Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-11-03
~A new branch Of industry has

rA new OTAHcl vi @IoS
been entered into. by the farmers in
several parts of Ohio. which seams
worthy the attention of those in this
section who depend on the produc-
lions of the soil for a livelihood We
refer TO fax culture, not only for the
profit in the seed, but of the fibre, or
straw, which is largely in demand
for the manufacture Of tagging and
coarse cloth At Sidney, Ohio, and
some ether points, mills are erected
for the purpose of breaking and
sscutching" or preparing the straw
for spinning, which is done in East
ern establishments got up for the
purpose.
The prorrietors of the fax mill
furnish seed to the farmers, with the
promise of having it returned in the
fall, and privileges of buying the
straw in its rough state, either rotted
or in the rough, paying about Blk
dollars per tun for rough, and 8
higher rate for rotted. 1t is cut
with a moving machine, not pulled
in the old way, raked up, threshed,
and the straw loaded up like hay,
weighed and sold in the same man
ner at the mill. The rough fibre is
spread out on the grass to rot, and
when fit is run through machinery
not unlike the "picker" of a wool
factory, which separates the fiber
from the woody portion of the stalk.
The fiber is then bsled as hay, and
shipped to eastern manufacturers.
The mill of itself is a rough, cheap
affair, buildings mere sheds-costing
with full machinery, about $4,000.
The demand far exceeds the sup
ply, and it would seem likely to prove
highly remunerative to all engaged
in it. We are not prepared to give
any opinion as to the soil Of our
county being well adapted to the
raising of fax. Farmers al decide
this for themselves. We merely ad-
vert to the business as now carried
on in other parts of the State.
That it can be raised by proper
cultivation hardly admits Of q doubt,
and now that wheat has become an
uncertain crop, it would seem worth
making an effort. So great is the
demand for the raw material, that
eastern capitalists will readily put
mp the mill in any locality where the
fax is grown. At no point would
such a mill have greater advantages
than Gallipolis, owing to the facili-
ties for shipping the raw fax by
river, as wheat is shipped now to
u mills, from points up or down
the Ohio and KanaWha. AS to ship
ping the baled fax fibre, the cheap
ness and safety of river transporta-
ton is certainly an object worthy of
consideration. Nor is there any
reason why manufacturers of bag
ging should not sLriug up west as
well as east. Our wooden factories
are able to compete with the best of
those east.
A little reflection will convince
any one of the immense amount of
bagging or baling cloth required in
the cotton, growing States, and that
an enterprise of this character can
not fail to succeed and prove of in
calculable benefit to the farming in
terests of onr county.
We would be pleased to hear from
some of our liue farmers on fax cul-
ture, giving their experience and be-
lief. Let 1t be understood that the
mill will be set up as soon as it is as
certained that the crop will be plant
ed. Now is the time to arrange for
Spring planting. Farmers, look to
your own interests. You know the
value of the seed in market, and at
Sc per ton for rough fax straw, you
should not fear to try the expert
ment.