The Springdale news., 1888-12-07
ARKANSAS STATE NEWS.
Cotton stalk and Jute Fiber.

cotton SIatk ana Dutt i's''
 Prof W. S. Thomas. geologist of the Iron Mountain Railroad Department, ap- peared before the Little Rock Board OK Trade, recently, by invitation and spoke at considerable length on the value or textile fabrics, submitting samples ot cot ton fiber made from the ordinary cotton stalk. He stated that four years ago New England scientist told him he be- lieved that valuable fiber couId be evolved from the cotton stalk of the South. The professor said:
 This gentleman was an enthusiast and he en1nused ne. He firmly believed that the cot ton stalk had fiber which it would pay to ex- tract for commercial purposes After thls I lost connection with the gentleman, but hs ringing words remained with me, and devoted great deal of my time te the study Of the textile fbers of Arkansas. That have been astonshed by the result is known wher- ever am known. I am now convinced that every textile fiber known to the arts can be produced in Arkansas. This fall Prof. Water house, of Washington University, who has a National reputation, called to see me for the purpose of examining some iute had raised on my farm in this county. He had devoted years to the study of jute, travelling all over this and other countries. He told me he found in the South the soil. the climate and every cond tion necessary to it's successful cult- vaton: that he believed quality as fine as that of India could be grown in Arkansas snd that ny sample was as fine as any he had ever seen anywhere. The only trouble i'll the jute question then, as now is the cost in this coun- try of separating the fiber from the stalk. We have not vet teen able to perfect machinery which would enable LIS 10 compete with the cheap labor of foreign counties. The only question, so far as Arkansas is concerned is it's economic production. So much for one of cur raw products The next time I heard from Prof. Warehouse he called my attention to the work of the American Consolidated Fiber Company of New York. I wrote them and have been watching their operations until success has crowned their ef- forts They now produce the fiber from the stalk in from one to four hours. have sam pies of tae fiber made from cotton stalks sent the company. They make 3,690 pounds at one time. and in upwards of four hundred trials so far there has not been q single failure. They produce from our ordinary cotton stalk. fiber as soft as wool. with the luster of silk and the strength of linen. I suppose We shall next hear of the use Of the leaf Of the plant. am glad to be able to report thls matter. and To know that this board Will give the enterprise the eneouragement it deserves. We want them to come here to produce the fiber.and to locate the factories here. We must encourage the con sumption at nome of our raw materials We furnish the raw materials fer the enrolment Of other States. It is tjme to utilize them at home. Our resources HndeYelored are of no value. Btillzed they are wealth. Ne look 10 the north and see eight States turning out = ger cent. Of the goods manufactured. and con trolling - per cent. Of the capital ef the eeun- try. We must get up and work Induce those capitalists to come and see. Tel them what We have, and in the end we shall see our hills Gotted with factories. great cities on all sides and happy prosperous people, endowed with. plenty and al the congenienees of modern civilization