Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-17
I. he Problem Solved ?

A lutte machine, called the international
decyrtica.ar, was tested at The New Or
leans Exposition few days ago, and the
Times Democrat Of that city is authority
for the statement that the test was a cOm-
pIete success. That journal. speaking of
the machine and the test. said: 1.-THE
problem is solved, the GOrdian knot
is cut and the fibre extracting
millennium has come" These are
encouraging, in fact, inspiring words.
If they are true they ought
to fill the hearts of Southern farmers with
JOY. because they mean that new source
OF great wealth TO the South has been
opened. But, are they true? Has the
problem Of preparing jute for market so
cheaply that Jute can be produced in this
country In competition with the jute oil
India been solved? The Times Democrat
ought to be very certain that what 1t says
is correct before encouraging farmers 10
engage in the cultivation Of jute. 1t may
easily induce them to pursue course
that may result in loss to them OF
thousands of dollars. For years farmers
throughout the Southern states have been
waiting anxiOusly for machine that
would make a Iute crop profitable, and
they would welcome a machine OF that
kind with satisfaction as profound as that
which welcomed the moving and reaping
machines in the grass and grain produc-
ing States and the cotton gin in the cot
ton producing States.
We do not deny that the international
decOrticatOr is all that it is claimed to be.
Indeed, we sincerely hope that il is; but
before advising farmers to plant Jute we
would like to have answered some very
interesting questions, which naturally
present themselves. The article in the
Times Democrat is not explicit enough re-
specting the operations of the machine.
About the only thing clearly stated is that
it is capable of producing fifteen pounds
of fibre per hour; but it is not stated
whether, when thus produced, 1t is IN
marketable condition.
The following are some of the things
which the farmers would like to know:
Is the machine run by hand, horse or
steam power? What is the cost OF 1t:
Can its capacity be increased What is
the cost of operating it: Will it handle
the fibre plant with such rapidity and
economy as will make the cultivation OF
the plant rroftable' Is the fibre ready
for market when the plant has been oper-
ated upon by the machine? Fit isn't, by
what process is it to be made marketable,
and what is the cost of the process?
These aud many other questions ought to
be satisfactorily answered before encour-
aging farmers to engage in the cultiva-
ton of iute.
Farmers can afford to wait on the In
ventOrs, bus they cannot afford to be dis
appointed, and inventors cannot afford to
have them disappointed. 50 much pro-
gress has been made towards perfecting a
;.ecOrticating machine that it is entirely
safe to assume that the time is not dis
tant when machine that will make the
cultivation of jute profitable will be per-
fectcd, if, indeed, there is not already
such a machine. Inventors are eager, OF
course, to reap the fruits of their labOrs,
aud they ought TO have their reward when
thcv have done what they have under
taken to do. but they will make great
mistake il they announce that their task
ia finished before it is finished. They not
onlvinvite disappointment for themselves,
but they discourage those who depend
upon tGCm.
The international dec0rticatOr is not the
first machine of its kind that has been
declared capable Of solving the jute prob
lem. and Tor that reason, perhaps, If for
no other, there viii be some hesitation in
accepting It until il is demonstrated be-
y0nd question that it is what is wanted,
aud what the South is anxiously look
ing for.
As much as we desire a machine that
VIII make the cultivation Of jute profit
able. We shall not encourage farmers to
cultivate jute until we are satisfied that
a machine has been invented that Will
enable them tn cultivate it with a reason
able profit. The successful inventor OF
The required machine need have no fear
that he viii not be suitably rewarded. a
fortune and the good will of a grateful
people await him.