Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-12-27
DODGE ON FLAX CULTURE,
Everything Depends on the Manner II
Which the Straw is Retted

AS president of the Oregon
Woman's Flax Association, Mrs. VIM.
p. Lord is in receipt of long letter
from Chas. Richards Dodge, special
agent of the Department of Agricult-
ure in charge of hbre Investigations,
We print following extracts:
Mrs. VIM. P. Lord, Oregon Woman's
Flax Association, Salem, Oregon.
0Dear Mrs, Lord:-It is only this
week that have time to look at the
accumulated fiber samples, or even to
begin to take. up the thread of my
Fiber Investigation work, which has
been interrupted by my absence from
Washington for two and half
months, since the first week in Sep
tember. have lost five months in
all this year, on account of the Nash
vile Exposition, where l had charge
of the exhibit Of this department, in
the United States government build
ing. Since my return here, a few
weeks ago, l have been overwhelmed
with accumulated business, and this
week even, have answered important
letters that came over two months
ago.
/ am very much interested in your
long letter Of September 5, which
came shortly after went away, and
haye just read it again, with all of
the other letters that have been re
ceived from you.
You certainly have fought brave
fight, and even if you had not pound
of fibre to show for it, you have done
good seasons work. 1t is perfectly
eXasperating to me that when we
have regions where the finest of flax
can be grown, when the farmers are
willing and anxious to grow flax, aud
when we are sending out of The coun-
try, for foreign flax alone, millions of
dollars annually-that it is necessary
to waste so much effort in fighting
greed, ignorance and prejudice, to
even make beginning. You will re
alze what had to contend with
when the Fiber Investigations were
begun, for l had everybody against
me, the importers. the eastern spin
ners, the agricultural press, and even
the farmers themselves. "You can't
grow fax" was the cry, and so bitter
was the fight that John r. LeesOn &
Co., of Boston, published a book
against my efforts. So l can fully
sympathize with you in your present
praisworthy effort. 1t is largely on
account Of the knowledge Of the many
dscouragements referred to in your
letter that long ago became of the
opinion that we never can have
flax industry until small scutch mills
are established in Agricultural COM
munities, in favored sections, as re
ferred to on page Is of Bulletin No.27.
To return to the little local in
dustry idea, am satisfied that
surer beginning will be made by the
establishment of one small scutch
mill, costing $4,000 TO S25.OOa, in a
good locality, than by corporation
of several scutch mills, owned by
large company and representing con
siderable capital, because at the out
set there is so much at stake. After
attaining success in a small enter
prise, other small enterprises may be
established, one after another. in new
localities, and few years Of quiet,
persistent work will put the industry
on footing that will defy the oppo-
sition of prejudiced men such as those
who control the cordage company, and
there is little doubt but that the pro-
duct will ind ready sale, for the spin
ners are bound to buy good fax.
There are several discouraging
things however ia establishing this
industry that note you have already
experienced. One serious drawback
to success is the difficulty Of securing
mill superintendents who are capable
and at the same time faithful TO the
interests of those who employ them
Your experience is the old story, foI
too often these men either lose theiI
heads after few months, and become
utterly worthless, or, as in the case OF
your superintendent, they are disloj a
and are found working for their OWL
private interests. Now everything
depends upon the manner In which
the straw is retted, and carelessnes'
and indifference on the part OF a su-
| perintendent at the time OF rettinp