, 1884-06-14

Report on Kennedy's Fibre Ex-
tractor.
The Governor directs the publication,
for the general information, Of the accom-
panying Report of the Committee which
was appointed foI the purpose of testing
the working of Mr.. Kennedy's Machine
upon the different local Fibre Plants.
Kingston, May, 1884.
Sir,-On the 10Th December 1873,
Your Excellency appointed-Dr. j. G.
Philippe, NJ. D.; Y. q. Bell, NJ. I. Z. E.
D. Morris, NJ. A, F. L. s., and L f.. Mae
kinnon a Special Committee for the pur-
pose of testing the working OF Mr.. Ken
nedy's Fibre Machine upon different local
plants. Your committee have now the
honor to submit their Report on the result
of their Investigations.
2. The following fibre producing plants
nave been dealt with in the course Of
these experiments =
1. FuIcr9a CubenSiS-Silk Grass.
2. Sanseyieria Zryldnica
Hemp.
8. Sansevieria ADMINISTRATION Bow
string Hemp.
4. Ananas Sativa-Pine Apple.
8. Yucca Aloifolia-Daggeg.
6. Agave Keratto-Common Kcr?ttO.
Z. Agave Observation-Disclosures Aloe.
8. Bromelia Pinguin-Pinguin.
8. Boehmrria Nivea-Ramie or Rhea.
8. In extracting the ibrrS from these
plants steam was the only motor used. rs
not only was great difficulty experienced
in obtaining animals TO work the horse
gear placed at their disposal by Mr.. Ken
nedy, but it was obvious to Your COM
mittec, from the results obtained By Tie
use of steam power, that it WAS impossible
20 work the machine with horsepower 50
as to obtain results ofduI practical value.
4. Beyond stating that this machine
weighs 2lO lbs. and is 20 inches long 453
inches broad and y inches deep, and
therefore occupies very little space. your
committee do not deem it necessary to
enter into any detailed description OF It's
parts. They We're very soon satisfied that
the machine cleaned fbres easily and we'll;
but the question to be determined was
what quantity per honr, or per day, OF
marketable fibre it was capable Of pro-
ducing.
5. In order to ascertain this, and at the
same time to determine the percentage of
fibre yielded by each plant, the plants
were weighed before they were operated
upon, the time occupied in the op Grafton
was noted, and, after being dried, the
weight Of the fibre extracted was aSceT-
tanned.
6. A statement Of the results thus OBJ
tanned is appended to this Report, and
samples of the fibre extracted have been
forwarded to MeSsrs. Christy Of London
and Messrs. Wilson & Co., the well-kUown
fibre merchants of New York, with a rc,
quest that they would submit them to
Brokers with the view Of ascertaiuiug
their value.
Z. With the exception Of the Furcrea
Cubensis and the Agaye Americana, Che
variegated form only it does not appear
that any of the other fibre plants expert
mented upon can be treated by Mr.. Ken
u edy'S fibre extractor with sufficient rapi-
dity to make the business OF extracting
their fibres possible as a commercial I'M
dertaking; and even with these plants, it
would be necessary for any one embark
ing in the fibre business to erect at least
ten of the Machines, to be driven by steam
power.
s. If the efforts of it's ingenious inven-
tor, to discover some method whereby the
Machine can be fed faster, meet with the
success they deserve, there is no doubt
that the Machine will prove a most valua-
BILE one, as it successfully extracted the
fibre of every plant that was put through it.
8. IN the receipt Of lie Brokers' valua-
tiOns a further Report will be submitted
for Your Excellency'S consideration.
We have the honour to be,