Newspapers / The Echo (Pisgah Forest, … / April 1, 1940, edition 1 / Page 3
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Apr: ^ STRAUS GIVEN rflONAL ACCIAIM )aseni' purjX Continued from Prge I organ Chemurg-ic Council at its annual ose piJ6’ in Chicag:o, March 29th. had I had the privileg-e of addres- ' ® Third Dearborn Conference the ^Chemurgic Council in he Michi|?an, on May 25th fVprir the statement that the and . work on flax fibre in this hes promise of the con- opula'^^’ the near future, of at oyees' ® American plant for the base!>'^„ ° '^a-nufacturing- cigarette rom flax fibre—an American app'® material. ' promise has o incorporated vv. ^sta Paper Corporation in Pis- v/ai:Fores, Transylvania County, ® there is now ^ ^ ^ modern paper mill, ilentactunng on four large paper ® n°r f?; ‘^iS-arette ^ ar^or the American cigarette pro- ”^ade from Gree.an-grown flax, and a real Farm wereirgic project has resulted-an itcbitexample of the chemurgic move- retty of brmging industry and agri- THE ECHO April, 1940 This reasoning is amply borne out at the present time. We understand that, not only is it extremely diffi cult to obtain supplies of papermaking raw materials from abroad, but it is extremely expensive, and we have been told that the prices of linen rags, etc., have risen in many cases more than 100 per cent above pre-war costs. Not only would this happening be a cause of serious embarrassment to the cigarette paper manufacturer, but it would be disastrous to the manufac turer of cigarettes, who would be un able to secure additional quantities of cigarette paper. Therefore, I was convinced of the necessity of establishing for ourselves, in this country, our own source of raw materials, which would not only in sure our self preservation, but would also afford our customers the maxi mum security. My many visits to Europe (I have crossed the ocean in excess of 100 times) led me to the belief that an other World War was inevitable. Un fortunately, my prediction came true. Therefore, in 1933, I started to ser iously study every angle of cigarette paper manufacturing in the United States. United consumed til%rance, whei^ the^o^^ imported mpl'’ a ’ , . are m ex- P“'trate oT':i "hlch fiese ipaper „ Pioduction of cig- "OMlSin^nv country. These .um mpioy iinen rags as their raw °''^•Tan!^‘^^ imported Snu Poland and diSt'' .“"^''tries, which are .ew designated as unstable count- getnd therefore unreliable as a oun» of supply. andn, shortly ofter World War No me, 'ecame interested in the French 1 raf'te Paper industry, one of mv depenaent on foreign eoun- •“fo SitSLT “"O “at there =1 fn f, '^^tormation avail- d^iantities of Unen rasrq -^eathemf’^«re iedert'^w°tho,"t°''anv 'they came from."^ did not satisfy me, because Customers depended on us to sun ^em with an uninterrupted ;^;-ette paper, and I feU fnseaZ assuSni: «-y (luantitv of linen r jufl'ained for paper mamifaof ‘y own mind, there — why a good « T- ^®ver any , v^ould not be nr- cigarette f>e had al^ h water 1'.'' requirements, ■’ilitv eto’ engineer- ^"til we started TnThf ’ Tav2 40lway pos- ^jj^ould. of course, have been -^o construct a ci^-arr^H ^ ,/i this country wut ^■eveloped a source having >Iowever, the moT, f mater- vould not have Pro- iiUvmerican product ^ had to depend ’ rn European unstable SC> Of .upTy!"a„TT;'Tv vould T iri this man- have’ Of e^ed no S;y aan the ing in Linen rags originate from flax. Flax has been grown in this country since early Colonial days, but has, as a fibre, practically disappeared. We started to look thoroughly into the I agricultural background of flax in I various parts of our country, and found that flax straw could be added as a new cash crop for the farmers— a crop which was so urgently needed. We started with several ideas in mind, which consisted of producing flax fibre for the textile industry, as well as fibre for the paper industry. In other words, we were attempting what we called a “Companion Development.” We were not in the textile business but we were paper manufacturers. As we could obtain very little encourage ment on the part of the textile in dustry to help us shoulder the effort, and provide the capital and enthus iasm necessary to develop the possi bility of flax in this country, we, there fore, decided to go this road alone; and we pursued it successfully until today we have made available to ourselves various sources, in different parts of the country, where we obtain flax for paper purposes in abundant quantities. Our work consisted of: 1. Agriculture. 2. Machinery for making the flax straw adaptable for paper purposes. 