fiber slurry 10 is transferred from the blend chest 14 through suitable conduits 15 to a machine chest 18 the consistency of the fiber slurry 10 in the machine chest 18 may be from about 0 5 to about 15 percent fiber in other embodiments the consistency of the fiber slurry 10 in the machine chest 18 may be from about 2 to about 10 percent fiber or from about 3 to about 5 percent fiber one or more adsorbable chemical additives 24 are supplied from a reservoir 22 and added to the fiber slurry 10 in the conduit 15 prior to the machine chest 18 the amount of adsorbable chemical additive 24 is suitably about 0 1 kg metric ton of pulp fiber or greater in particular embodiments the adsorbable chemical additive 24 comprises a softening agent and is added in an amount from about 0 1 kg metric ton of pulp fiber or greater the fiber slurry 10 and the adsorbable chemical additive 24 are desirably allowed to remain together in the machine chest 18 under agitation for a residence time sufficient to allow the pulp fibers to adsorb a substantial portion of the adsorbable chemical additive 24 a residence time of at least about 10 minutes for instance.