The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-25
A Comparatively New Southern In
dustry That is Very Rich
in Promise.
The Manufacture of Pine Fibre
Mating and Pine Leaf
Bagging.
Some Fabulous Figures Given to Show the
Possibilities of the Industry--No Dam
ger of Exhausting the supply.

the American Pine Fibre company-a COM
paratively new industry-are located here
in Columbus county, sixteen miles from
Wilmington, and are fast becoming an i'm
portant factor in the growth and prosperity
of this state. The company was first
organized six years years ago for the pur
pose of manufacturing mating from pine
fibre; but the increase in the price Of jute
bagging, made by what is known as the
iute trust, prompted the attempt to furnish
a good substitute for that article by bagging
made from the pine leaves. The attempt
was entirely successful, and the works are
now producing daily 1900 yards-two
pounds to the yard, Of good, seryiceable
bagging, fully equal to the jute in every
respect, and at cheaper rate.
The process by which this hitherto use
less material is made into useful COM
modify is as follows: The leaves of the long
leaf pine are gathered and taken to the
works, where they are first weighed. Then
they are thrown into large watts, where they
are boiled in alkall at low temperature
for about twelve hours. Then, after being
thoroughly soaked in the same watts, they
are taken by continuous automatic pro-
cess through the rubbing, wringing, carding,
drying, REGARDING, drawing, rovings wind
ing and weaving machines, in the latter OF
which the substance becomes an excellent
article Of bagging, and, after going through
the market. The process of manufacture
after leaving the wringer is very similar to
that of making cotton goods.
The company pays Is cents per hundred
pounds for the leaves as they are brought
from the forest near by, and they have
bagging, material for upholstering purposes
and carpet lining. It is excellent for this
latter purpose. At present, however, the
company is devoting all its force to the
manufacture of bagging, for which there is
a constantly increasing demand as the
This business demands all the possibilities
of the present, and there is every prospect
that the company will soon be compelled te
largely increase the producing capacity OF
the plant.
MI. A.. Scott, thorough mechanic and
thirty-three employees, male and female
There are seven machines for weaving bag
ging and thirteen machines for weaving
mating. The latter is woven in desirabl,
colors and from twenty-five to seventy-two
inches wide. There is also newly patent
ed drying machine, the cunning invention
of Mr.. ]. H. I,orimer, of Philadelphia, whs
is one of the stockholders.
The fear is sometimes expressed tina
there is danger of e1hausting the supply O.
pine leaves; but this is simply impossible
as a very few statistics, all Of which hav'
sources, will show. In the first place the fac
has been established that for every foot O
pine timber there is one pound o
green leaves. Since tho works a
t 3Ssony b, were n started ss years ng9
of leaves, all Of which have been gathere,
within q radius Of four miles, and not
tree has been in the least injured by thi
tribute to what is destined to be great in
dustry and an important factor among the
This amount of raw material would make
100000 yards Of bagging of two pound
per yard. In Columbus county, where
these works are located, according tt
the official report, there are 223, 0OO, 600 fee
of pine timber, and Cumberland and Robe
son counties, which are the largest pine pro
duoing counties in the state, have, by tn,
official report, more than 800,O0OOOO fee
each. In fifteen counties in the state ther,
are 1928, 600 feet of pine timber, which
allowing one pound of leaves per foot O.
timber, would give "a, 900 900 yards of bag
would be injured. In nine southern state.
there are IL, 937 ,00O, 900 feet of pine timber
the leaves of which, at Is cents per hundred
pounds, would amount to $1O,646. 000, 900
and would make about 10000, OOO, 600 yard
of bagging. the value of which, at cent
This would be the result of one years crop
without particle of damage to singl,
tree.
There can be no danger of exhausting tn,
supply of material; but there is plenty O
evidence e.. to show show that the producing oapac
mensefy increased. Mills for its manufac
ture should be started in every state, and il
nearly every county in the south. The sup
ply OF material is absolutely inexhaustible