The morning news., 1888-12-13
THE USES OF PINE STRAW.
The Possibilities ofa Southern Product
that is Now Almost Unused.

EUdJ Is NOW Almost unused.
Mr.. c. Menelas, cotton exporter, who
takes lively interest in southern indus
tries, and who has contributed much valua-
/ bic information through the MORNING
| NEWS relative to the native grasses and
| plant fibers of the south, is pursuing a pa
! tent research into the possibilities of the
| southern pine straw as an article of COM
| merce. In pursuit of information in that
| field, be addressed letter to the commits
! sioner of agriculture of North Carolina.
The MORNING NEWS being interested in
MIR. Menelas' researches, reporter called
on him yesterday to inquire what informa-
tlon he had received. Mr.. Menelas said
that the commissioner of agriculture turned
over the letter to the Acme Manufacturing
Company, which replied as follows:
Comfy n. c., Dec. 9. 1888.
DEAR SIR-Yours of Nov 80 to our state
commissioner of agriculture was sent to us
TO reply. We take the green pine straw, which
yields % to 80 per cent fiber 1t is cooked,
dubbed, carded and dried; then it is spun into
| yarn ana woven, as you saw 1t at the Augusta
exposition. We lost our fiber mills by fire
| lew weeks ago, Just as we were getting in some
regular bagging looms and other suitable ma
chinery. We only saved enough fiber from the
| fire TO run our Augusta exhibit. We are now
rapidly rebuilding and about Jan. expect to
! he IN operation again, and will then be glad TO
exhibit the whole process, machinery, cost of
plant, manufacturing, etc, and prove at our
works any claims we make for the business. II
is big field for Southern enterprise and capi-
| tai, and jute bagging cannot now be made
cheap enough to do us any harm.
In commenting on the letter, Mr..
Menelas said: sit explains itself and de-
serves the serious attention Of ali interested
in the development of our southern re-
sources. The announcement of the fact
that the pine straw contained in itself a
valuable fiber created quite a surprise to
the entire community. The claim had been
considered as something existing only in
the imagination Of some enthusiast and was
| received with incredulity and perhaps de-
rision, while by some it was hailed as the
harbinger of news as important as the an
nouncement of fresh fields of minerals
promising rich returns i'll their develop
mentn
MY own opinion is" said Mr.. Menelas,
that for the pine straw we are going to
find a more valuable use than simply
making it into bagging. Any one who has
seen the three or four different grades of
pine straw fiber at the Augusta exposition
can readily see that the pine straw fiber
can be utilized in the manufacture of finer
fabrics, and at more remunerative returns
for the manufacturer. My belief as to the
ultimate success of utilizing the pine straw
and adding very valuable article to the
number which this wonderful country Pro-
duces is further strengthened by the in
formation about the introduction Of
| the pine straw into commercial
articles, which, although new to
this country, and for which due
credit should be given to the Acme9 Manu-
featuring Company, dates back many
years in the old country. In Germany the
pine fiber is known as forest wool, or pine
| wool, and is worked into different fabrics
mixed with wool and cotton. 81 have writ
ten to Germany" said Mr.. Menelas, ''for
additional information on this all important
| subject, ana on receipt of it l will take
| pleasure in communicating it to the MORN
| ING NEWS. Meanwhile trust that what
the Acme Manufacturing Company has
practically demonstrated in this line will
| kindle such an interest all through the
S sluth as will lead to a thorough investi-
| CATION of the subject, and thus aid the de-
| Velopment of this new industry, which in
| Importance may exceed the expectations of
| its most sanguine advocates. The Charles
| ton Nelos and Courier, as far back as April
| Is, 1886, referring to the importance of the
| pine tree, said: "a new enterprise has been
started, which promises to open up an en-
| tirely new and profitable industry. An in
vention which can utilize the inexhaustible
| supply OF pine straw which is to be found
| in the southern states is worth the attention
| of the world. This is what has been dem
| onstrated by the Acme Manufacturing
| Company, which to-day offers in the mar
| kets of the world a variety of carpeting and
mating made exclusively of pine straw,
and which is destined to force out the cocoa
and jute mating from the market"
| :. 81 trust" added MIR. Menelas, "that this
prediction may be verified. The pine fiber,
or pine wool is already much appreciated in
Germany, where, as a correspondent states,
| it is mixed with wool and woven into hy
gienic flannel, supposed to be beneficial ON
account of its aromatic odor, and its resin
GUS constituents IL may be found that on
| account of the resinOus substance in the
pine fiber, that carpeting and mating made
| from the pine straw will not be subject to
| the destructive ravages of insects, and this
added advantage will bring the pine straw
carpeting and mating into more extensive
| use.
'In addition to fiber, the pine straw, or
leaves, contain quantity of oil considered
as being very valuable for its medicinal
virtues and destined to become an important
auxiliary in the advanced pharmacopeia-
| The MORNING NEWS, which always lends
its columns to anything tending to promote
the welfare aud general prosperity of the
south, will, l have no doubt, use its best
efforts toward impressing upon the minds
| of its numerous readers the vast Importance
| of the pine straw industry of this section. -