Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-22
The Problem Solved.
Ne,o Orleans Democrat.

Some DAYS ago we published an article
on "Ramie Fibre" in which we an
nounced the fact that a gentleman OF
this city had perfected machine which
successfully separated the fibre from the
pulpy properties of the ramie stalk. But
although this part of the problem was
solved. the fibre thus extracted retained
its dingy, green-yellow hue; thus the
second obstacle, a preparation or chemi-
cal that would bleach the fibre without
iniuring it, was yet to be overcome, and
the problem of utilizing the ramie and
other fine Louisiana fibres was but half
solved.
We are now happy in being able to an
nounce to those who are interested in
this fibre industry, that the inventive
genius of two gentlemen of the Crescent
City has solved the great mystery and
found solution to the vexed problem.
A Mr. Kendall has, in company with
DR.. Roberts, invented a machine that is
much more perfect, and cleans the fibre
much better than any other yet pro
duced; while the doctor has discovered
a chemical that will bleach the fibre to
snowy whiteness without in the least in.
juring it.
Since the fortunate discovery or APP
plication of this chemical, Messrs. Rob
erts and Kendall have made many ex-
periments with the fibre producing
plants of the State. The common Span
ish dagger will yield a thin silky thread,
much finer than hemp. and almost
rivaling flax in whiteness when bleached)
and strength. while from the common
stalk of the cotton plant they have ex-
tracted fibre that will undoubtedly yet
become a most valuable article of COM
merce.
The parties have also made other i'm
portant experiments and have discovered
that the silky fibre of the Louisiana
ramie. of the Spanish dagger, and that
''ne plus ultra" of all fibres, the Spanish
American "Bromelia Fabrista," after
having been STEPPED in dyes of various
kinds and hues, will retain the tints thus
received, despite the action of the most
powerful detintorizing alkalis and acids.
This is a most important. discovery, for
it is assumed that the finer qualities of
ramie fibre can be utilized in the manu-
facture of coarse silk goods, while the
''Bromelia" fibre, although as delicate as
an infants hair, is susceptible of being
subdivided several times and may be
used in the manufacture of the finest
silk goods.
It has been estimated that the fertile
soil of Louisiana gives life to more than
fifty plants whose fibres would become
articles of commerce if they could be
economically separated from their pulpy
coverings, while many of them could be
utilized in the manufacture of finer tex
tile goods if they could be bleached to
the necessary whiteness. This entire
problem, with its several rsmifcations,
being at last completely and satisfac-
torilv solved by Messrs. Roberts and
Kendell, we may look for some excite
ment on this subject among the agricul-
turists of the State and the capitalists of
this city
The discovery of this chemical and
the perfection of the fibre cleaning ma.
chine is destined to work a revolution in
the agricultural and manufacturing in
dustries of the South.
Acres of fertile lands that are now "
ing idle or are worked to but little profit
will be covered with fiourishing fields of
jute, of ramie, of Spanish dagger, and
with numerous other plants that are now
regarded as useless and nox;ous, while
the profit per acre of these fibre bearing
plants will some day far exceed the
yield of either sugar or cotton
In the valleys that lie hidden among
the snow covered mountains of Colorado,
of New Mexico and of Arizona, as well
as in the wide Texan plains that spread
out between the Rio Nueces and the Rio
Grande. flourish a hundred different
fibre plants and species of the cactus that
would grow in our rich soil and semi.
tropical climate. The inventions of
Messrs. Roberts and Kendall will render
probable the introduction of these fibrous
plants into our State. while it may be
safely assumed that the planting of more
plants and the manufacture Of their
threads into Irvine, ropes and textile
goods are industries that are destined to
become very important in this section.
An acre of common dagger" will
furnish about 1000 trees. Each tree
will yield pound and half Of fibre per
year, or will net the farmer, over and
above all expense, about 10 cents per
tree Thus it will be seen that an acre
of this plant will yield a profit of $500
annually, for the tree is perennial.
We know that the ramie can be pro-
duced here in high state of perfection.
Its fibre sells readily for fifty cents per
pound. 1t yet remains to be seen if the
"Bromelia" can also be domesticated in
the State, for we believe its cultivation
has never been attempted. Its thread,
which rivals silk, is worth eighty cents
per pound in LYONS France