The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-11

! tire cheapest labor In the world: farmers
in other countries have f5aad profitable
market II our ozn country for ersvnous
. quantities Of .hssr products. every pound
Ct whsch might have probably been pro-
/ dEced az home.
Tire permanent prosperity % this country
demands q charge IN this matter. Every
effort should be made 70 stimulate the pro-
/ duction AZ hone OF al OF these articles.
! that the country may more rapidly ap-
/ proaeh a condition OF Industrial i1zsepea-
cence. OF al the various articles enumer-
| ated n these items Of Imports. the state
/ OF Washington is peculiarly wei adapted
| for the prodaetion OF 3; least two. and
/ these are among the most important. No
section OF the United States can furnish
| better soil or climatic conditions for the
| production OF sugar beets. and in the mat
| ter OF the culture OF fax fiber. the position
Of Western Washington is unique II has
been proved by satisfactory experiments
that ths conditions OF soil and climate
for the growth OF the finest quality OF fax
In Western Washington are unexcelled By
any region IN the world
A&<c1E elG RDA11c4 blt % ne IcPlEs
OF the agricultural committee Of the Cham
Der Of Commerce. who say:
cit appears to your committee from its
Investigations that the localities and re-
gions on earth for the favorable cultiya-
ton Of fax for the fiber are comparatively
few. Experiments already made have gone
far enough TO demonstrate to the salts
faction OF the committee that the region
about Puget sound and In Western WASH
ington and oregon Is one OF those favored
regions. Your committee is also OF the
opinion, as a result Of its Investigations.
that no other region or locality in the
United States has a climate suitable for
the production OF the finer varieties of fax
fiber. The summer climate of Western
Washington and Oregon and the seasons
during which the fax attains It's growth
Is remarkable for the exceptional GOODNESS
OF lis nights and the humidity Of the at
mosphere. II Is believed by your commit
tee that these conditions Of the climate re-
sembie conditions observable and present
IN the climate Of ireland, and 1t is a we'll
known fact that Ireland is noted for the
successful culture OF flax for the fiber and
for the manufacture OF thread and fine
linen. These pecullarities OF the climate of
Ireland and Of the Puget sound country
appear to promote the growth OF fine and
strong fiber by reason Of the fact, posi-
bly, that the growth OF the fax to maturi-
~ IS retarded by the GOODNESS OF the nights.
Whatever, however, may be the cause OF
the exceptional suitability OF Ireland and
the Puget sound country, the statement of
persons who have visited or resided in both
OF those countries indicates strongly the
presence of ike cause and q like effect
in the flax industry.
"Dr. Thornton has been conducting a
series OF experiments In fax culture since
1891. and has had over sixty different
farmers grow experimental crops on |
Puget Sound upon every possible variety |
OF sol, and the only soils entirely I'M |
suited for the cultivation of flax were |
the newly broken raw peat and very light, |
sandy land; wet soggy land is unsuitable |
for flax: the uplands produce a finer quail |
ity OF fiber than the black alIuvial river |
deltas, though the rich bottom lands pro-
duce large crops of seed Of high quality, |
and IL sown thickly and early. will give 1
very long, straight stem without |
branches"
II Is also shown In the report that some |
OF the fax grown on Puget Sound was |
by DR.. Thornton sent to fax mills in Ire
land TO be tested, with the result that II |
was pronounced eminently adapted for /
thread making and warp yarn spinning |
purposes. being exceedingly strong and |
working well on the machines.
AHS aSFott AaEluSr points out Nnat III Is 1
an inSerent condition OF the fiber industry
that the farmer cannot AFFORD to plant |
the fax until he is assured OF a ready |
market for his product. and capital viii |
not build scutch mills or furnish the cap
ital needed to make the contracts with
tho farmers growing the fax for cash,
untn the supply and profits are assured,
sPf9ff@TafTt- ba tn
lock at the very outset OF ths industry.
The committee recommend tse Adop-
ton by the legislature of the fax b6unty
bill prepared by DR.. Thornton, and also
urge upon the senators and represent
atives of this state TO use their utmost
exertions to secure in the next tariff bill
such protective features as will encourage
the establishment Of both the fax and
the beet sugar industry.
In both OF these recommendations the
Post-Intelligencer can heartily join, and 1t
IS particularly to be hoped that the legis-
lators may see their way clear to grant
the bounty necessary to set on its feet
the fax raising industry. The report of
the committee concludes as follows,
Your committee Is OF the opinion that
II this legislation Is secured a certain and
assured result thereof win be the estab-
lishmeut IN Western Washington OF the
cultivation OF fax for the fiber and I'm
Eastern Washington, the cultivation OF
fax for the oil and seed. and in both
localities. the cultivation of beet root will
greatly AID and encourage the present
agricultural population OF the state. II
viii bring about an immediate large i'm
migration 20 the state; that one result will
be the establishment OF sugar mills, of
linen and thread factories. IN the cities
OF Washington and Oregon. IL would
make a vast Improvement in the finances |
OF the state and in the condition OF the
farming and iaboring population of the !
state. Another result win be that values !
I'm the state which were once made great |
by the fever Of speculation, VIII be raised
70 the same or greater level by the nor
NAL demands Of agriculture and COM
merce: that the benefits derived from the |
establishment OF these industries can be
expected TO reach every person and every |
tn