The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-24
Eiher Producing Procesaes.

Every once in a while the newspapers
publish an account of a new process for
producing fiber from plants that are found
in abundance in the south, and from others
that could be cultivated in unlimited guam
titles. A few days ago the MoRsISG News
published long and very interesting inter
view with Mr.. C. B. Warrand, Of Beaufort
county, South Carolina, in which be
gave the results Of bis expert
ments with the leaf Of the saw
palmetto By his process be produces an
excellent fiber from the palmetto leaf, and,
according TO his statement, at cost that
would permit the manufacture Of wrap
ping for cotton thst could be sold for much
less than jute bagging. The fiber being
strong could also be utilized in many other
ways.
A few months ago the Chronicle, Of
| Augusta. stated that a Mr.. jackson of that
city had invented a process for extracting
the fiber from the cotton STALK 1t is well
known that the fiber Of the cotton stalk is
very fine and would make not only salts
factory wrapping for cotton. but would be
/ even more valuable for the manufacture
| of other articles. The account which the
| Chronicle gave Of the process was rather
enthusiastic one. and justified the conc. usion
that the time was near at hand when a
| new southern industry would be established,
and the cotton growers would not be at the
mercy of tho manufacturers OF jute bag
ging.
The other day the Constitution, of At
lanta, had a very optimistic article relative
-. L.
Forbes of that city for the production of
fiber from the cotton stalk and every other
fiber producing plant. The Constitution
says that it has been persistent in calling
attention 10 MIR. Forbes process because it
believes it to be great thing for the south.
But why is it, if any one, or all, of the
foregoing processes are what they are
claimed to be, that steps are not taken at
once TO utilize themi If Mr.. Warrand's, or
Mr.. Jackson's, or Mr.. Forbes process is so
big with profits, why don't capitalists take
hold Of them, erect factories and begin pro-
ducing the fiber These questions are not
asked because there is any doubt that excel
lent fiber is produced by each of the forego-
ing processes, but for the purpose of find
ing out why the processes are not utilized at
once.
There are several things in this connection
about which there is no doubt whatever
One is that excellent fiber can be produced
by any one of the foregoing processes. An
other is that the raw material from which
the fiber is produced can be OBJ
tained in unlimited quantities and
at very reasonable cost, and still
another is that oil articles manufactured
from the fiber, however great the quantity
might he, would have ready sale, pro-
vided they could be manufactured cheaply
enough to permit them to be sold in compe-
tition with similar articles manufactured
from imported jute.
In none OF the accounts of the recently
invented fiber processes are there any fig
ures given showing the cost of producing
the fiber. The only legitimate conclusion,
therefore, is that although excellent fiber
can be produced by the processes, it cannot
be produced in quantities and at a cost
that would make it commercially valua-
bic. 1t may be that this conclu-
sion does not apply to Mr.. Warrand's
process, because in his interview he stated
that he had not yet received all his patents
for bis process He will soon have all Of
them, however, and then it will soon be
known whether there is any obstacle In the
way of producing a fiber that viii make
jute no longer a necessity in this country.
The MORNING NEWS does not want to
say anything to discourage those who are
trying to solve the problem of producing
cheap fiber from southern plants Indeed,
it is ready to encourage them in every pos
sible way, because the south will have new
industry that will add greatly to her wealth
when the problem i, solved.
A couple Of years ago southern farmers
were advised to cultivate jute. They were
told that decorticating machines had been
invented that would make jute very
profitable crop. 1t is true that such ma
Chimes were invented, but they did
not do what was promised
for them, and recently nothing
has been heard from them. If Mr.. Forbes
or Mr.. jackson or Mr.. Warrand has a
fiber-producing process that can be made to
yield q profit it will not be necessary to
wait long for capital to utilize it. AS soon
| as it is demonstrated that the process is one
in which there is money it will at once be in
demand.