THE LIVERPOOL PAPER MILLS

"We this week present our readers with an engraving of the buildings in which are carried on one of the most useful industries in the colony - viz., the manufacture of paper.

[Paper Mill, Liverpool, N.S.W. in 1871]

This establishment is, in every respect, worthy of prominent notice; and when it is known that the machinery, plant, &c. ( on which a very large amount of capital has been expended ), is capable of turning out over twenty tons of paper a week, an estimate may be formed of the extensive nature of the works erected by the originators of the undertaking.

The main building covers nearly a quarter of an acre of ground. The first room on the second floor is a kind of receiving house, where the rags are brought from the rag-house. They are here put through a devilling and dusting machine, from whence they are conveyed to four large stationary rag-boilers, capable of holding a ton each. When the rags are boiled sufficiently, they are conveyed to the engine-room, containing four breakers ( over which a constant stream of water is kept flowing, capable of holding hundred weight each, these breakers are used for reducing the rags into what is termed "half-stuff." The half-stuff is driven into the bleaching room below by shoots, and then placed in the beaters, also in the engine house. There are six beaters by the aid of which the half-stuff is reduced almost to pulp and again returned to the bleaching-room, also by shoots. In the engine-room there are also two poachers, or beaters, which are used to re-work up old paper, such as books, documents, and newspapers. Descending to the bleaching room, which is about 60 by 30 feet, we find it intersected by shoots, which run overhead, and have square sliding doors opening from various parts into thwelve immense chests, which receive the half-stuff and pulp. From these the partially manufactured paper is conveyed by a hydraulic lifter to the second floor. That which is sufficiently bleached is emptied into two large chests called stuff-chests, or boilers, over a room on the ground floor 100 by 25 feet. In this room the finishing process may be seen to much advantage. From the stuff-chests the pulp the pulp is conveyed into an eighty-four-inch machine, fitted with a cast-iron knotter box and frame, containing brass strainer plates. From there it passes along the wire plate perforations, sixty holes to the inch, fitted with deckles and frame. It is then drawn past thirty-two brass rolls, vacuum-boxes, and pouching rolls complete, and from thence under the first press-felt and rollers; it then enters two presses to complete the second side of the paper prior to going on the drying cylinders. From these beautiful machines the paper, which is now made, passes to the glazing-roll, the name of which, even to the uninitiated, sufficiently expresses, the use it is devoted to. The whole manufacture is completed by the cutting machine - one of Fourdrinier's best - capable of cutting six sheets at a time of the largest size paper. The finishing and packing-room, 100 by 25 feet, adjoins. It is fitted up with benches, an hydraulic press, and one of Harrild's guillotine cutting machines - a peculiar and useful arrangement. In this room eight women are employed, sorting and preparing the paper for the market. On the opposite side in the same building is the rag-house proper, also about 100 by 25 feet. One would imagine that all the rags of the colony must be here collected, on viewing the mountains of rags, of every concievable hue, piled together or packed in bales. A rope-chopper, for cutting old rope into sufficiently small bits, is also here erected, and in the adjacent rag store an instrument armed with steel-blades cuts the rags, which are thrown by the feeder into one of three boxes, according to their quality.

The accompanying illustration correctly represents the exterior of the works, with the engine-house and boilers by which the extensive machinery is worked. These are two fifty horse-power steam-engines, besdie a twenty-five horse-power one, specially adapted for driving the paper machine. The boilers are what are known as Gallaway's, and are calculated for 120 lb. pressure, with the usual fittings. Over the engine-house is a large tank, capable of holding 30,000 gallons of water. About thirty yards from the main building, and almost on the bank of George's River, which flows past, another engine-house is erected. This is used for pumping water from the river to the boilers previously referred to.

It will be seen, from the above illustration and brief description of these interesting and important works, that an industry has been initiated in our midst which we may well be proud of. We may add that a considerable portion of the paper on which the Town and Country Journal has been printed from its first issue was manufactured at the Liverpool Paper Mills. Specimens of this paper were exhibited at the late Intercolonial Exhibition, and received unqualified praise.

The indefatigable manager is now experimenting on a kind of grass, resembling the Spanish Esparto. It was undergoing the usual preparatory process when we made our visit, so the result could not be determined for a few days, but from the appearances then presented, the most sanguine hopes are entertained of its being an excellent substitute for rags. This will be a boon, indeed, as there is an unlimited quantity of the grass procurable in the colony.

Since writing the above we have been favored with a sample of paper made at the above works almost exclusively from the espartis grass. The quality is what is known as ordinary news, and the texture is finer than that ordinarily made from rags. It is certainly quite equal to the same class of imported paper, and superior to much in common use."

Source: "Town and Country Journal", ( 25 February 1871 )


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