Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-09
a Proposition to inventors OF Jute
Machines.

a Proposition to Inventors OF Jute
Machines.
The New Orleans Plcayune publishes a
letter from Mr.. C. Menelas, of this city.
addressed TO the President of the Ameri-
can Exposition at New Orleans, in which
he asks for all the information to be OBJ
tanned respecting the merits of the jnte
ana rame machines on exhibition there.
The following is an extract from the
letter:
The rice planters Of this section are
very DESTROYS to know whether any of
those machines have done any practicable
work 30 as to demonstrate positive results
that wOu justify planting crops OF those
valuable articles, jute and ramie.
They further wish to have a clear state
ment as to the cost of machine, engine.
the number OF hands needed to run it and
handle the stalks and TiDre, the quantity
OF fibre actually saved per day, and,
finally, the cast per pound.
Thus far We have had only abundanceOf
assurances on the part Of the inventors
! that the needed machines have been dis
covered. and do the work satisfactorily,
but all these promises have not gone any
further than the columns of the press.
Actual work in quantity so as to stand
bIb ltbi vi lHb NAlAIhtI anu dlAtfIQ hu dHDOT-
tunity for correctly calculating cost is yet
TO be made, and has to be made in the
held.
Had we to Judge by what the inventors
spread all over the country through the
press and private circulars, we could but
come to the conclusion that they are per-
fectly satisfied as to the success of their
Inventions, yet no disposition appears on
their part, to my knowledge, 10 offer to
send their machines where material can
be procured, and then and there solve the
problem.
To facilitate the work propose to plant
at my own expense two acres IN jute on a
rice plantation in the vicinity OF Savan-
nah, where water is abundant, and also
engines to run the machine, provided re-
ceIVe without much delay the assurance
Of some inventors to bring their iute-
ramie machines and do the work of saving
the crop.
Here is a splendid opportunity offered
to the inventors Of jute and ramie ma
chimes to prove that their inventions are
all that they claim for them. There are
thousands of planters all over the South
who are ready TO plant ramie or iute. and
are only waiting for some satisfactory
evidence that machines have been per-
fected that will make the growing of these
| articles profitable.
1t is true that circulars are being sent
out Offering machines for sale and claim
ing that they will do the work required Of
them rapidly and satisfactorily, but farm
ers will act wisely, before planting jute
or rsmIe, or purchasing a machine, by
finding out first just what the machines
Will do. We haven't a word to say
against any Of these machines, because
we don't know anything against them;
and we can't say anything for them, be-
cause, as far as we are informed, IT has
not yet been demonstrated that they will
handle ramie or jute so economically that
they can be grown proftably. II the in
ventOrs and owners Of jute machines are
In earnest. and believe that their ma
chimes will do the work claimed for them,
let Mr.. Menelas' proposition be accepted.
1t appears TO be good way TO get at the
truth.