Note: The following is one of a series of columns looking at the origins and growth of the agriculture industry in Southeast Georgia and Bulloch County.

The Bulloch Times issue of Nov. 6, 1930 reported that Dr. Charles Herty stated it was possible now to make good paper from slash pine trees.

Herty, noted chemist and native of Georgia, spoke to the “Atlanta Chamber of Commerce on the possibilities of manufacturing newsprint white paper from southern pines.”

Herty declared, “It is as white or whiter, and as strong a paper as that made from red spruce, (which is) about all cut out of this country and reproduces very slowly.”

Herty said that pines offer the greatest source of newsprint.

So, “Dr. Herty announced more than a year ago his important discovery that second-growth southern pine up to 25 or 30 years of age contains no more rosin than red spruce.”

Therefore, “It has been the belief of the paper industry that pines were fit only to make brown paper because it was thought they contained too much rosin for white paper.”

Then, the Bulloch Times-Statesboro News-Statesboro Eagle issue of March 5, 1931 reported that “Georgia Trees, (especially) Southern woods, notably the pines and the gums, (can become) various grades of paper.”

The Bulloch Times issue of March 12, 1931 revealed the next step in the development of the growing of pulp-wood trees a profitable venture for Southern farmers.

The Bulloch Times of Aug. 13, 1931 revealed “Georgia Pine Used to Produce Paper (said) Dr. Poole Maynard, Industrial Geologist of the Atlanta, Birmingham, & Coast Railroad.”

Returning from the government’s laboratory at Madison, Wisconsin, Maynard added, “Newsprint and the best grades of bond and writing paper have been produced from Georgia slash pine” well beyond expectations.

The Bulloch Times of April 10, 1930 disclosed that Sen. Harris of Georgia had secured $25,000 of the General Appropriation fund’s money for pulp and paper work.

Herty and Maynard completed experiments at Madison on Georgia slash pine, and Herty “made the discovery that slash pine pulpwood contained but little more rosin than Canadian spruce.”

Maynard also reported that Herty’s “latter experiments showed that an excellent pulp from slash pine could be (easily) produced by (using) the sulphite process.”

The experiments conducted by Dr. Poole Maynard at Madison had “arranged for a shipment of Georgia slash pine” to be brought up for the experiments by his employer, the Atlanta, Birmingham & Coast Railroad.

Next, the Bulloch Times issue of Jan. 28, 1932 declared that Herty told the Savannah Morning News that “Black Gum Makes Good White Paper.”

Research revealed “black gum is one of the most valuable for the production of white paper (and) its light color (requires) little bleaching agent to bring it to the necessary whiteness for the finest uses.”

Research showed “that 1.54 cords of black gum (makes) the same amount of pulp as 2 cords of northern spruce (and) only 5% of bleaching liquor is required for black gum as against 12-13% for northern spruce.”

Roger Allen is a local lover of history. Allen provides a brief look each week at the area's past. E-mail Roger at rwasr1953@gmail.com.