The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-19 00:00:00

INDIAN FIBRES.

The following letter, written- by Mr. Samuel Gregson si
has been addressed to Sir Charles Wood, President of
the Board of Control :--

Dear Sir Charles,—Among the many important ques-
ticns now pressing upon public attention, there are two
which I venture to bring particularly under your notice,
both for the interest of India and the public at large.
They are the means of providing an effective and ample
substitute for flax and hemp for our manufactures, and of
obtaining the necessary quantity of material, now noto-
riously inadequate to supply the demand for the produc-
tion of paper.
The war with Russia affect a in a material degree our
command of these important articles—flax and hemp;
while the rapidity and largely increased consumption of
paper without any corresponding extension, but rather a
diminution, of the supply of the raw material for its pro-
duction, operates prejudicially on what may now be called
a necessary of life.
Allow me to submit, to you a few facts bearing upon
each of these matters.
The growth of flax has rapidly increased within the last
few years in the United Kingdom and especially in Ireland.
In 1819 the quantity of land in Ireland under this crop,
was 60,314 acres ; and taking its average yield at 6 cwt.
per acre, the produce would be 18,091 tons. In 1853 there
were 174,423 acres under flax cultivation, yielding, at the
same average, 52,327 tons.
The importation of foreign flax for the last three years
has been _

All other Total
From Russia. parts. importation.
In 1851 40,934 tons ... 18,775 tons ... 59,709 tons
1852 47,426 „ ... 22,703 „ 70,129 „
1853 64,399 „ 29,770 „ ... 94,169 „
Total in 3 years 152,759 „ 71,243 „ —.224,007 „

Average per an. 50,920 „ 23,749 .. 74,669
showing that the importation of last year from Russia was
16,;,73 tons more than that of the year pre'ceding-13,479
tons above the average of the three yeam—and within
10,270 tons of the total average importation from all parts
of the world.
Putting out of view the growth of flax in Great Britain,
of which we have no available information, the importation,
and the Irish production together, of flax during the last
yoar amounted to 146,496 tons, of which entire quantity
nearly one-halt, and of the total importation snore than
two-thirds, came from Russia, its market value (at peace
prices averaging 301. per ton) amounting to nearly two mil-
lion pounds.
Then, for hemp. Of the articles passing under this ge-
neral title, including sunn and jute from India, and that
known as Manilla hemp, the quantities received from
Russia do not bear the same proportion as in the case of
flax, being—

All other Total
From Russia parts. importations.
In 1851
1852
1853 41,819 „ 21,323 „ 63,142 „

Total in three years 102,246 „ 79,281 „ 181,527 )7

Average per annum 34,082 „ 26,427 „ 60,509 „
Here again, however, we see that Rusiim, has supplied
considerably' more than half the entire importation, re.

