The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-08-18
Worthington Advance
WoRTHlNoroN. MINN. AUGUST 10. 1892.

WoRTHlNaroN. MINN. AUGUST ls. 1892.
The following article from the Sioux
City Journal gives the present coudi-
tion of and outlook for the linen manu-
facture in this State. This is of in
terest to the large number of flaa
growers who will be greatly benefited
by market for the flax fiber, rs well
rs for the seed: THE manufacture OF
linen is now going forward in the Min
neapolis mill with notable success
Notwithstanding the discouragements
1T first encountered. The mill WAS
built as soon as possible after the pas
sage Of the present tariff law. The pur.
p'se was to work up the fiber Of the
flax raised in the northwest, The CON-
pany which built the mill supposed
that rs a matter Of course it must have
foreign labor. and 50 Brought over
from Scotland = full force Of men, some
OF whom were presumed to Oe skilled
linen workers. But the experiment
WAS disappointing. The product WAS
imperfect and in bad reputation OH the
market. The mill lost money. Two
of the principal owners refused to ac-
cept the experience is conclusive, and
with genuine American grit and enter
prise took hold Of the concern. Their
first move was to make a clean sweep
of the imported foreign skilled work
men, and to replace them with Ameri-
Can workmen, although the latter had
little or no experience. It was hard
task for many months. One of the
managers devoted himself strictly to
finances and the other to the mechani-
Cal details. The latter set him self to
solve the problem which had utterly
baf1led the foreign manager. The mail,
trouble was to remove certain minute
particles of the woody part from the
fiber, which had long been lion in the
path Of linen in this and in other
countries. The result has Lcen the in
VentiOn Of a machine which is of vital
Importance in linen manufacture, u
"stripper" as it is called, which does
the work so perfectly and 50 inexpen-
sively that the product of the Minnea-
polls mill now sells for the highest
price in the market. One firm alone
has contracted to take one half of the
product. The mill is running with
sixty hands, and they " i'll have soon to
De nj led to. 1t is worth noting il,
this connection that the raw material
for this Minneapolis linen mill does
not come from the flax fields of South
Dakota, Mime sofa. and northwestern
Iowa, but from Candada. This is not
because the fiber Of the former is not
as good as that of the latter, but be
cause the American farmers have not
learned to prepare their flax for til.
mill. The history uf the minneapolis
mill is good illustration Of what
American genius can accomplish il.
the field Of manufacturing enterprise
when it is guaranteed a fair chance.
-.------>->--
The Tribune, published at Blaine,
Washington, announces that W. II
Gilbert, formerly connected with the
WorthingtOn Mill, has been nomina-
ted for the State Senate, and pays the
following handsome tribute to our for
mer tOWns:3an: wv. II. Gilbert OF
Custer, who is the nominee of the part Y
for senator in this, the 33rd sena-
torial district, needs no eulogy at our
hands. Mr. Gilbert is known through
out the county as one of the foremost
farmers. man of keen Insight, of
mature judgment, and Of that sterling
worth and honesty that all true mer,
so much admire, either in public OF
private life. Mr.. Gilbert is the choice
of not only the delegates who placed
him in nomination but he is the choice
OF the grea, mass of the Republican
veterans of this Senatorial district
Mr.. Gilbert will carry the solid kepub.
lie IN vote of this district, and no
doubt will draw to his support a large
following from the farmers who could
not he induced to vote for candidate
coming from the CITY,"