-making material in use ; their mechani- 

 cal structure, moreover, admits of minute sub- division without destroy- 

 ing the feathery or mossy arrangement which facilitates the intimate 

 feeding or blending of the ultimate fibres on the endless wire of the 

 Fourdrinier machine ; then esparto paper, in consequence of this pecu- 

 liarity, feels thicker in the hand, and takes a finer surface than that made 

 from cotton rags, and in proportion to the blend or admixture with 

 other rag or paper-makiDg material, imparts these advantageous charac- 

 teiistics. It is to be remarked, however, that its introduction generally 

 into the trade, being only, comparatively speaking, of recent date, it 

 has not yet arrived at full development, its employment being hitherto 

 limited to common and ordinary printing papers and cartridges, and in 

 the unbleached state, to brown and cap papers." 



Looking at the scarcity of paper-making material from the cessation 

 of cotton imports, it is fortunate esparto came to the assistance of the 

 trade, in which it has now taken a permanent position, although, like 

 all innovations, both it and the introducer were much sneered at, at the 

 outset. It may safely be said that the most of the common printing and 

 newspapers in this country, not excepting the ' Times, 1 have a blend of 

 esparto introduced into their manufacture. 



At the commencement of last year esparto fibre was selling at 51. the 

 ton, but the price fell, owing to the reduction in the price of rags, and 

 to the general stagnation of trade caused by the American war. Re- 

 cently, however, a fresh impetus has been given to the market, and it is 

 now selling at Newcastle-on-Tyne at Gl. the ton, and the imports last 

 year were about 18,000 tons. This importation is equal to the manu- 

 facture of about 9,000 tons of printing or white papers, but as much 

 esparto is used for brown and other unbleached papers, where the loss 

 in the chemical treatment is not so great, 1 1 ,000 tons will be nearer the 

 mark. 



