The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1888-09-08
AM ERlCAN LINENS.
A Branch OF Manuncturc THAT Might Ue
Developed in Thts Country.

Developed in This Country.
II Is a mistake 20 suppose that thcro
+, Is any radical difference between tho
flax thcrs grown in different countries.
The variations In result depend not ON
original quality, hut ON the treatment
of tho material. The hbers produced
i'm this country are equally fine with
those grown In Belgium and ireland.
and the lougth is the samc in each case.
The ultimate ibcrs are only about two
inches long. They are Tapped or shin
Clcd upon each other in the process of
growth, forming long. hair-like fila
mcnts which have ofton been mistaken
for the tibcrs themselves. The coarscr
the flax the moro firmly arc these fila
mcnts ccmeutcd together 10y glutnous
matter, requiring a greater amount OF
effort in the separation. That is, tho
process Of rctting may bc SO conducted
us 10 render the product from different
countries and the yield OF different
years precisely equal in quality aud
equally well adapted TO the manufact-
ure OF linen. Furthermore, the long
sought "cottonizcd flax" is nothing else
than the short ibcrs separated mcchan-
ically from their gummy blending into
iilamcnts. II has also been ascertaincd
that the formation OF fiber in the plant
begins about two inches above tho root,
so that pulling the stalk out OF tho
ground confers no advantage that may
not be gained 10y cutting of tho stem
just above the surface OF the soil.
After removing the seed the rotting
process is employed for the purpose OF
getting rid Of the sap. This involves
fermentation, after which the straw
must be thoroughly washed aud dried.
The fiber is now combined only with
"boou,' which Is removed by breaking
and scutchiug. Tho modern efforts 70
get rid OF the sap by stccping aud boil
ing In solutions of caustic soda, sulphu-
ric acid or other chemical reagents
have failed, as il is found that these
chemicals, and even tho operation Of
boiling, destroy the strength and lustcr
which form what Is called in Ireland
1.-the nature OF the llbcr.n These pro-
ccsscs take out natural oil, tho result
being that tho material will not spin.
Tho process of rctting may be correctly
and oXpcditiously performed by keep
ing tho stepping tanks In warm build
ing, in which uniform temperature
Is maintained by tho use OF steam.
This obviatcs the pcculiaritios due TO
plifnpfn IL fh,p. In, hs. a.,
making an artificial climate, which can
be obtained equally well hero AS in
Western Europe.
IL Is true that the Courtrai and other
high-pricod flax are grown only in cer-
tain localities and rcttcd I'm waters the
peculiar qualities OF which arc sup
posed to give thcm their superior rich
and glossy appearance. But il tho air
In this country were simply 90 produce
ut first an article equal TO tho poorest
that is imported it would surely pny
well. That poorest stuff used chiefly
for the making Of twincs sells readily
at eight cents per pound ia New York.
which Is equal 10 nearly two cents per
pound for tho stalk, as "A ton of tho
plant will make not far from five hun
hundred pounds Of good fax fiber.
Tho cleaning or scutching Is performed
to-day in the same crude manner as
ages ago, twenty-five pounds OF Glenn
fax being an ordinary days worlr.
A machine that would clean twenty
times as much was successfully oper-
atcd in New Jersey for several years,
but stopped recently because IL was
not found possible 10 obtain the re-
quircd four tons Of straw per day 20
keep IL running, though S2j per ton
was willingly paid for H. Yet many
thousands Of tons Of straw are each
year burned, though n man with two
horses and q harvester and binder
could easily cut ten acres per day close
enough 20 The ground for the purposes
OF tho manufacturer, against half an
ucrc, which is tho stint Of n worker
who pulls the stock up by hand in Eu-
rope.
There would seem % be no good rca-
son why the fax industry should not
be developed in this country az sue
ccssfully us that Of cotton was several
years ago. Nothing but ignorance
stands IN tho way Of making American
linens cqIal 20 all ordinary require
mcnts and cTecting "a vast increase In
tho value Of tho products Of Western