Ashbury College - Ashburian Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

Page 27 text:

THE ASHBURIAN 25 paper such as bond, book, writing, litho, mimeograph, blotting, bristol, as well as paper board. The entire plant, we realized, was fairly self sufficient. as it contained all the necessary parts for complete operation. Of particular interest was the large research Labor- atory connected with the Nlill. Here we were shown many of the routine tests used on the products as well as some of the line delicate instruments used in research. At the completion of our tour, we returned to the conference room and asked questions concerning those things which we had seen, but found difficulty in understanding. w From the Paper Nlill, after a slight pause at the Hotel for cokes and clean up, we went on to Courtaulds CCanadaj Limited, manufacturers of rayon, where we spent the afternoon. Before the tour commenced however, we were served an excellent dinner in their pleasant dining room, followed by a complete explanation of the making and dyeing of rayon by Mr. D. Roberts, the Technical Superintendent of the Plant, and the father of john. Rayon, we found, was made from sulphite pulp steeped in caustic soda, after which carbon disulphide was added, and the viscose was obtained from the resulting cellulose xanthate. This viscose is then forced through platinum jets into an acid coagulating bath, and so the rayon is manufactured. We found that there were three types of rayon being made: textile yarn, tire yarn and staple libre. I feel that it is necessary to mention a slight mishap which might have occurred to Andy Pritchard, if it had not been for the quick thinking of his tour supervisor. Suffice it to say that it would probably have been enjoyable. After the tour of the plant, Mr. Roberts then invited the group over to his home for refreshments, for which we were deeply grateful. It made another very pleasant highlight of the trip. Then on Friday evening after a fine dinner, we were free to have some further entertainment. Some went to the theatre, some to the Automobile show, while others attended a dance. A few even went off to hed! Andrew was a great help at this time to one of the occupants of the Hotel, for which he was duly Z rewarded. Again when all had returned Z to the Hotel we thought that it was about time to have something to eat as we had not eaten for all of a couple of hours. Saturday morning found us at the Canadian Cotton Klills, where we had a two hour tour, and then were enter-

Page 26 text:

24 THE ASHBUIUAN ln his address, he stressed the importance of character as well as aca- demic brilliance as necessary characteristics for advancement in the Chemical Held of endeavour. He also gave a full account of the various types of work done by all those engaged in the Chemical Field, whether Engineers, Chemists, Draughtsmen or Maintenance Men. Two films were shown at this meeting- Test Tube to Tank Car and Produc- tivity-Key to Plenty . These were much enjoyed and after refresh- ments supplied by the Institute, we returned to the School after an excellent evening. On january 20th, members of the Club went on a tour of the Gatineau Power Plant. Here we saw the development of electricity by the use of the large horizontal generators, and the principles of their operation was carefully explained. lt gave one an odd sensation to be under the Chaudiere Falls looking up at the large turbines used to run the generators. The Science Club has had a busy and useful year, and one which has proved interesting to all concerned. The Chairman has been William NVeeks, with Pierre LeBoutillier as projectionist, and Mr. Sibley as Staff Advisor in charge of programmes and arrangements. The Science Club Trip to Cornwall N THURSDAY afternoon, February 15th, eleven boys from the Senior School, under the capable leadership of the Senior Science Master, Mr. Sibley, caught the bus to Cornwall for a week-end excur- sion, which proved to be one that will not soon be forgotten. Upon arrival, we checked in at the King George Hotel, and then went out for a bite to eat. With the exception of Pierre, Boots LeBoutillier, who insisted emphatically that he could fix the Television set, in the hotel, the group retired at an early hour, looking forward with keen anticipation for what the morrow would bring. Friday morning after a hurried but excellent breakfast, we were bundled into a trolley bus and taken over to the Howard Smith Paper Mill. lncidentally, l think those buses were a wonderful invention. Per- haps when one can be made that will bend around Confusion Square, Ottawa will get them too. XVC spent three hours at the Howard Smith Paper Mill. Before our tour, Mr. C. Candee, the Assistant General Manager of the Mill, and Mr. H. Morrison, the Personnel Manager, addressed the students in the conference room. On our f0llI', we were shown the entire process of making fine grade papers. This included the Barking Plant, the Sulphite Mill, the Soda Mill, the Lignin Plant, the Vanillin Plant, the Chlorine Plant, and the large Paper Mill, the latter consisting of 4 paper machines daily producing ISO tons of fine

Page 28 text:

26 THE ASHBURIAN tained in the Cafeteria. Again before we started on our tour, the plant processes were explained to us in detail. At this Mill, we witnessed the complete manufacture of cotton goods, from the raw cotton staple to the yarn stage, and finally to the finished products such as blankets, awning cloth, suiting cloth, and other material. Wie were addressed at the end of the tour by Mr. Millichamp, Assistant Manager of the Cana- dian Cottons Plants. Everyone of us marvelled at the speed and efficiency of these plants we had visited. It will always be a source of wonder to me, that one man could handle so much and not become confused, because in all three plants that we visited, there was a noticeable scarcity of workers. Indeed, in many parts of each building, one man would control a whole room full of whirring machines, and all important pressure gauges. This sight repeated before us many times, impressed upon our minds very clearly the fact that it appeared that Canada has gone very far in her technological advances. XVe returned to Ottawa by suppertime on Saturday night, after a most educational, instructive and enjoyable tour. Mention should possibly be made of Ian MacLaren's sharpness in travelling technique. Much credit is due to Mr. Sibley for his organization, and all those in Cornwall who helped so much to make this trip so fine. Those making the trip were: Younger I, Foulkes, Pritchard, Luyken, Macliwan, McLean, Irwin, MacLaren, LeBoutillier, Roberts and Bryce. CERCLE FRANCAIS NFoR'rUNA'rEI.Y, due to pressure of other matters in the school, the Cercle Francais was unable to meet more than once this year. However, this was augmented by a weekly period C40 minutesl throughout the school year, devoted solely to the speaking of French. The meeting was held on September 29th, at 7.30 p.m. The club, which is under the direction of Mr. Brain, showed a large increase in attendance over previous years. VVe moved in a body to the Little Elgin where we saw an extremely good French film, La Belle et la Bere . Afterwards, we returned to Mr. Brain's house, where coffee, sand- wiches and cakes were served. Our thanks are due to both Mr. and Mrs. Brain for making this meeting so enjoyable.