The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-20
ISIS OF FIBERS
ORFANT WORK OF ONE BU-
iEAU OF THE AGRICULTURAL
DEPARTMENT.
RESULTS PRACTICAL.
II IS DONE TO FOSTER THE
CULTURE OF THE VARIOUS
PLANTS.
p NEED OF NEW MACHINERY.
enlargement Given to Inventors
OF LabOr-Saving De-
vices.
RESULTS PRACTICAL.
NEED OF NEW MACHINERY
lal to the Globe.

al to the Globe.
= ASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-The divl-
of fiber investigation of the ag-
4, ltural department, of which Mr..
rles R. Dodge is chief, is one of the
important branches Of that great
artment of the people.
experiments for the development or
nsiOn Of vegetable fiber industries,
or governmental auspices or direc-
b, have been instituted at different
ss in many countries, and such ex-
ments date back fully 100 years. In
e instances these have been confin-
to testing the strength of native
GUS substances for comparison with
liar tests of commercial fibers; for
mple. the most exhaustive expert
ITS of Roxburg in India early in the
sent century.
mother direction for government ex-
8imentation has been the testing of
chimes to supersede costly hand la
in the preparation of the raw ma
al for market, or in the development
Hparation of the fibers for manufac-
, e, or a microscopic and chemical In
tigation. The broadcast field of ex-
iment, however, has been the Guilt
ion of the plants, either to introduce
industries as sources Of national
nth, or to economically develop those
ich require to be fostered. The in
-duction Of ramie culture Is an ex-
pie of the first instance; the foster
OF the almost extinct flax industry
our grandfathers' days an illustra-
4 of the second.
he nations of the globe have been
crested in recent years in one way or
Their In investigating the resources
the different countries in the lire
fiber production, or in connection
n mechanical processes for prepar-
the fibers for utilization in the arts.
way in which the Importance of
interest has been made manifest,
II to a marked degree, has been by
large collection of raw tlbers that
lie beeen shown at the various inter
Llional expositions, and particularly
DE that Of the London exhibit Of 1862,
ether with the interesting published
N erial which has accompanied th5m.
the United States government has
hducted experiments or Instituted
uiries in the fiber interests at va
us times in the last fifty years, but
is only since 1890 that an office OF
lctical experiments and Inquiries
been established by the depart
mt of agriculture, that has been con-
3ued through a term of years. This
known as the office of fiber inves-
alton.
he work of this branch of the de-
rtment of agriculture has been main
directed towards the development
Introduction of those ffbers which
do not produce commercially, but
lich are capable of cultivation in the
ited States, and which will add to
r national resources. The subject
been prosecuted by the impOrta-
n and distribution of the seeds Of
er plants; by encouraging and di-
ting field experiments; by testing
er machines, and by affording gen.
u information, both through per-
nal correspondence and through a
les of publications.
Probably the most important work Of
is office is that of investigation
Dper, the object being to obtain
actical knowledge OF every phase of
particular industry, as it relates to
r. country OF to a particular section
the country, in order that any sub
luent information that may be af-
-ded the public by the government
all be both reliable and exhaustive.
TO illustrate, take the subject Of
al hemp culture in Florida This sub
1t has been before the public, in a
hall way, ever since DR.. Perrine grew
ne of the plants on Indian Key, sixty
ars ago, but nothing was known Of
practical nature, save that the plants
.uld thrive in Southern Florida.
pout 1890 the department was be-
sged for information regarding the
Instability Of establishing the culture,
st Cf starting plantations in Florida.
lid of Florida fiber, preparing and
wing the fiber. etc A preliminary
svey of the Keys was made in the
hter of 1891 by the department, and
lcts of wild plants, from the old
rrine experiments, located. In 1892
lchinery was taken down to Biscayne
y, an experimental factory was es-
blished. and fast sailing yacht put
commission for exploration and
tn which to secure the leaves to be
ed in the factory experiments. The
tire question was thus studied on the
Ound, and a mass of indisputable
cts collected, which formed the basis
the most exhaustive report which
IS issued shortly after, and in which
yeral other Florida fbers were as
refully treated. This entire expert
mt, running over several months,
IS conducted at cost to the gov
ament of less than one thousand
liars.
In the same manner the department
its flax experiments in the
Iget sound region of the state of
ashington in 1895, the result of the
pertinent bringing out the fact that
G have in that state a flax region
ual to any in the world. A ton Of
X straw from this experiment, sent
e next year to Ireland for expert