WOOL FROM JUTE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1932, Page 6

WOOL FROM JUTE

U.S.A. PRODUCTION. REMARK A RLE NEW PROCESS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) NEW YORK, April 14. r l'iie Columbia University lias announced its chemical engineering department, under the direction of Professor Ralph H. McKee, lias perfected the commercial production of artificial wool from jjute. Professor McKee has indicated that the substitute wool can lie manufactured at the rate of twenty-five cents per pound as compared with the current wool price of thirty-five cents per pound. While stating that the substance coukl hardly he distinguished from the so-called “all wool,” the seienti. t was not ready to compare tile .substitute with fine Merino wool in any way

Professor McKee said that when wool readies a price of fiity cents per pound at New Y ork. the manufacture of the substitute will be commercially feasible. The equipment needed for manufacture i>* not particularly

xpensfve, it being principally composed of tanks and an adequate water "imply. Professor McKee was reluctant, to discuss the economic factors of the discovery, and especially the possible affect of the new process upon the woll-growing countries of the world. Me said that he saw no reason why Australia should “worry’ over the prospects of new competition. He seemed to prefer to discuss the matter “academically.”

Tt is interesting to note that the Columbia University’s announcement also included the news ol the development and process of manufacture oi artificial diamond.-; the size of onetwentieth of a carat by a graduate student under Laboratory Director McKee.