The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-11-21
j ute.
LETTER OF PROFESSOR WAREHOUSE

DEAR SIR: My interest in the indus
trial welfare Of the country induces me
to address you upon subject OF great
economic moment.
Personal investigation in India have
| fully convinced me that jutc can be nat
uralzed in the United Sates. Tue con-
ditons of soil and climate in Southern
States and in California are suited to the
growth of this plant. The con merclal
importance Of jute is now immense. The
culture of this staple now adds scores OF
millions annually to the productive wealth
of India. Amid all the vast and diver
sifed productions of that fruitful land,
only cotton, opium and rice exceed jute
mercantile value. In 1879, besides all
the domestic consumption of jute, 7OO,-
900 900 pounds were exported to foreign
countries. The United Kingdom now
annually manufactures more than $780,
100000 pounds of the fiber
The range of its uses is broad. 1t now
enters into the manufacture of almost
every kind of fabric, from the coarsest
gunny cloth to the finest satin. 1t is
claimed that the culture of jute is less
exhaustive to the land and more profit
able to the cutivator than that of sugar
cane or cotton. The plant grows with
rank luxuriance. Sometimes the yield
per acre is $500 pounds.
The cheapness of native jute for bags
and baling would facilitate the move
mcnt of our crops and the revival of our
domestic commerce. The fertility of our
soil, the economy Of our agricultural
machinery, eur skilled labor and scicn-
titic supervision, and our superior chemi-
cal and mechanical processes of treat
ment, will assuredly enable Americans
successfully to compete with the rude
manual industry of India in the cultiva-
ton and manufacture of this important
staple.
Planters, chemists and inventors may
protitably direct their attention to this
new source of personal and public wealth.
Improvements in methods of cultivation,
in processes Of sleeping the plant, and
III mechanical facilities for removing the
bark, would open to ingenious minds I'm
trodden paths to opulence.
Perhaps the Middle States, also, are
adapted to the growth of jute. Even in
the case of failure, the experiments
would involve no serious loss; while, in
the event OF success, the new Industry
would enrich the nation. But in order
to avoid possible loss, the tests in the
Central States should be made on a small
scale. The experience of the present
season will determine to what extent jute
culture in the United States can profit
ably be carried.
Jute seed and practical instructions
with regard to the time Of planting and
the preparation of the fiber for market,
can be obtained from the Agricultural
Commissioner at Washington. But the
time tor active work has already arrived,
and planters who are purposing TO test,
during the present season, the adaptation
of American soil to jute culture, should
make immediate application to the Com
missioner for seed
An industry fraught with such posi-
biities of national wealth deserves en-
couragement by legislative bountics.
1t is hoped that your Excellency will
further the success Of this undertaking
by official recommendations and that the
Legislature and State Board of Agricul.
ture will actively aid an enterprise whose
prosperity would SO effectively promote
the material Interests OF the nation.
Very respectfully yours,
SYLVESTER WAREHOUSE.