THE EXHIBIT OF THE

Niederrheinische Zellstoff Works

AT THE

DUSSELDORF EXHIBITION.

One of the most attractive exhibits at the Düsseldorf Exhibition is that by the Niederrheinische Zellstoff-Actiengesellschaft, of Walsum-on-the-Rhine. The company's products are to be found in a pavilion, opposite the main machinery hall. The stall is well arranged, the background comprising a large view of the Walsum Works, painted by O. Detering, whilst the side walls contain a number of photographs of the various departments. An interesting contribution

an excellent reputation in the world's markets. In the manufacture of first-class writings and printings German sulphite is held in high appreciation, and the fibre produced by leading mills certainly has much to recommend it in the way of strength and purity.

In dealing with cellulose manufacture, the book published by the Niederrheinische Zellstoff- Actiengesellschaft contains some historical notes. Reference is made to the discovery in 1843 by Friedrich Gottlieb Kellner, who introduced mechanical wood pulp. The importance of wood as a fibre then attracted considerable attention. Volter followed with further improvements. In 1858, Houghton, an Englishman, treated wood with caustic soda lye, thus being the first to obtain cellulose by chemical action. However, contrary to expectation,

is the micro-photographic reproductions of fibres, particular attention having been paid to the structure of wood. Samples of raw materials are also shown, together with a model of a cellulose boiler. Another novel feature is the collection of yarns, etc., manufactured from cellulose (according to the patents of Kellner-Türk) at the works of the Actiengesellschaft Altdamm, near Stettin.

The visitor to the Dusseldorf Exhibition, interested in pulp and paper, on visiting the stand of the Niederrheinische Zellstoff-Actiengesellschaft, may obtain a handsomely gotup booklet containing an interesting description of the company's works, together with samples of sulphite, and paper principally manufactured therefrom. It is generally recognised that in the manufacture of sulphite wood pulp Germany takes a leading piace, the product of her mills having gained

ZELLSTOFF WORKS.

the high cost of soda wood pulp barred it use for some time in papermaking. In 1863 Tilghman, an American chemist, took out a patent, using a solution of sulphurous acid. It is pointed out that it is incomprehensible that Tilghman never made use of his patent, it being left until 1870 for the Swedish chemist, C. D. Ekman, and Dr. Mitscherlich to place the manufacture of sulphite on s commercial basis. The difficulties overcome by Dr. Mitscherlich are mentioned, it being stated that he built at Hannoverisch Munden the first sulphite cellulose mill. Dr. Carl Kellner also built towards 1870 a sulphite mill at Gorz, adjoining the paper works of Baron Ritter. Dr. Kellner had the satisfaction to see his patent adopted by the largest cellulose mill in the world, namely, the Waldhof Cellulose Fabrik, near Mannheim. In Germany the greatest enterprise has

been shown in bringing the manufacture of sulphite up to the highest standard of perfection, the result of many years of diligent working, the application of science, and the expenditure of large sums of money. The following statistics will be read with interest:-"Germany has 69 cellulose mills, with a yearly production of 285,000 tons, representing 28,500 waggon loads of wood cellulose; there are also about 629 mechanical wood pulp mills in Germany with a yearly production of 290,000 tons, or 29,000 waggon loads. In round figures the yearly production may be given as 58,000 waggon loads of wood fibre, representing a sale value of nearly £5,000,000. To produce this quantity 1,039,610 tons of wood are required.'

The wood elements from various plants form an interesting chapter in the Walsum publication, a number of illustrations being included. Amongst the various developments referred to may be mentioned the Chardonnet process for the production of artificial silk from wood cellulose, also the invention of viscose by Cross and Bevan, and a process introduced by a German papermaker for parchmentising with cellulose. Particulars are also given of the manufacture of tubes, walking sticks, etc., from cellulose, and it is also mentioned that wood cellulose forms, at the present day, almost the sole raw material for the manufacture of the finest writings down to the cheapest packing papers. Is is pointed out that the former prejudice of the public against the durability of wood papers has long since disappeared, as by the aid of the microscope paper manufacturers have come to understand the peculiarities of the wood cellulose fibres during beating, and have thus been able to maintain their strength. It is predicted that the restless spirit of the inventor will open up new fields for wood cellulose, and it is hoped that an extended consumption will be found, as the cellulose industry at the present time is smarting under over-production, and fresh uses will bring about a more favourable future.

