The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-02-24

comes gray, blue. and then deep purple
and finally q copper-celored scum
covers the entire surface. When the
agitation subsidies, the liquor is drawn
off into a lower vat, the beams and
weights are removed from the upper
one. the stepped plants are taken out
to be dried for fuel. and the vat is pre-
pared for another charge.
Several men enter the lower cistern
and beat up the liquid with paddles
till the coloring mater begins TO ap-
pear in small atoms This process re
quires an hour or two, the appearance
of precipitate, fine as sand, leaving
the water clear ting fav-
orable progress. The beating is then
discontinued, and the vat is left few
hours for the indigo to subside. The
liquor is then run off from an upper
vent, and the indigo left In the bottom
is then gathered up.
Sometimes lime is added, or various
gums. to hasten the precipitste, but
this Injuries its marketable value, as it
slightly changes the color of the indigo.
Next, the pulpy precipitate is mixed
with more water in another cistern;
and is then passed through great sleeves
into boiler, where it is kept hot, to
ebullition, FIVE or six hours. Then, be-
ing carefully freed from scum, it 10
drawn off into q vat from which, after
subsidipg, more water il taken from the
top, and the remainder 10 removed TO
what is called the "drippers"-a long,
wooden ease,
THE BOTTOM PERFORATED WITH HOLES,
and covered with a WOODEN blanket
The liquor passes through this filter,
and the operation is completed by sub
jectlng the residue to the action of q
press, forming it into a cake, which is
afterwards cut by wire into smaller
square blocks. These are laid out on
frames in the shade to dry, and are
then left for several weeks in drying
house before being packed.
All this looks like a rather tedious
process, but then it pays well; and the
labor is really not much greater than
in many less profitable branches of
agriculture. History tells US that in
the early part of the present century
the southern part of the United States
exported every year about 134 COO
pounds of indigo, which was then
worth 81 cents per pound. Up to the
time of the late rebellion, it was cult
waited in Florida and South Carolina,
where the yield was about 60 pounds to
the acre; and the crop required atten-
ton only from July to October.
Rather more profitable than oranges,
one would think, because not so easily
affected by the vary ing seasons.
Though India is the native home of
the indigo plant proper. (the sadicus of
the ancients). it seems to flourish about
as well in Egypt, Europe, the West
Indies. Brazil, Mexico. and Ger trial
America. Though Bengal produces,
on an average, 100000 pounds of it
every year, that made in Nicaragua is
commercially, as its equal,
lacking only energy and push on the
part of the Central Americans to drive !
its far-away rival entirely out of the
of the western world.
The history of indigo IS interesting. |
Without doubt, it is the Oldest dye
stuff in use, for it was old in India |
when imported thence into Italy in the |
eleventh century. With the establish
ment of direct trade with India by sea, |
supplies of it were more easily OBJ
tanned in Europe; and after the dis |
covery of America, a similar product |
was brought from the New World. |
Francisco Hernandez speaks of its use |
in Mexico by the early Aztecs, the pig |
ment being called by them Fleuohuith |
or Rl0huitH. In the beginning of the |
seventeenth century the imperta.ions |
of indigo fromIthe East Indies assumed |
great Importance espe cislly in Holland.
In 1871, there was brought over, in |
seven vessels, no less than 1888 ,545 |
pounds of it. Its introduction caused |
great complaint among the Germans,
becaute 1t superseded the indigenous
Woad. So the diet CT 1877 prohibited |
It altogether, and it was denounced
under the name of "devils-eye." as a
'pernic;ous. deceiIful and corrosive
substance" The people Of Nurem-
berg, who largely cultivated woad, en-
acted law compelling all the dyers to
take an oath every Jear not to use
indigo in any manner, shape or form;
and they we're still obliged TO do so,
Iong after the dye was in universal ute
elsewhere.
The French government. also, pro-
hibited the use of indigo in the prov
nee of Languedve, in 1898, and the law
was long in force. A similar outcry
was raised against it in England, in the
lime of Elizabeth; and in 1881, it was
by an act of Parliament,
and pers ms were authorized TO search
Tor and destroy 1t, aud logwood also, in
every dye-house; the law remaining in
orce full century.
FANNIE B. WARD.