The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-08
WILLITDOWN THE TRUST
AN ARKANSAS PLANTERS EYES ON
THE oKRA STALK.
He Believes It Contains the Material to
Supplant Jute Cotton Bagglng, and 1t
Really Looks That way-An Experts
Opinion.

Since the formation Of the cotton bagging
trust last year, whereby the price of this
commodity was increased beyond precedent,
the ingenuity of many has been engaged in
discovering a suitable substitute which
would manumit the farmers from the bond
age and taxation imposed upon them by the
trust.
In some places cotton was substituted in
Others bagging made of pine cloth; others
used splints and wire, and others, still, old
gunny sacks, quilts and rags.
The effect of this protest, practically put
forward by the consumers of bagging was to
render harmless, for time, the great con-
spiracy to raise prices, and the fear of prose-
cution, on the part of the promoters of the
scheme, led them 10 abandon their purpose
OF late, however, they have grown holder
and candidly admit that they have "cor-
nered" all the juto butts available. They
sugar this with the statement that while the
trust has the consumers of bagging COM
pletely at its mercy, IL is not disposed to
extort unreasonable prices the coming sea-
son. The latter part of this statement may
have been made In good faith. The fact that
the people of the South are at the mercy Of
confederation of spectators whose aggre-
gated capital enables them to put price
upon certain commodity, high or low, rs
they choose, will not be received with much
JOY in this section of country.
The agricultural organizations have been
wrestling with the subject for some time
and seem determined to fight the matter
to the bitter end. That some sort.of substi-
tute will be discovered, there is little doubt.
That efforts are being made to discover n
ut,ha L. 81
letter 10 The APPEAL would indicate that q
good substitute is not beyond the bounds Of
possibility:
Wolff. Ark, April 2, 1889.
To tho Editor OF The Appeal.
Enclosed | send YOU textile prepared
from the garden okra that ] am satisfied Is
equal, If not superior to, jute or other tex
tile in making OF rope or bagging. l send II
that you can place Il before those who arc
better qualified 10 determine this question
than am. This specimen was taken from
the large white Okra, which grows very large
and to the hight Of ten or twelve feet Very
respectfully, S. NJ ALLEN.
Accompanying this letter was snood OF
the textile described. Ii is about the color
of hemp, and while not as strongas the ordi-
nary bagging fiber, IL is OF sufficient strength,
when properly prepared, 10 make n very
durable and substantial bagging. Unless
some process can be discovered for rendering
the fiber less brittle, it II not probable that
Il could be used with success IN the making
OF ropes, twine, cordagc, etc For bagging,
however, It may do, If it can be raised cheap
ly.
The specimen was submitted 10 several ex.
perts yesterday. who were very fayOmbly
Impressed withit Among the number who
examined IL was Capt. II. W. Wiley super
intcndcnt Of the Pioneer Cotton Mills, who
expressed the opinions Of all Said Capt
Wiley:
Il could not give q positive opinion rcla
tive TO the merits OF the iber for bagginl
purposes without making practical test
and test cannot be made this side Of 81
Louis where they have machinery for TIL
purpose. Our machinery could not handl,
Il without suffering serious injury. | thinl
that this staple Is more barky and brittle
than the jutci IL j. also less plant and strong
These detects might be obviatcd by th,
proper handling OF the FIBER II ] am no
mistaken, this will make q bagging suitable
for all practical purposes. cannot say pos
lively. but Il looks a. though u might"
II okra Is 10 be u,od in the future 10 com
pete with juto aggaing new industry vii
be opened up IN the raising Of the plant
which grows luxufiantly Ia the bottom land
all through the South.