In some descriptive notes on the Walsum Cellulose Mill, we find that it is situated between Ruhrort and Wesel, almost opposite the old town of Orsoy, close to the Rhine. The Niederrheinische Actien-Gesellschaft was founded in 1897, and the mill on the Ritter-Kellner system is certainly one of the most up-to-date in Germany. The works are well located for carrying on a most extensive export trade. At their exhibit at the Düsseldorf Exhibition the style of packing employed for the inland trade and the export shipment is demonstrated by the bales shown. Supplies of material such as wood, coal, sulphur, etc., come by steamer up the Rhine, while for land traffic there is a siding in connection with the "Continentalen Eisen bahn-Bau-und Betriebsgesellschaft Berlin" from the mill to the station at Neumuhl. Owing to the favourable and cheap freights the mill gets its yearly supplies of about 100,000 cubic metres of wood almost entirely from the north European regions. Dry wood -which, if possible, is stored separately-is transported by the company's own narrow

7

Illus

gauge railway to the cleaning room. trations in the publication show the operations to which the wood is subjected. The mill throughout is equipped in such a manner as to utilise all the material, thus promoting the greatest economy. The boiler house, which is 72 feet high, contains six large vertical Berninghaus digesters, each of tons capacity, and the arrangements are such as to allow of the installation of a further six digesters, as OCcasion may require. In the bleaching department there are five small bleaching engines and two larger ones, the latter each containing six tons of stuff, and in order to produce the finest qualities, all the bleaching engines are enamelled, and have bronze propellers for circulating the stuff. There is a battery of six open sulphur furnaces, which are connected with the acid tower by a cooling apparatus and channels. In order to strengthen the lye liquid, sulphuric acid is added, which is manufactured at the Hamborn Zinc Works belonging to W. Grillo, and which is transported into the sulphite mills through three miles of piping. The mill is worked by steam power, there being two steam engines of 500-h.p. and 170-h.p. respectively. There are seven Cornish boilers. The press pates are 100 inches wide, and are provided with a set of Nebrich splinter catchers. The production is about 40 tons of dry stuff in twenty-four hours. For the supply of the necessary quantity of clean water, a large electric pumping station has been built, about 550 yards from the mill, up the Rhine, which pumps from a well 26 feet 6 inches wide and 46 feet deep. The water is clear as crystal, and is also used for drinking purposes for the neighbouring houses. For the transport of the material and manufactured goods over the mill premises an extensive network of tramway lines has been constructed, upon which a 30-h.p. locomotive provides the transport and shunting purposes. This locomotive is worked without fire, being filled three times a day from the boilers, and its attendance is most simple.

The Walsum Cellulose Mill uses in a year about 100,000 cubic metres of wood; 1,600 tons of sulphur; 1,200 tons of limestone; and 17,000 tons of coal; the production of cellulose being about 14,000 tons, half bleached and half unbleached. The cellulose is supplied in either the dry or wet state, and the samples shown at the Düsseldorf Exhibition are of a first-class character, being of strong fibre, excellent in colour, and well adapted for the manufacture of the finest grades of paper. The Niederrheinische works certainly rank amongst the leading German mills for producing a first-class quality of sulphite, and, compared with the majority of mills, enjoy a great advantage in having excellent shipping facilities, transport up and down the Rhine being easily arranged, thus affording ready means for daily shipments to Belgium, Holland, France, Great Britain, and other countries.

The samples in the Walsum publication include bleached and unbleached cellulose of the firm's manufacture, also parchments,

writings, art papers, etc., made by the Neusser Paper and Parchment Mill and other factories, the productions containing from 50 per cent, up to 90 per cent. of Walsum cellulose.

WORLD'S PAPER TRADE REVIEW OFFICE, 58, SHOE LANE, LONDON, E.C.

MARKET REPORTS.

Telegrams "STONHILL, LONDON."

Chemicals.

The chief feature in the chemical market is the forward sales of BLEACHING POWDER, which are being made at much lower prices than those ruling for this year's delivery. The reduction is no doubt due to the disposition shown by English manufacturers to meet foreign competition. In other articles, with the exception of SULPHUR, which is reported scarce, the market is steady.

During the past two months the customs authorities of the United States have been considerably exercised in connection with the ingenious efforts made by some North of England chemical manufacturers to evade the tariff on imported chemicals. It appears from the New York papers to hand that early in July a gentleman, who was at one time connected with a firm of chemical manufacturers, conceived the idea of exporting to the United States borax crystals mixed with soda crystals under the general description of "washing crystals." The first sample consignments were passed by the New York authorities at the 'washing crystals" duty of 3 cents per lb. instead of 5 cents per 1b.. the regular duty on borax. Other larger shipments followed shortly afterwards. These, however, excited the suspicions of the authorities, and searching investigations ensued, with the result that the gentleman in question was arrested and charged with attempting to defraud the United States Government by means of fraudulent and false invoices. The criminal charge was not, however, sustained, and he was discharged, the chemicals in question being rated at the full borax tariff of 5 cents per lb. Another shipment of chemicals, this time described as "borate of soda," came soon afterwards under the notice of the New York appraiser. This, it was hoped, would have been rated at the lower tariff. The authorities, being now on the watch, classified this consignment under the "borax" denomination, and the 5 cents duty had to be paid. Within the past few days a further consignment of a like nature, described on this occasion as "borate material," was seized by the United States authorities and referred to the appraiser, who decided that this class of chemical must pay the regular borax tariff. It is stated that high hopes were excited in certain

quarters in the North of England of the success of this scheme for evading the American tariffs, and that capital was being solicited for the purpose of exploiting the idea.