• ---
Total 105,538 „ Value... £3,395,335
And the present war price has enhanced that value to ur
wards of 6,500.000/.
little
Next, as regards paper. We are, comparatively,
dependent upon other countries forthedirect manufacture
of in the state in which it is used in the a-
of this most important article. Without particularly
specifying the quantities of rags imported, chiefly fr°
Germany and Italy, it may be taken at less than ,
twelfth part of the entire weight of material
.o`.
all kinds used for paper making. But small as that e1,1111f•
portation is, in
.proportion to our wants, we are not -,
fered to retain it. The Americans are large buyers of ra
in this countty ; whether of those imported or of our °te
pro uction is immaterial ; the general consumption in
United States, so enormous is the quantity used Pone"
papers exceeding their own internal supply.
With this state of things is to be coupled the vae.,...ttihn;
crease in the consumption of paper in this country.
ends
five years, 1830 to 1834, prior to the reduction of the ex.cod
duty on first-class papers from 3d. to its present equalivo
rate of lid. per lb., the average annual quantity n2„,,,(1,28
70,989,1311b5. ; and in the last five years, 1849 to 10"'"'The
average annual quantity made was 151,A3,1:51b5•
production of the year 1853 was 177,623,
above 23,000,0001b5. (more than 10,0 10 tons) over that 4.
the preceding year, and more than 36,000 tons over
such excess requiring for its production not less than 13,`,,',76
tons of rdw material in the former case, and nearly 47,riit
in the latt r. The whole weight of material employe"....,
the manufacture of paper only, may be stated at bets"'
0001bs., h.ll
110,000 and 120,000 tons per annum, for
It results then from these several statements, that
our textile manufactures, rope and twine, and paper way ti;
we are short of the requisite supplies of raw material,
compared with our position at the beginning of last Ye
to the extent of nearly 120,000 tons, viz.:—
Last year's import from Russia of hemp and 0
,
flax, as above lO6
The above excess for the make of paper
Deficiency 119,218
subject only to such diminution of that quantity as gasp
may find means to convey to us by circuitous rou_e
With a liberal allowance for this possible diminution, 7.
13,0000 10
, may fairly consider ourselves deficient to the extent o,of
quantity ranging between 80,000 and 100,000 t°ll6
fibrous matter.
rest
This being our position, it is a subject of much in+.-t;„‘
to determine in what way so large an actual or imeeou'"
deficiency can be supplied.
iat
To this point I proceed now to draw your attentioneaAia
if the facts which have come before me are substant
it
correct, of which there seems to be no reasonable doubt,
would appear that not only can we obtain adequate Ili's;
;
plies from India, but that something like reproach attach to
to us for having permitted ourselves so long to neglealt.
procure, to some extent at least, these essential coO
ties from that great country.
Dr. Forbes Royle, whose reputation as an experieui°44
Indian botanist is too well established to stand in need
any individual testimony, and whose valuable pafief
this subject, recently read before the Society of Ar'tter
will, as it is already out of print, circulate with this lea
throughout India, has distinctly proved the existence,
various parts of our Indian empire, not only of the identi'
cal plants which furnish flax and hemp, but of numer°,4
other plants yielding fibres of great importance, some
them greatly superior in strength and general value
either of those articles.
The proof of this is too important to be omitted he:
Having submitted a variety of fibres to be tested,
weight each broke with he ascertained to be as follows •
FIBRES OF EQUAL WEIGHTS AND OF EQUAL LENCIT.,II
TESTED AT THE EAST INDIA COMPANY'S MILIT.M"
STORES.
Mg*
Petersburg, broke with l6O
Jubhulpore hemp, from Mr. Williams l°4
Wuctoo nar fibre, Travancore ................ .
Mudaror Yercum fibre, common all over India.-• 190
China grass, Boehmeria nivea
..220
....... 320
Rheea fibre, the same from Assam
Wild R 1 sea, BoehsperiH species from Assam.- 400343
Kote Kangro hemp (no breakage at)
East India House, Dec. 16, 1853.
It is true that some these Indian plants are grown
places remote from the seaboard ; and from which there e 4
still very bad roads, or no roads at all, for transport; ,
several of them, and amongst them perhaps the most P 0
life of all, are of very extensive growth in parts contiVe,',',
to the coast, and therefore capable of being benefiols"/
and cheaply prepared for exportation.
iclx
The most conspicuous of these is the plaintain, w-, ;0.
contains a valuable fibre, and is everywhere cultivate(' 'rsij,
the plains of India for its fruit, an article of unive,•„a.
consumption by the native population. It is a tree 'l/.1174
bears fruit only once, and as soon as that is removed it
and has been from time immemorial, cut down and lab'
rot upon the ground. Persons who have paid close atte.ll;
tion to the subject state that there will be no difficulty 1°
obtaining from this plant alone any quantity of fibre °I
admitted valuable quality, and as fast as the mechard'
appliances necessary for its preparation can be sent out.
Upon this essential point I have reason to believe th_e
machinery is devised and patents are secured for the pi-
cesses of preparation, calculated to carry on every necessl
operation both as regards fibre for textile purposes
pulp far paper, in a perfect manner ; and at a cost svili';
oven under any conceivable rise in the price of the re,
material in India, must command such a profit as to en
sure its continuous and almost unlimited production. „„..
Some statements have also been prepared, and are reaolZ,
producible, showing a very tempting pecuniary profitrei
induce parties in India to produce the material requi
and that the simple and efficient machinery to be erepl°l
may be furnished at a moderate cost.
Applicable as this fibre is to the manufacture of efe6
species of cloth or other article usually made from f1a,1.;,,
hemp, and of equal quality, it can be used with 110 „".ar
facility and advantage in the manufacture of paper, th'e-
supplying both the one and the other of the important dO.
siderata which the foregoing facts and figures establish.
We have, therefore, within the limits of our own posseSi
sions, in the East Indies and in the West, ample means 4t)
furnishing at a low price as much of this important pr ~,
duct as our utmost wants can require.
Permit me, in conclusion, to add, that this question, in;
volving as it does the interests of India, which, in Ye%
high position as president of the India Board I know y.°
watch over with anxious solicitude, embraces also the 1,.1°:
terests of the whole empire, especially at this momelP;
and I feel assured of its receiving as it well deserves,
prompt and earnest attention, and the continued fav,.. b9e.t
able consideration of the East India Company, and of
Majesty's Government.—l am, dear Sir Charles,
very faithfully, SAMUEL GREGsolf•
London, June 1.