The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-06
TIE PINE STRAW INDUSTRY.
A Description of the Only Factory of its
KIND in the World.

lSoAAooSoHOeGCe ~. l.. HFculES LCSC. !
CRoNLY, n. c., November 1.-THE
recent '.judicious handling" of gunny-
cloth and jute bagging, and tae ''sy1n-
pathetic movement" mot a Trust at
allzD to raise the price thereof, are
bringing to deserved notice this pretty
little oct-of-the-waY spot in North
Carolina. If marked upon the maps
at all, it is on only the very latest
ones. Tt is in the southeast corner Of
the State; on the east branch of the
Cape Fear River, two miles from it,
thirty from the Atlantic Coast, and
seventeen from the old city of Viii
mington, and is upon the Carolina
Central Railroad. Right in the piney
wood, regularly laid out with streets
fifty feet wide, with pretty homes and
admirable sanitary regulations, the
health record Of the town is such that
we wonder it does not set up for san
itarium. During the past season, many
dwellers in Wilmington have regarded
it as convenient and safe refuge in
case of any invasion of the city by the
dreaded yellow fever. There is not a
saloon within it's limits, nor can there
be under its articles of incorporation.
Here is located the pine fibre indus
try-the only establishment of the
kind in the world. Whose busy
brain and quick vision first discove-
cred textile possibilities in pine foliage
is quite unknown, but here we see
what has been only waste matter con-
verted into various articles, not only
of comfort but of commercial impor-
tance. Pinus Australis in the variety,
known otherwise as pitch, long leaveo
and field pine. While the leaves ave
rage in length fourteen inches, those
measuring twenty-seven inches have
been brought in. The sstraw," as tits
always called here, IS gathered mostly
by women and children from trees,
thrown" for cordwood, timber or for
the leaves alone. Mule power is prom
inent in transporting the straw to the
factory, horses are never seen, oxen
rarely. Fifteen cents per hundred
pounds is paid for the straw, which is
stored in huge shed.
AS we enter she first Of three large
buildings we see huge tank being
filed with the straw; to this is added
caustic soda, in quantity regulated by
the quality of fibre desired-less being
required for the coarse than for the
finer grades. For twelve hours the
mass is. cooked by steam from pipes
passing througL the tank or boiler.
Then it is passed through the rubber, a
machine which cleanses it entirely
from all soda, pulp, etc., leaving clear
fibre only. Following this is the work
of the wringer, breaker and carder ;
and if the fibre is to be manufactured
on the premises, it is run through the
rover whatever its destination, it is
passed through the dryer. The pro-
duct now awaits orders from the spin
ming room, or, if for shipment, from the
baling press. Machinery is used for
all handling Of material, from the wag-
on which brings it to the car taking it
from the factory door.
Commercially, the fibre is 'pine
wool,n of which. five grades are pro-
6uced the three coarser are in demand
for. mattresses and general upholster-
ing, being elastic, durable and exempt
from insect ravages. The finest grade
very soft and is marked surgeons
packing" This is meeting with marked
favor from the medical profession, and
being specially adapted to its desig-
mated purpose. From grade S is spun
yarns Of different sizes, none fine, how
ever. From this is woven variety of
mattings or carpets, not elegant, to be
sure, but honest, comfortable looking
floor coverings inviting hard service,
and with a suggestion of the wide out
doors in the balsamic odor which all
the rough experience of -manufactur-
ing has not driven out.
In the incipiency of this peculiar in
dustry the production of floor covering
was the objective point of the origina-
tors Of it, but being also engaged in the
manufacture of fertilizers, they set
about evolving from the pine wool, a
fabric which would resist the chem
ical action so destructive to every ma
terial heretofore used as packing for
phosphates, etc. The result is cloth
that has endured every test, the use OF
which must benefit the consumer as
well as the manufacturer and dealer in
these commodities. The proprietors
thus builded better than they knew, in
unwittingly preparing aid for the cot
Jon planter and buyer in present stress.
For cotton baling it is meeting every
requirement Of pressure, &c.
The spinning and weaving OF the
various fabrics differ little from pro-
eesses employed for other textiles.
Another pine-straw product of grow
ing importance is the oil. This is eN-
pressed from the green straw by sub
jecting it in a great retort or boiler to
the action of steam.
The pioneers in this enterprise found
little machinery adapted to their work.
Most of that in use in this factory is Of
their own inventiyn and design, sus-
gested by their present needs
So great is the demand for the pro-
ducts of this unique industry that the
entire plant is being enlarged and furn-
ished with improved appliances.