During July last the United States imported the following chemicals:-Bleaching powder, 115,990 dols.; caustic soda, 503 dols.; sal soda, 2,750 dols.; soda ash, 13,315 dols.; brimstone (free), 117,764 dols. During the corresponding month of last year the imports were:-Bleaching powder, 129,987 dols.; caustic soda, 8,438 dols.; sal soda, 122 dols.; soda ash, 16,410 dols.; brimstone, 270,991 dols. During the seven months ended July last bleaching powder was imported to the value of 940,403 dols.; caustic soda, 47,476 dols.; sal soda, 12,511 dols.; soda ash, 150,900 dols.; brimstone, 1,844,663 dols. The values for the corresponding seven months of the previous year were:-Bleaching powder, 839,236 dols. ; caustic soda, 49,157 dols. sal soda, 14,250 dols. ; soda ash, 142,699 dols.; brimstone, 1,671,957 dols.

:

In Foreign Chemicals, BLEACHING POWDER is marked down 2s. 6d., whilst SULPHATE OF ALUMINA shows an advance of 3s. 9d.

Chemical Wood Pulps.

A steady demand is reported for Chemical Wood Pulps; prices are steady.

Mechanical Wood Pulps. Business continues slow. A few small orders are reported at current quotations for prompt shipment, but for forward delivery buyers appear to be still adverse to pay the prices demanded by manufacturers, who quote £2 2s. 6d, for MOIST and £4 10s. for DRY.

Esparto.

Fair demand for AFRICAN at quotations. SPANISH not enquired for. Freights higher and boats rather scarce.

Messrs. Ide and Christie, in their monthly circular dated September 15th, report:Since our last issue there has been a considerable expansion of enquiry for African contracts for hoth moderately near and distant periods of shipment, and a fair amount of business has resulted. The market in consequence has undergone some improvement in tone and prices are steady, with here and there a firmness in quotation which, for some descriptions, may be the first symptom of an advance. As recorded below, the imports for August have been the smallest of the year, and the statistical position generally compares unfavourably with that of previous years both as regards the eight and the twelve-month periods. The persistently low prices of wood pulp have probably led to an increased use of that material in several mills, and to this extent Esparto may have been displaced, tor apparently the diminished import of the latter has caused no inconvenience to consumers, and has rather been the result of restricted buying. The news from some of the producing countries as to the season's gathering is not reassuring, and sellers are also disturbed by the scarcity of steamets

Home and Foreign Rags.

The LONDON market is quiet with no quotable change in prices. Our BRISTOL report is without any feature of importance. Our MANCHESTER correspondent states that there is more doing, but that prices are about the same, except MANILLA ROPF, which at 10s. to 11s. shows a reduction of 1s. per cwt. At EDINBURGH there is a fair demand, whilst the DUBLIN market is quiet.

In FOREIGN RAGS the chief feature is the well maintained demand for French goods. The receipts of Foreign Rags at British ports last week were from the undermentioned countries:

111 bales Holland

Argentine

Australia

Belgium

Channel Islands

Denmark...

France

Germany...

ToAUSTRALIA ARGENTINE

CHINA CLAY is in steady demand at well maintained prices. FRENCH and ITALIAN CHALKS are in request, and a moderate business is passing in MINERAL WHITE and SATINITE.

Paper Stock.

Shipments to the United States.

The United States imported rags (other than woollen) during July last to the extent of 6,974,994 lbs. of the value of 121,548 dols., as compared with 5,757,965 lbs. of the value of 86,602 dols. in July, 1901. Other paper stock was received in the United States during the month of July to the value of 133,100 dols., a decrease compared with the corresponding month of the previous year, when the value stood at 149,501 dols.

The

total value of the paper stock imported into the United States during July amounted to 254,648 dols., to which the United Kingdom contributed 85,564 dols.; Germany, 69,815 dols.; France, 30,530 dols.; Belgium, 27,382 dols. Italy, 16,723 dols. ; and B. N. America, 9,733 dols.

Rags (other than woollen) were imported into the United States during the seven months ended July last to the extent of 48,102,178 lbs. of the value of 850,595 dols., against 36,595,655 lbs. of the value of 587,109 dols. for the corresponding period of 1901; the receipts of other paper stock imported during the seven months amounted in value to 809,823 dols., against 874,074 dols.

The United States imports of paper stock from the countries mentioned during the

AFRICA
BELGIUM
CAPE
CANADA

CHINA..

DENMARK

EGYPT...

FRANCE

FIJI ISLES GERMANY HOLLAND

ITALY ...

INDIA

JAPAN...

MALTA

26

287

43

14

FROM GLASGOW.

203

NEW ZEALAND NORWAY

S. AMERICA

INDIA...
U.S.A.

THE WORLD'S PAPER TRADE REVIEW, the leading European exponent of the paper trade, American Paper Trade and Wood Pulp News.

THE WORLD'S PAPER TRADE REVIEW is a widely informed and well-managed enterprise, of great value to exporters for its exact Market Reports and statistics of Raw Material.Central-Blatt fur die Deutsche Papier-Fabr.kation, Dresden