PAPER MAKING IN THE UNITED STATES.

IVY MILLS, PA., Dec. 17th, 1850.

Sir-Your favor of Nov. 30th, came duly to hand. For want of documents and dates, my report of the rise and progress of the paper manufacture in the United States, must be very meagre, as I have to rely on my limited experience and observation, and on conversations with my father, long ago, to supply this deficiency.

About the year 1725, my grandfather, who was brought up to the paper business in England, came over and settled where I now reside. I have documents to prove that in 1732 he had erected a mill, and was manufacturing paper. The kind of paper then made, was what is called fullers' pressboards, such as are now used by clothiers to press cloth. I believe there was another mill a little north of Philadelphia, and one near Boston, similarly occupied. I believe also, there existed an act of Parliament at that time, prohibiting the manufacture of any other kind of paper in the colonies. As there were few books then published in the colonies, the progress of the paper manufacture was very slow, and so continued until about the dawn of the Revolution. My grandfather manufactured the paper for Dr. Franklin, who was publishing a newspaper in Philadelphia, and who was a frequent visitor at the mill. About the time my grandfather made the paper for the Continental money, he commenced making writing paper, supposed to be the first made in America. From the Revolution, until the year 1820, very little improvement occurred, that was important; very little machinery introduced for facilitating the operation. The mills increased in number in proportion to the increased quantity of newspaper and book publishing. About the year 1810, we began to experience a deficiency of raw material, (rags,) and were obliged to resort to Europe for supplies. These were obtained from all parts of Germany and Italy, and have continued increasing up to the present time. Whether the deficiency at home resulted from a real scarcity of rags, or their low price made it no longer an object to families to preserve them, I cannot say-but such was the fact.

At present we have an additional inducement to import our material. The article of cotton has here almost entirely superseded the use of linen for wearing apparel, and when much worn and reduced to rags, becomes a very tender substance; in fact, scarcely able to support its weight when made into paper. The foreign rags, we suppose average about 80 per cent. of linen, which, when mixed with the domestic cotton, imparts to the paper a strength and firmness, which it could not have without it. The best qualities of writing and printing papers, contain from 30 to 50 per cent. of linen, for which we are entirely depending on foreign countries. But as the use of cotton for clothing is yearly increasing all over the civilized world, we find the proportion of linen in imported rags, decreasing from 5 to 10 per cent. from year to year. We have an excellent substitute for this in our own country, did not its high price prevent its use-raw cotton-which makes a beautiful paper when mixed with the worn-out rags of the same material. In 1837-8, when the price was as low as 6 cents per pound, large quantities were manufactured into paper.

From 1820 to 1830, some efforts were made to introduce machinery from Europe. England and France were before us in its introduction. Several machines were sent out from England-some very imperfect, and the cost too

great for our manufacturers. The patronage then offered was no inducement to our own machinists to construct so expensive a machine; until 1830, about which time, Phelps & Spafford of Windham, Connecticut, made one which answered very well. Soon after, the country was supplied at a reasonable cost, and equal in quality to the best English. Not long afterwards, Howe & Goddard of Worcester, Massachusetts, commenced making them. I have reference only to the Foudrinier-the shaking endless wire-web machines. I believe these two establishments now make all these machines in the United States. The cylinder machine, more simple and less costly than the other, is in more general use; but the paper made on it, is not equal in quality. Notwithstanding, it does very well for news, and the various purposes which a coarser article will answer for. These are made in various places through

out the United States.

The interval from 1830 to 1840, was important for the vast improvements made in the manufacture by the application of this kind of machinery for that purpose. Also, by the introduction of the use of chlorine in the form of gas, of chloride of lime, and the alkalies, lime and soda-ash in bleaching, cleansing, and discharging the colors from calicoes, worn out sail, refuse tarred rope, hemp, bagging and cotton waste, the refuse of the cotton mills. These articles which heretofore had been considered only applicable for the manufacture of coarse wrapping papers, have, through the application of this bleaching and cleansing process, entered largely into the composition of news and coarse printing papers, and consequently have risen in value 300 per cent. A few mills possess machinery, and adopt a process by which they are prepared for the finest printing and letter paper. I have seen a beautiful letter paper made of cast off cable rope. Hemp bagging is an excellent material for giving strength, and is in great demand, especially for making the best newspaper. The cost of making paper by machinery, compared with that of making it by the old method, (by hand,) not taking into account the interest on cost, and repair of machinery, is about as one to eight. The present low price resulting from improved machinery; and the low price of printing by steam power has placed newspapers and books in the hands of all; and a great increase of production has followed within the last few years. I have no data by which I could furnish a report of the comparative increase within the last ten or fifteen years. The quantity now made, might be nearly ascertained, if the Deputy Marshals could report the number of engines in operation; I suppose 300lbs. of paper would be the average daily produce of each engine-taking into consideration the loss of time and power from a deficiency of water in the summer season. There has been a greater propor