3. Chemical processes for making out of the virgin flax fibre an acceptable sheet of cigarette paper. A decorticating plant—for defibering flax straw—was established in the Im perial Valley in California, where straw was delivered by the infant but grow ing California flax industry. Today that industry is rapidly becoming a large factor in California agriculture, and our fibre mill Is obtaining suffi cient quantities of straw to insure it year-around production. This plant is now producing 2500 tons of fibre a year, and we are considering increas ing the capacity. Kven though California is expanding its flax acreage—the 1940 crop amount- ing to 160,000 acres—Minnesota is still the flax center of the United States. 1.200,000 acres were planted to flax in 1939, and the returns from this year’s venture were so promising that advance indications lead us to believe that 1940 acreage will even surpass this figure. Through our connections in Minne sota, we are annually obtaining 7 ooo tons of paper stock fibre, which ’to- sether with the 2500 tons of California fihre, will just about take care of the requirements of the paper mill. As I have just mentioned, we will need a minimum of 10,000 tons of paper stock fibre per year. We estimate that between 75,000 and' 100,000 acres of flax are neces.sary to give us this ton nage. Considering this acreage in relation to the entire flax acreage of the United States, leads us to believe that, although it is not a large per centage of the whole, it is still a fairly good proportion, and at the very least, is a step in the right direction toward making a market available to the flax grower where he may profitably dis pose of his flax straw. After the question of raw material had been successfully finished, we started the study of finding a location for our plant. We searched high and low, in many parts of the country, until we found an ideal location, em bodying all the requirements for cig arette paper manufacture. This was at Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, which is right outside of the entrance to the great Pisgah National Forest. Pisgah Forest is about thirty miles from Asheville, North Carolina. Here we found the David.son River a mountain stream of pure, soft water which gives us an oyer-abund ant supply of the type water which is a prerequisite for fine paper manu facture. We also found a building site where we are surrounded by beau tiful mountain scenery, in a secluded spot where we are not interfered with '">y other industries which might con taminate our water and air. We also were fortunate in locating in a moun tain community where a new industry was very much needed, and an ample supply of intelligent American help was available. By a stroke of good fortune, we succeeded in turning out our first ac ceptable sheet of paper on September 3rd, 1939—the very day World War No. 2 was declared. This has natural ly been a great consolation to all our friends and customers, who have en couraged us in every respect in estab lishing this new industry in the United States. The American cigarette industry con tinues to show a very steady increase in volume. Cigarette paper is also a very stable article — not subject to style or fashion—its consumption be ing steady in bad times as well as good. Consequently, the demand for cigarette paper has become greater and greater. We, therefore, expect that the consumption of flax fibre by the cigarette paper industry will show a marked increase year by year, in addition to which I do not hesitate a bit in stating that I feel there are possibilities for this paper stock fibre in other lines of paper manufacture: we can readily see where the use of this type of raw material has great possibilities, and that the amount con sumed by the paper industry as a whole will increase gradually through out the years. One of the problems, the solution of which will probably have great in fluence on the use of this fibre in other fields of the paper Industry, Is the development of a market for shive. Shive is the woody part of the flax straw which remains after the fibre has been extracted. Although many possible uses have been suggest ed to us as an outlet for this material, we have had very little success with It, even though the shive appears to have many properties which tend to make it attractive to many industrial concerns as a raw material. To il lustrate the importance of this prob lem, I might mention that we have an accumulation every year of not leas than 40,000 tons of this material. In our own Research Department, and with the help of others, we continue to strive to find a way to dispose of this material which is going to waste at the present time. The reception