The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1874-12-02
HAWAIIANGAZETTE
Prom the Britisa Truds Jou'1aLl
The FIbres OF Commerce.
No l.

I ana tue NOct iulplONG1 uicehS " aN"Nb N-~N-
few introductory words may not be considered
out OF place.
Our subject may be divided into two parts, the
uses and treatment Of
LIST. Fibres which have been and are now util.
lied. bot which may be rendered OF enormously
increased value by the adoption Of modern ap-
pliaoces aud machinery.
2nd. Fibres which have heretofore not been
utilized, or in so Insignificant a degree as 10 be
] almost nix
The different processes which fbres 10 their
various uses undergo may be classified as follows
Preparing spinning, weaving, rope-making
twine-making, Matchmaking, brush-makIng, aud
paper.making.
During the last fifteen years special attention
has been paid not only to the construction Of new
machinery and the improvement Of existing ma
chlnery for manufacturing 6brous goods, but also
for utilizing what was, at one time, considered to
be waste and worthless material. Thus excellent
cloth is now made from wooden rags. Cotton
blankets are very extensively made from cotton
rags, waste cotton yarn, &c. Certain classes OF
ropes are made from the materials Of old ropes
re.manuiaciured. Excellent twines are made in
Great Briiain from old gnnny bags, bale ropes,
waste hemp, fax, &C., which formerly we're sold
for and used as manure
From want of knowledge Of the means of
manufacture thousands of tons Of fibre are an
nually burnt or thrown aside in our Colonies,
South America, India, and other countries, AID
allowed to rot as useless, whilst England exports
to those countries enormous quantities of goods
manufactured from waste materials much inferior
to those burnt or unutilized.
II, then, 10 our proposed series of articles We
can be the means OF drawing the attention of
planters, small capitalists, &C.. in the above-men-
toned countries to the opportunities they have
Of enriching themselves BY applying modern ideas
and modern machinery to the manufacture OF
various descriptions Of goods from fbres-at
present exported to this country or burnt and al
lowed to rot in their own countries-we feel that
we shall have taken part in good work.
1t is welLknown axiom that individual en-.
richment by legitimate means, especially when
such enrichment is brought about by the employ
ment Of labor, as in manufacturing goods must
be an enrichment of the community, and he who
produces ten thousand pounds worth of goods
from homegrown materials in many cases at
present considered valueless), and thus saves to
his country the importation of such goods is IN
dOubtedly great beuefactor.
Many most vital improvements have also taken
lho l.et in tho eli
ton Of motors for driving or putting machinery
in motion. Turbines, taking up little space, and
of comparatively small cost and weight. have in
many instances supplanted the cumbersome and
costly water-wheels formerly in vogue. Steam
engines and boilers are now constructed to burn
from one-half to two-thirds less fuel than former
ly, so that many difficulties which existed on the
score of the great cost Of putting down motors
and supplying them with fuel have disappeared.
Machine-makers now pay more attention to the
special requirements of the various countries,
with regard to the questions of native labor,
means of transport into the interior facilities for
repairs, &c. The means of travelling are much
quicker and less costly than formerly. This
facilitates in great degree the sending of Eng
lish workmen to erect and start machinery in
foreign countries.
all the above facts combined make it not only
possible, but very profitable, for the manufacture
of many descriptions of goods to be carried on in
countries ia which twenty years ago it would
have been an impOssibility to carry on such manu-
features.
Con- FIBRE.
This fibre is obtained from the husk of the
cocoa nut (c0cos nucVerd). 1t is extensively
used for cOrdage-its peculiar properties being
lightuess and elasticity, combined with great
strength. These qualities are of additional value
because they are durable and little affected even
by immersion in salt water. In this respect cor
cordage Is superior to many others; some lose
their elasticity very soon-others rot when fire.
quenty wet and exposed to the atmosphere.
Numerous instances are on record of ships fur
nished with cables of this light, buoyant, and
elastic material riding out a storm in security.
while stronger made though less elastic ropes of
other vessels have snapped IN two, and even
when chain cables have given way. Though
rough to handle, aud not so neat-looking as hemp
or Manila cordage. it is-when properly made
sufficiently pliable.
Stair carpets, mating, and mats of various
descriptions are very extensively made from it;
and, as it easily takes colors in dyeng. many very
effective and even elegant designs have been in
trOduced by manufacturers IN Great Britain.
further use for coir is found by substituting
it for bristles in the manufacture of brushes,
brooms, &c; and lastly when cleaned, dyed and
curled it is largely used by uphOlsterers for stuff
fug cushions, saddles, &C.
The cOcoanut palm is found in the tropical
parts Of the world-chiehy in the vicinity of the
sea-growIng within reach of salt water, and TAX
ing root upon reefs and sandbanks as soon as they
emerge from the ocean. Its principal range is
said to be between the equator and the 25th
parallel of latitude, and in the equnoctial zone:
il will grow at various elevations not exceeding
about 5000 feet above the sea level. It is some
times found to occupy extensive tracts to the ex-
eusion Of all other trees; thus, on the Brazilian
coast a distance of about $50 miles 10 length is
with few exceptions occupied by the cOcoanut
palm It's stem rises like slender column to a