The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-11-07
THE GROWING OF
FLAX In CLATSOP
Practical Experiment to BE Made In
the Near Future.
SPINNING MILLS TO FOLLOW
II the Flax Can BE Successfully Raised
Here-An Industry Of Great Value
10 the Columbia River.
SPINNING MILLS TO FOLLOW

ciatsop county ls rapidly coming TO
the front as a manufacturing section
OF the state. II has frequently been
stated what might and would be done
In the way Of manufactures when the
railroad was completed but an entire
ly new project In now on foot and one
which would be dlstinctIvely appropri-
ate TO the lower Columbia river. one
OF the largest and most successful man
ufacturers OF linen twlnes, large guam
titles OF whose products are used in
Columbia river fishing nets, Is figuring
upon the establishment OF a twine
spinning mill in Astoria stewarts
twlne ls known the world over. and to-
gether with Barbour's and Marshall's,
stands highest in England. Mr., T. j..
Porter. OF the mills at Llsburn. ireland.
visited Astoria only a few weeks ago.
Al that time he was impressed with
the possibilities OF this port as a manu-
featuring center. and the result Of his
visit is shown in the following letter to
his agents. Foard 4 Stokes;
Lishurn., ireland. Oct 2ist. 1896.
Mr.. Stokes, Mesers, Foard & Stokes,
Astoria:--
Dear Sir: when was In New York
I received a letter from Mr.. Kinney
making an offer Of which no doubt you
were oognIxant I have been thinking
the matter over since. and am desirous
10 know what the hax-growing quail
ties OF your country are. and in order
10 test II I have taken the liberty OF
sending out 10 your address a small
bale of fax seed which ! hope Will ar
rive sufficiently early 10 be put into
the ground FOR next season. and would
ask you To consult with Mr.. Kinney
and make such arrangements with
some farmer IN your neighborhood 10
SOW the iaxseed, and send me the fax
after II IL grown. etc. and will then
be able to satisfy myself and report as
regards the quality-of the fax grown
am sending the faxseed In one Of
p. Iredaie & Porter's ships. the name
Of which I will send YOU later on possi-
bly, In the course OF week or so.
at the same time enclose you a PAM
phlet on fax cultivation which will
give you all the needful instructions re-
gardlng the selection Of the soil, culti-
walton OF the fax, preparation for the
market etc. This am testing in other
parts OF America TO find out where is
the most suitable place for the growth
Of fax.
hope you will place this matter be-
fore your Chamber OF Commerce as I
believe Mr. Kinney had already placed
his proposal before them and II Is only
with the view OF possibly in the future
following out his Ideas that viii now
desire you TO make this experiment, and
hope sincerely that you will be sue
ceSsful.
would ask you kindly to have the
exact quantity OF seed measured be-
fore Il is sown and have It sown ac-
cordlng to instructions contained in the
book, and give me the accurate acreage
on which the flaxseed was sown, to-
gether with the approximate idea OF
what you consider has been the cost OF
handling Of the fax from the seed until
its finished condition II there are any
questions which you would like to ask
me regarding these points there is am
Pile time before the seed arrives out
with you, II at the same time you have
any fiaxseed in your district a sample
OF the flax grown from It, together with
fax grown from the seed which am
sending you would be OF much value
to me In arriving at a proper conclu-
sion.
Hoping TO hear from you at an early
date. remain, Yours truly,
T. j. PORTER.
In conversation with Mr., Frank
Stokes yesterday afternoon, that gen
tleman stated that the proposition
would be laid before the Chamber of
Commerce, and that when the flaxseed
arrived in Astoria, he would personally
see that a thorough experiment was
made with It in various sections of the
state Of Oregon. ut viii not make so
much difference whether the fax is
raised Immediately around the spinning
mill or not, It may be possible that
the climate in the Willamette Valley
will be found more suitable to the rais-
ing OF flax than is the climate in Clat-
sop county. We have, however, In this
great variety of climate and
soil which in many respects are almost
Identical with the climate and soil Of
Ireland, and have high hopes that
the experiment will be successful in
Clatsop."
II flax raising proves successful in
Clatsop there is no question of doubt
but that large spinning mill employ
ing hundreds of hand, will be establish