The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-12

Memorial Asking the Aid of
the Government.
TO BUILD A SQUEEZING MILL.
Experiments Succeed Under Adverse
Condifions-Naiue OF the indhs-
try TO the Country

Puget sound. Al ne meeting OF the man
Der Of Commerce. which was po1tP"ael
from Tuesday until yesterday ch deeY184.
OF the election. committee was Appotiattd
TO prepare a memorial settln9 fofth "haA
has already been done IN the way Of e1-
perirnental fax culture in this section. To-
gether with what could be acc0mpllsne1
b. an extension of that Industry. Ihe
COMMITTEES has already entered upon us
work, and the following Is a rough draft
OF the report which will probably form the
basis Of the memorial 20 be ad0ptea a. TIE
next meeting Of the chamber.
THAT experiments IN fax culture on Pu-
set sound have been carried on ~ DT.
A. " Thornton. OF West Ferndale, nat
com county, state Of Washington, daFihs
the years 1s9l-2-3-4-5, IN order 10 demon
strate the special adaptabiliiy OF the GU
ynatie and other conditions OF Puget SOUND
10 the production Of the finer grades OF
aax fiber. and with very encouraging re-
suits
..,rhat the experiments OF 1928 were SO
promising that the honorable the secre-
fary OF agriculture made small appropti-
alton Of $50 for the purpose OF having the
product of 1855 retted and scutehed by
hand in order to test it, commercial value.
saThat the results obtained We're suiii-
Client 10 Justify the honorable the secre-
tarv OF agriculture ia authorizing Ut.
Thornton to continue his investigations
upon a somewhat larger scale under the
at1suiees OF the United States department
OF agriculture during the season OF 1888.
ssThat owing TO delay In the arrival OF
raxseed ordered from Europe by the hon
orabIe secretary OF agriculture, the seed
did not arrive on Puget sound untll SIX
weeks after the proper season for sowing
IN this region had passed, thus Whaling
the results Of the experiment as regards
the data properly derivable from a crop
n Puget
sound.
Good Results Obtained.
"That the experiment OF 1895. though
disastrous in some respects as basis Tor
calculation. nevertheless yielded between
seven and eight tons Of fax straw Ct fine
quality and sixty bushels Of good fiaKseed,
which product is now stored and at the
disposal 81 the honorable the secretary OF
agriculture the fax straw for the purpose
OF working into hne nber ana the SEED TOT
future sowings.
THAT ia order To secure reliable data
concerning the culture Of flax fiber ola Pu-
get sound n will be necessary TO supple
ment the work OF ia35 with more extend
ed investigation during the season OF 1896.
when the adverse conditions OF That sea-
sons work can be eliminated for which
purpose the fiaxseed now on hand can be
utilized.
THAT owing 20 the unique local condi-
fions i'm the Puget sound region, material
" differing from those In any other sec
lion OF the United States. a distinctive
Americanized system of flax culture and
treatment adapted to those conditions Is
required the formulation OF which for the
instruction OF prospective fiax growers IS
n work properly within the scope of the
United States department OF agriculture.
aud can be best carried out under the III
rect supervision of the department bu-
= "a. to- I'm asF
enced special agent ia charge. Mr.. Charles
Richards Dodge
The Country Adapted for II.
THAT Il is an established fact that there
are only "A very few locations in the known
world specially adapted to the production
OF the higher numbers and more costly
grades OF fax fiber. of which locations Pu-
get sound may be considered one Wher-
ever such special adaptahility exists the
fiber industry has always become the lead
ing one in those regions. illustrated by
the experience OF Belfast. In ireland. and
other localities in Northern Europe.
THAT the importations of flax products
into the United States amount 10 many
millions Of dollars annually. every pound
OF which could he produced upon Puget
sound Western Washington and portions
OF Western Oregon. thus preventing the
outflow OF such vast sums Of American
gold 20 Europe. Not only this. but the de-
veiopment OF the fiber Industry on Puget
sound would by the aid Of improved labor
saving machinery enable the Puget sound
grower 90 produce a new and valuable
article of export al price enabling him 10
compete successfully in the European
market. ana thus turn the balance Of the
FAX trade greatly In our favor.
\ ~CutchinC Mil Needed.
THAT 1T Is an inherent condition OF the
faN fiber industry that the farmer cannot
commence the culture OF FAX for fine
flber until "A certain market is assured by
the investment OF capital In scutchlng
mills. and the capitalist will not place
money tn such enterprises until he is as
sured that the conditions for reasonable
profit are available. both of which facts
can be established hy the fostering care OF
your honorable congress. with the aid Of
the necessary funds appropriated by the
United States department OF agriculture
for this purpose.
THAT 10 secure these important results
II VIII be necessary 10 establish at some
suitable point on Puget sound. IN the dis
erection az the honorable secretary Of aR-
riculture. 4 complete retting, breaking and
scutchiug mill plant of tac most approved
pattern as an object lesson both 10 the
agriculturlst and capitalist
An appropriation Asked.
THAT such q plant could DE utilized 20
hand. as well as the larser amount II be
grown IN iS&.
That the cost % such "a plant would he
IN great measure recouprd 90 IN, depart
rnent OF agriculture hy taa sale 90 the nu-
ishea product go the Eastern n5N spin
ners and linen manufacturers and the
whole plant could he disposed 81 60 private
parties about - establish sCutchiuE mills
al a very irfinR discount FOR Near and
tear az the termination of The experiment
'srhat arupic precedent exists for the
appropriation " funds Tor experimental
work necessary 10 develop q new impor-
tant amt far-rcachjue industry. as 1lus-
tratet by the appropriations for sugar iD-
Vssttgations in Louisiana. fNr >orr aun'
SUGAR invest ieations in Kansas FOR ramie
fiber invest icB1ious iu Florida ana others
'tTh8. in tte premises Your petitioners
Respectfully pray your honorable congress.
- appropriate tNt sum az flaohi err siIrh
other sam as YOUR honorable congress may
see az. fer thc purpose at rjaN hher expert
uaents ~ Puget sound. to he expended hy
the honorable tho secretary Of aErtcult-
ure."
Tho Commercial Centennial.
4 plan was set or foot which viii r~ob.
ably result tn tho celebration of December
70 as the centennial anniversary - fht
commercial Independence 81 America n,-
veuher - l7a5. vas che date ~ t1e ratiH.
cation n the jaw treaty With Great Frlt.
ain and while other centenuiats Save hon.
cred the foundation and pe~retuatian az
American .lsN institutions ana fuftltafs
Achievements. 81 i nov proposed 10 o1-
II II