which our paper has found among the leading cigarette manufacturers in this country has al ready resulted in an expansion of our mill, which will increase its capacity by about 50 per cent over the output originally planned. At the present time, we are employing approximately 900 people, most of whom are natives of the county in which we are operat ing. We have trained these workers, under expert instructors whom we had available, in the art of making paper; we have found labor conditions very satisfactory here; and we have been told that our advent into the district has been extremely beneficial. If I may call cigarette paper a perfect illustration of Farm Chemurgy possibilities, I want to say that many other such opportunities exist whereby agriculture and industry could join in the establishment of new industrial de velopments and could thus help pros perity in this country. In contemplating a development of this character, you must not permit expense or time to frighten or deter you. With intensive preparation, and with determination, success is certain to come sooner or later. It re(iuires the employment of an adecjnate staff of experts — agricultural, chemical and mechanical. The dividends to be earn ed, directly or indirectly, by the suc- ce.ssful completion of such an enter prise cannot be expressed in figures. In my frequent contact with large industries in this country, 1 have very often been startled 'about the little understanding of Farm Chemurgy, the need for it, and the possibilities it of fers. Honestly and truly, we are very proud of what we have accomplished, and if the work which we have done could inspire others to do the same, we would be very grateful, and if, in our small way, we could be of any as sistance or encouragement, wo would bo very happy to help. Smoking Regulation Continued from Page I 4. TIIK TURBINE ROOM. 5. THE BOILER HOUSE. 6. THE 1‘ILOT PLANT OFFICE 7. THE FILTER PLANT 8. THE PULP MILL OFFICE 9. WASHROOMS, TOIIjETS AND T.OCKTOR ROOMS. 10. THE MILL YARD, EXCEPT WITHIN 200 FEICT OF THE FIBRE WAREHOUSES AND WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE PROPANE TANK AND PAINT HOUSE. In those places where smoking is al lowed, the proper receptacles are to be provided for the disposal of matches and butts. Instructions should be giv en that these receptacles are to be used and it will not be tolerated if matches and butts are thrown on the floor or other places. If it is found that employees do not strictly observe this rule, the permission which has been granted to smoke in the loca tions designated will be cancelled and revoked, not because of the fire haz ard Involved, but due to cleanline.ss. All employees must bo informed that the CHEWING TOBACCO AND SPITTING throughout the plant will not be tolerated. All employees must be informed that the drinking of AT.COHOIJC BEV- ERAGP^S including BEER on the premises, Is strictly prohibited. Williams, womens Recreation Director, will act in the han!flibrarian and will be on P M A- M.. until 5:00 will K 1 books. The books wppir ^ period of one t niiiroo reader re- ^ books may be re- f w V, additional week. * 1. in our files a request 1st so in the event that you do not ind your reading interests on our snelves We shou d appreciate your suggestions for l.ature book orders. Among the marp^ famous authors Coniii-ru on Page 4 - no dep. 1 dep. 2 dep. no dep. 1 dep. 2 dep $ 750 $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. $1000 $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. 800 3. 0. 0. 0. 1100 3. 0. 0. 0. 900 IL 0. 0. 0. 1200 6. 0. 0. 0. 1000 21. 0. 0. 0. 1300 9. 0. 0. 0. 1100 31. 0. 0. 0. 1400 12. 0. 0. 0. 1200 40. 0. 0. 0. 1500 15. 0. 0. 0. 1300 50. 0. 0. 0. 1600 18. 0. 0. 0. . 1400 59. 0. 0. 0. 1700 21. 0. 0. 0. 1500 69. 0. 0. 0. 1800 24. 0. 0. 0. 1600 79. 6. 0. 0. 2C00 30. 0. 0. 0. 2000 117. 42. 6. 0. 2500 45, 15. 9. 3. 2500 165. 90. 50. 12. 3000 60, 30. 24. 18. 3000 221. 138. 98. 58. 3500 75. 45. 39. 33. 3500 284. 186. 146. 106. 4000 90. 60. 54. 48. Mr. A. J. Loeb, better known to Ecustans as “Art” Loeb, recently returned to Brevard. Mr. Loeb is Vjce Pres, of the California Central Fibre Corporation and has been lo cated at El Centro, Calif., for the past year. On Nov. 12, Mr. Loeb was married to the former Miss Kathleen Vachreau of Wausau, Wis, The ceremony look place in Chicago and their honeymoon was spent in Florida. We extend our very best wishes to the bride an- groom and hope that their stM- here will be an extended one. ;e. .ole
The Echo (Pisgah Forest, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 1, 1940, edition 1
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