tional increase of mills in the middle and western states within the last ten

years, than in the east. Ten years ago, I suppose 80 per cent. of the supplies for Philadelphia, came from east of the North river; at present, I think there does not come 20 per cent. Formerly, a much greater quantity was sent west of the mountains, and large quantities of rags brought in return. In consequence of the greater number of mills in the west, particularly in Ohio, New Orleans, I am informed, is in a great measure getting supplies there. Formerly, they all went from the Atlantic states.

From the time of the Revolution, the quantity of paper imported has been gradually decreasing; and before the revision of the tariff in 1846, had dwindled to perhaps not more than 2 per cent. of the amount consumed, with the exception of wall papers, of which large quantities were imported and still continue to be from France. Since 1846, there has been an increase of

cheap French letter paper, but the amount is smal, compared with the whole amount of letter paper consumed-probably not more than 3 per cent. There is also a small quantity of ledger and letter paper brought from England; but as the American is quite equal in quality, the importation is gradually diminishing. Within the last two years, great ingenuity has been exercised both in England and in the United States, in trying to make a paper by machinery, to resemble the old fashioned hand made laid paper, (yet preferred by many.) To the eye, it is a pretty good imitation, but lacks the toughness, firmness, and surface of the hand made. By an experienced judge, the deception is easily discovered. Notwithstanding, large quantities have been used under the supposition that they were hand made. The reduced price of machine paper, has forced almost all manufacturers to abandon the old method. I believe there are only two mills in operation in the United States, in which it is made by hand, one in Massachusetts, and one of mine. There is a limited quantity of particular kinds, that can be better made by hand, than on a machine. In mine, is made bank note, laid letter, deed parchments, and such as are used for documents, that are much handled, and require great strength and durability. Within the last few years some improvement has been made in the finish of writing and printing papers, by the introduction of iron and paper calenders, for the purpose of giving a smooth surface. The finish of American papers, I think, is now equal to any in the world.

Very respectfully, your ob't sev't,

THOS. EWBANK, ESQ., Washington, D. C.

JAMES M. WILLCOX.

CHINESE MODE OF REPAIRING CRACKED OR BROKEN VESSELS OF CAST IRON.

Perhaps no device can be named more characteristic of oriental ingenuity— of the most mechanical people of the east-than this. It is one that could only have occurred where ages of experience in the treatment of the metals had elapsed. The idea of an ordinary artisan fusing iron with a handful of charcoal, and handling the glowing liquid as if it were but melted wax or tallow, would be considered by our founders as belonging rather to romance than to reality. Every year thousands of vessels, large and small, are with us thrown aside-costly sugar pans of planters, and the more capacious vessels of soap boilers and brewers, as well as culinary cauldrons—that might be restored to soundness by this simple method, and at the most trifling charge. In 1794-5, VAN BRAAM-the second in command of the Dutch embassy to Pekin, and who afterwards settled in the United States, bringing with him the chain pump and other inventions of the Chinese-was exceedingly struck with the operation-its simplicity and efficiency. He appears to have been the first European who observed it. His account is as follows:

"During our short stay this morning in the village of Fan-Koun, I had an opportunity of seeing a tinker execute what I believe is unknown in Europe. He mended and soldered frying-pans of cast iron that were cracked and full of holes, and restored them to their primitive state, so that they became as

serviceable as ever. He even took so little pains to effect this, and succeeded so speedily, as to excite my astonishment. It must indeed appear impossible to any one who has not been witness to the process.

All the apparatus of the workman consists in a little box sixteen inches. long, six inches wide, and eighteen inches in depth, divided into two parts. The upper contains three drawers, with the necessary ingredients; in the lower is a bellows, which, when a fire is wanted, is adapted to a furnace eight inches long and four inches wide. The crucibles for melting the small pieces of iron intended to serve as solder, are a little larger than the bowl of a common tobacco pipe, and of the same earth of which they are made in Europe; thus the whole business of soldering is executed.

