The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-06-06
THE FIBER OF RAMILE
A SUBSTITUTE FOR WOODEN AND
LINEN.
Cheaper Than Any other Raw Ma
terisI-A Plant TO he Estnb-
Iished in New York.

One of the most important industries
begun in the United States for a great
many years will soon be established in
New York city, says a correspondent OF
the Reston Advertiser This will be a
plant for the purpose of treating ramie
fiber for the manufacture of all sorts OF
textile fabrics.
The movement, if successful, and ac-
cording to the representations of respon-
sibe men there is no doubt of its sue
cess, will. in a short time, completely
revolutionize the textile fabric industry
of this country. as well as OF Europe.
The plant to be established will, by
secret "degumming" process recently dis
covered by New Orleans chemist, make
1t possible to produce ramie yarn at a
commercial cost much cheaper than any
raw material now in use.
And herein lies its wonderful value, for
there is little doubt that in time it will
most seriously affect If not in some in
stances drive out, flax. cotton and silk
in the manufactured product from the
markets of the world.
TO all people familiar with textile fab
RIGS there is nothing new concerning the
possibilities of ramie. 1t has been used
for years in an extremely limited way,
and is even now commercially profitable
in the markets of Europe but not to
such an extent as the American product
will make it when the new process is in
full operation.
While the textile world understands its
use, it is doubtful If there Is one person
in a hundred in the lay world who has
the slightest conception of ramie, its
origin uses or possibilities.
To go back to the beginning, ramie is
known as China grass. 1t is not, how
ever, a grass. but a plant that grows as
a bush. In China it reaches a height or
four to six feet, and has wide, spreading
leaves In the southern states and ter
ritories of this country ramie grows to
a similar height but it's stalks are
straighter and contain more fiber than
the original plant. Both plants have a
prolific growth of leaves, which can be
so treated as to produce the highest
grade of bank note and writing papers
China has cultivated ramie for centur-
ies it was known in Egypt as long ago
as 1000 years.
From specimens of the woven cloth
found in old Egyptian tombs, 1t is Ger
tain that the ancient Egyptians, as wei
as the Chinese, understood the cheaI
process of degummlng. lost in modern
after working Is years continuously
y finally brought his degumming process t
a perfection less than year ago.
Ramie cannot be grown north of thu
frost line.
The fiber from ramie is beautiful, loni
and silky and strong, closely resembling
silk in luster and strength 1t can b
, used as an adulterant or be entirely sub
4 stituted for it in the manufacture of fin
r textiles Gloves, like worsteds, are mad
from it, and it forms an excellent ad
J. junct to wool in the manufacture of fin
. cassimeres and woolens. improving tn
e strength and appearance of those goods
e Table cloths and napkins are mad
/, from it that excel in luster the bes
II Irish linen; also, delicate laces, velvets
y damasks and brocades of brilliancy un
p surpassed by any other material excep
: silk; in fact, it is frequently Intervene
l. with silk. 1t has three times the strengt
e of Russian flax, and double that of bes
d Holland, Belgium and Irish varieties.
a 1t has been estimated that the annus
Is importations in the United States
J. fbers, wool, worsteds and wooden good
If silk and it's manufactures. together wit
flax and linen goods. amount in roun
N numbers to $3.50 100000
Ramie fiber can take the place of mos
in of this and largely with our product
D. of wool and silk, equals or excels muc
b. of it in durability or finish. Some &c
le man mills are making beautiful qualii
10 of stockings and mems hose.
~ AS to the possibilities Of ramie mani
~ facture, there seems to be no limi
tie Stuff goods for mems wear, upholster
tn curtains, laces and embroideries, plush
to and velvets, stockings sheetings, sa
ne duck, carpets, cordage, fishing nets, al
II, yarns and threads for various uses n
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