The Roadbinder Program
ROMAN J. SUESS
President
Otsego Falls Paper Mills, Inc.
Otsego, Michigan
The title selected for this paper actually describes the end result
of waste control, and therefore it appears a brief history of the paper
industry and the particular process involved is in order.
With today's miracle fibres, fabrics and materials, it is easy to
overlook our dependence upon paper in our daily living routine. Possibly
because the substance is some 2000 years old it is accepted without
further thought.
There is disagreement among historians as to the exact date paper
was first used. There are some who claim that the Chinese made paper
as early at 123 B. C.; others contend that the paper sheet was invented
in 105 A. D. Which date is correct is of little consequence to today's
consumers of paper and paper products. Important is the fact that although paper dates back to ancient China, it still remains as modern
and up-to-date as tomorrow.
Our dependence upon paper is so great that the current annual production is just under 30,000,000 tons. The paper industry ranks fifth
among our leading businesses, just behind such giants as the automobile,
meat packing, steel, and petroleum industries. It is the third fastest
growing industry and employs approximately 300,000 people, accounting
for well over a billion dollars in annual payroll.
There are two phases to the history of papermaking. When the
industry was young, rags were the chief raw material and as the
industry matured, wood pulp was introduced. During the first phase,
the limited supply of available rags hampered production seriously.
The public appetite for printed matter increased due to the industrial
revolution, with its social benefits, and so great was the need for more of
the raw material from which to produce paper that the Second Congress
of the United States passed a resolution calling on the people to turn
in enough rags to keep the industry going.
In spite of these efforts, the shortage continued, so a constant search
for substitute fibres was carried out. Ferns, cabbage stumps, corn husks,
grass, straw and other vegetable fibres were tried without much success.
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