Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
BAHAMA FIBRE.
The Future OF What Is Really Fine
Kind of SisaI Grass.

The wonderful developments OF mod
srn science in adapting the hitherto
worthless and in many cases despised
vegetation to a practical and really
valuable product is worthy OF special
notice. A short time ago we mentioned
new fibre produced from flax, ard it
adaptability to textile work, which
held out new encouragement to our
farmers as well as manufacturers. Our
attention has now been called to still
another new Hbre. produced from one
OF the varieties of Sisal grass, growing
most abundantly in the Bahamas. and
until quite recently despised as a weed
By the natives.
Its adaptation to commercial uses
and the development of the industry
Is due in a great measure to the effort
and encouragement of the present gov
ernor of the islands, Sir Ambrose
Shea Of whom the New York TribuEc
speaks in the following terms.
Sir Ambroses record as governor o
the Bahamas promises to be historical
by reason of the remarkable develop
ment OF the islands due to his sagacity.
When he went there, three years ago
he found the inhabitants who we're
making a living by fruit and sponge
culture, doing their best to eHtirpate
9 fibrous plant which overran the land.
The governor recognized in the tall
healthy vigorous weed against which
| the natives were making vain fight.
burning it down only to have it revive,
q remarkably fine specimen Of the Si5al
grass, whose cultivation in an inferior
quality in Mexico, for use in rope MAX
ing had built up large fortunes in that
country. After an investigation of the
business in Mexico, Sir Ambrose pro-
| ceedod to teach the people Of the
Bal~1las that they had been despite
fully using their best friend; and the
cultivation and dressing BY machinery
was established, with q government
bounty of a cent a pound for expOrta-
ton, to remain in effect until 1895.
The Bahama plant is not to be known
to the commercial world as Sisal, but
as Bahama fibre. 1t is on the free list
Of the United States, and in this coun-
try as well as Great Britain a large
market is expected with confidence.
Sir Ambrose Shea, in talking to a
Tribune reporter. said: The Ba-
hamas are jumping. There will be a
cable from the Bahamas to Florida
within this year. Do l think that this
will be regarded in America as a pro-
moter of annexation? Well, we are
annexed to the United States all but
politically. There is more American
business in the Bahamas than any
other, and we are very glad to see
Americans.
This Bahama fbre-it is too good
70 be called Sisal-is very superior
article to that obtai I'd in Mexico. 1t
makes an excellent rope, and it is be-
ieved it will go into fabrics, the
threads are so fine. To show you what
is thought of the fibre by IA shrewd
business man, | may tell you that
Joseph Chamberlain, after six months
careful examination, has taken 20, 900
acres Of land, and his two sons are out
there now taking charge of the estate.
] don't care to sell very much more
land. Where before there was no
European capital Invested in the Ba-
hamas. there are now first-clasS men
like Mr.. Chamberlain coming in and
giving an impetus to the fibre industry.
We shall begin to export the fibre in
dustry next year. 1t takes four years
to come to maturity, but after it is in
harvest condition you can get leaves
from the same plant for twelve Or
fourteen years without renewal of any
kind. 1t is very fine plant a little
of the cactus order. The leaves, which
contain the fibre, are from five to six
feet long. American Cultivator.