The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-10-09
From lie BOWS Review.
HEMP-oNE OF THE GREAT STAPLES OF THE
COUNTRY
To r. Y. BRENT, Esq.

From lie BOWS REVIEW.
HEMP-oNE OF THE GREAT STAPLES OF THE
COUNTRY.
The article Of hemp has become of the important sta
Piles the West The late report makes the annual
aggregate production in the United States upwards of co.
900 tons This article is indspensaby necessary 70
our navy and commercial marine In former years VIC
looked to Russia for the supply but OF late we have be-
independent of the foreign production and we now
rely mainly upon the American production, as is shown
by the statistics of the late census and fully by the
able and elaborate speech of the Hon. John r. Thomson OF
New Jersey made during the last Congress- before the SEN
ate of the United States in the of David Myerle
1t abundantly appears from the evidence produced by
Mr. Thomson in support of Mr. Myerles claim upon the
government damages sustained by him through yio
a,on of contract in the rejection of his hemp that in 1899
the Hon. James X Pauldng then Secretary of the Navy
induced Mr. Myere under promise of sustaining him FROM
loss embark upon experiments for testing the practical
by of supplying the navy with American water-rotted
hemp Some experiments for the purpose had been made
under the sanction of the many years prevou
but these had left behind them general opinion that the
operation of waerrottpg hemp mpracticable in
climate, and the object abandoned.
In interview had by Mr. Myerle with the Secretary
the subject mentioned by the latter when Mr. NJ
pressed the utmost confidence in the entire practcabiy
and safety of the process and of the feasibility osucces
fully overcoming by course of proper experiments the
existing deep-rooed preudces against it. The Secretary
eoncurrng in his views and justly considering it object
of tho highest consideration well eminenty entitled
the patronage and encouragement of the government
he urged him to abandon the business in which he was
then engaged far might be necessary and TO enter
upon and carry out in the heart of the hempgrowing
gon the West the experiments necessary to establish
both the praccaby and safety to health of the process
To induce him this course he rendered him the patron
age of the government and made the most liberal promises
of encouragement and indemnity against loss well
if successful, the most generous government reward
The navy commissioners at the time fully concurrcd in
the views of the Secretary ALSO the chairman and several
members of the Naval Committee of the House Of Repre-
seniaves cordially conceded in the Under these
and promises and urged by his zeal for the sue
cessul accomplishment of the object and wishes of the
government also by motives Of patriotism he agreed to
abandon the in which he at the time
engaged and at upon the experiments proposed
The expenses attendant upon the experiments were all
borne by Myerlc and must have been very heavy almost
nsuperable difficulties and obstacles growing out Of the
deeproocd preudces of the people, opposed his inta'o
~ efforts In the matter. His workmen (of whom at
period he had about 2oo difficult TO procure owing
the fear Of the effects upon their health, and when OBJ
tanned high prices they had to be instructed in every
part Of the process of wacr-rot,ng and preparing the
hemp for market.
At the close Of 1910 his efforts had demonstrated
the entire prac;cabty Of carrying the process without
serious detriment TO health, and complete the
change Of public opinion this point, founded in the
actual experiments and the evidence OF their senses
that great number Of the most respectable planters
tered into agreement with him TO furnish him with the
waterroed article, some engaging to furnish much as
100 tons These experiments it appears commenced
in Kentucky this State at that period being the only
one that cultivated this article to any considerable
extent, (Which by the way, it may be stated, was
Of very inferior quality, and unfit for naval pur-
poses) the annual production not exceeding 1900
The eminent success attending Mr. Ms experiments
soon noised through the western States result of
which the annual production in 1876 had increased to
10000 TONS The rs difficulty in subduing the preudces
of the people having been overcome, he produced, at
great expense and forwarded to Boston, upwards of 200
tons of the article for the navy of the United States and
prepared TO fulfil his contract for 500 tons which he
would have done had he not been disabled ruined by
Its improper If not corrupt rejection by the Inspector In
regard to this the testimony OF Mr. Pauding Commodore
Nicholson and Others, seems conclusive great preu-
dice Mt the time existed against American hemp, such
as from time to time, in very limited quantities, had
been sent to the Boston market from the fact Of its
having been badly prepared aud Of very inferior quaiy