[CHAPTER III]
THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER FROM RAGS
Fig. 6.—A Rag Sorting House.
The word rag is used to designate a very wide range of raw material suitable for conversion into paper. In the case of high-class hand-made writing papers only the best qualities are employed, such as new linen and cotton cuttings from factories, or well-sorted rags of domestic origin. The usual classification adopted by merchants who supply the paper mills is somewhat as follows:—
New white linen cuttings (from textile factories).
New white cotton cuttings (from textile factories).
Fine whites (domestic rags).
Outshots (a quality between fines and seconds).
Seconds (a grade inferior to fines).
Thirds (inferior and dirty well-worn rags).
Coloured prints (of all grades and colours).
Fustians and canvas.
Manila and hemp rope.
Baggy, gunny, and jute.
The total amount of rag used in England for paper-making is not known. The only figures available refer to rags imported; and these cannot be regarded as a measure of consumption, which could only be arrived at by first ascertaining the quantity of home rags used. The imports of rag at stated periods are given in the appended table:—
Rags Imported into England.
| — | 1872. | 1882. | 1892. | 1902. | 1905. |
| Weight (tons) | 22,254 | 21,200 | 23,032 | 18,692 | 23,681 |
| Value | £373,035 | £303,349 | £214,065 | £173,732 | £224,232 |