The workman receives the melted matter out of the crucible upon a piece of wet paper, approaches it to one of the holes or cracks in the frying-pan, and applies it there, while his assistant smooths it over by scraping the surface, and afterwards rubs it with a bit of wet linen. The number of crucibles which have been deemed necessary, are thus successively emptied in order to stop up all the holes with the melted iron, which consolidates and incorporates itself with the broken utensil, and which becomes as good as new.

The furnace which I saw was calculated to contain eight crucibles at a time, and while the fusion was going on was covered with a stone by way of increasing the intensity of the heat."

Mr. Balestier, United States Consul at Singapore and United States Envoy to South Eastern Asia, during his recent visit to the United States, politely offered to procure any information for the Patent Office-agricultural and mechanical—that might be desired from the East.

Among other subjects of inquiry suggested to him, iron founding was named: an art of remote antiquity and brought to considerable perfection by the Chinese. The excellence and lightness of their hollow ware are prøverbial; while the readiness with which they fuse and handle small quantities of the metal in the reparation of damaged wares excites surprise. The last operation Mr. B. had often witnessed, but without giving special attention to it. He promised, therefore, to minute down the particulars sufficiently in detail to enable any mechanic successfully to perform it. His letter is subjoined, and by it every thing is made clear. Van Braam leads one to suppose the sides of repaired rents are fused together or united as in soldering other metals, while from Mr. B's account, such is not the fact. The fluid metal in filling the crack is spread over it on both sides of the vessel, and thus forms a species of rivet.

TO THOS. EWBANK, Esq., Commissioner of Patents,

MACAO, Feb. 6, 1850.

Patent Office, Washington, D. C.

DEAR SIR,-According to your desire, I have carefully observed the Chinese manner of re-amung anu Jung together cracked or severed cast iron vessels, so as to make them as useful as ever after an accident, which is as follows: referring you to the utensils used, which I have numbered as at foot, and have had put into a box directed to you, and shipped per United States ship St. Mary, Commodore Geisinger, bound home, and which the Commodore will hold subject to your order.

I procured the accompanying cast iron pan, measuring 12 inches in diameter, by 4 four inches deep. A crack of 3 inches was made in it in the first

place, and in the second a piece was entirely broken off: giving rise to two distinct operations.

The operator commenced by breaking the edges of the fractures slightly with a hammer, so as to enlarge the fissures, after which the fractured parts were placed and held in their natural positions by means of wooden braces. The pan being ready, crucibles made of clay, were laid in charcoal, and ignited in a small portable sheet iron furnace, with bellows working horizontally. As soon as the pieces of cast iron with which the crucibles were charged were fused, it was poured on a layer of partly charred husk of rough rice, or paddy, which was previously spread on a thickly doubled cloth, the object of which is to prevent the sudden cooling and hardening of the liquid metal. Whilst in this liquid state it was quickly conveyed with the right hand to the fractured part under the vessel, and forced up with a jerk into the enlarged fissure, whilst with the left hand a paper rubber was passed over the obtruding liquid, inside of the vessel, making a strong, substantial and neat operation.

You will thus remark that the art of the Chinese for re-uniting cracked or severed cast iron vessels, of all sizes, consists in cementing them with cast iron, whilst in the liquid state.

I have the honor to be, dear sir,

Your most obed't serv't,

J. BALESTIER.

The weight of this pot is 34 pounds. Except at the centre, where a part two inches over is left thick and flat for a base or foot to rest on, the thickness does not exceed, and in fact scarcely reaches of an inch. The handles are cast on, but appear to have been first formed and inserted into the mould. This does not seem to have been of sand, as the inner and outer surfaces are smoother, and of a different appearance from iron cast in that material. Of the metal used for repairing this pot, Mr. Balestier has forwarded a lump that was not melted. It is part of an old kettle, and differs but little, if any, from our pot metal.

The crucible, not much larger than a thimble, is made apparently of the same material as our common sand crucibles; except the shape, it could not be distinguished from one of them.

The amount of one fusion seems not to cover more than half an inch of the crack, and hence in the piece inserted, no less than nine distinct applications of the melted metal are seen-resembling in the inside so many ragged wafers touching each other, while on the outside, where the metallic plaster was applied, there are the same number of rude protuberances.

Dr. Gale, one of the examiners of the Patent Office, has made, at my request, a chemical examination of a portion of the basin, and finds it a very pure white cast iron, containing scarcely any foreign matter, except a little carbon and silex, ingredients always present in cast iron.