Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-06-29
WE WANT FREE FLAX
OUR FARMERS DO NOT CULTIVATE IT
FOR THE FIBER.

n.
Ns''ner 'oun''s' ~ : a''n' = - v i""ueso
the flax fioer iha assry 20 Remain win
us-Reasons Why 10 should Go on the
Free List.
T. .nnoo-. tts+ tornasr,v two csntr.
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,leS ~ ,li0 eVuu Oe- sOss,Au' I''
Dy ieea1 enac'nien. Ali1'ie eior's !" IN
auee tne cuitureor max noer' In early
colonial times bounties were paid to pro-
ducers OF fax, and monopolies granted
to those who started in the new enter
prise of manufacturing linen.
The earliest customs tariff of which
copies giving any details are available
l. e., of the act of f709-show that 8 per
cent ad yalorem was the rate of duty as
sessed on fax and manufactures thereof.
During the years subsequent the rates
have continually increased until the Nc
Kinley law capped the climax in pro-
noting high protection by imposing an
average duty of 10 per cent on raw fax,
equivalent to an advance of 100 per cent
ON the rate assessed in r7S9.
A most interesting exhibit is that
which gives the duties exacted on linen
fabrics since 1888, i'm that it shows the
ever increasing impost assessment up to
the present time. Citing few instances,
1t appears that brown and bleached lin
ems were taxed in the first named period
at per cent, and today pay 80 per cent
ad valorem. The same duties relate to
duck, canvas, diaper, crash, paddings,
huckaback, Russia sheeting, webbing.
linen cloth, etc., and from 5 per cent
ad valorem rate imposed in 1889 on
handkerchiefs, laces, embroideries, ruch-
ings, etc., the duty has been increased to
its present rate of go per cent ad valorem.
In 1889 linen bags and bagging were
ON the free list. From 1885 to 1842 brown
and bleached table linen was passed free
of duty, but in the act of August, 1S42,
| 25 per cent adj valorem was assessed.
This was reduced in 1a46 to 20 per cent;
then in 1857 further diminished to 10 per
cent; increased in 1851 to 80 per cent; by
the acts Of 1862 and 1868 raised to IS per
cent, remaining at this figure In the 19
tariff bills enacted between 1854 and
1883, to be increased by the Mckinley
law to 80 per cent. From 1882 to 1841
fax fiber was ON the free list; increased
in 1882 to $50 per ton, and by the Nc
Kinley act the rate ON hacked fax was
raised to $67.20 per ton.
The agriculturists of this country have
practically avoided the culture Of flax
for fiber. In 1869 it may be said that
the greatest quantity of fax fiber was
4 grown in the United States-iAe., 81, 1873,
034 pounds-and in the last census yeal
i (1S80 the quantity raised was but 241,
39S pounds, equal to about six carloads
On the other hand, our farmers have
found 1t profitable to grow fax for th'
seed, out OF which linseed oil, oilcakt
and oilmeal are obtained, the two latter
being for cattle feed. SO that, judging
from the culture OF max and the uttel
disregard to the fiber, our growers show
that they will continue oproduce crol
from which they realize the best returns
The constantly increasing quantity O
seed produced, which in 1889 was ove'
1O,O0O,OOo bushels, proves that flax fibe
has been discarded as profitable crol
and attention given to fiaxseed.
We have in this country today les
than six establishments manufacturin;
! linen, but we have upward OF 90 differ
ent concerns crushing the seed for Oh
and preparing the residue into oilcak
and oilmeal. At the present time W
impose duty OF 30 cents per bushel o.
! the seed, 81 cents per gallon on linsee
! oil and grant free entry to foreign OIL
cake. VI hnseed oil we import pract!