Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-06-23
WE WANT FREE FLAX
OUR FARMERS DO NOT CULTIVATE IT
FOR THE FIBER.

FOR THE FIBER.
Neither Bounties Nor Tariffs Have Induced
the Flax Fiber Industry to Remain With
Us-Reasons Why It Should Go on the
Free List.
It appears that for nearly two centu-
ries in this country our government has
by legal enactment made efforts to in
duce the culture of fax fiber. 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
!. e., of the act of 17S9-show that 8 per
Nent ad valorem 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
vi VIC 1dlc dSS6SS6u Ill i 100.
A most interesting exhibit is that
which gives the duties exacted on linen
fabrics since 1889, in that it shows the
ever increasing impost assessment up to
the present time. Citing a few instances,
it appears that brown and bleached lin
ems were taxed IL the first named period
at per cent, and today pay so per cent
ad valorem. The same duties relate to
duck, canvas, diaper, crash, paddings,
huckaback, Russia sheeting, webbing,
linen cloth, etc., and from a 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 60 per cent ad valorem.
In 1882 linen bags and bagging were
on the free list. From 1886 to 1912 brown
and bleached table linen was passed free
Of duty, but in the act of August, 1912,
25 per cent ad valorem was assessed
This was reduced in 1916 to 20 per cent;
then in 1857 further diminished to Is per
cent; increased in 1861 to 90 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 1864 and
1883, to be increased by the Mckinley
law to so per cent. From 1882 to 1941
dax fiber was on the free list; increased
in 1882 to $40 per ton, and by the Nc
Kinley act the rate on hacked flax 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
grown in the United States-i. e., q, 1885,
034 pounds-and in the last census year
QS9O the quantity raised was but 241,-
1913 pounds, equal to about six carloads.
On the other hand, our farmers have
found it profitable to grow flax for the
seed, out of which linseed oil, oilcake
and oilmeal are obtained, the two latter
being for cattle feed. So that, Judging
from the culture Of fax and the utter
disregard to the fiber, our growers show
that they will continue to produce crop
from which they realize the best returns.
The constantly increasing quantity of
seed produced, which in 1889 was over
| 100000 bushels, proves that flax fiber
| has been discarded as profitable crop
and attention given to flaxseed.
We have in this country today less
than six establishments manufacturing
linen, but we have upward of so differ
| ent concerns crushing the seed for oil
| and preparing the residue into oilcake
| and oilmeal. At the present time we
| impose duty of 80 cents per bushel ON
| the seed, 80 cents per gallon ON Hnseed
| oil and grant free entry to foreign oil
cake. Of llnseed oil we import practi-
cally none; of linseed, quantity valued
at $319,41S; raw fax to the value of
| 81, GIT 1922; of manufactures of flax,
| SIS, 442 1884 worth, making a total value
| of all imports of flax or products there
of of $17,740, 1894. Si>ce 1882 the value
| of all of these imports has increased 81
per cent.
By the treasury statistics for 1892 we
| exported domestic faxseed worth 49,
915, SAT, linseed oil $54, O2O, oilcake and
oilmeal $3,30o,ooO (approximate), or
total value of $7,269,567. Compared
with similar exports in 1882, it seems
that the quantity shipped foreign in
1892 indicates an increase, based upon
value, of over 702 per cent.
AS a result it must appear that while
we are dependent upon foreign countries
for our supply of flax fiber we are fully
equipped to furnish ourselves and Eu-
rope with the products and byproducts
of faxseed. There seems to be ample
reason why ''free flax fiber" should be
enacted in the next revision Of the tariff.
II. Aubrey Byrne in American Indus
tries.