Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05
POSSIBLY GREAT MARKET.
Texas Wheat Adaptable for the Manu-
facture OF MacarDni.

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The Department of State has received
from the Department of Agriculture let
ter addressed to it by Mr.. Janes b. Simp-
son Of Dallas. Tex, requesting its assist
ance in forwarding samples of Texas wheat
to the United States consul at Lyons tC
be tested as to it's fitness for use by French
manufacturers of macaroni and other edi-
BILE pastes. Mr.. Simpson says:
In the volume of reports for July last
observed that Mr.. John C. Covert. United
States consul at Lyons, France, reports an
enormous increase in the manufacture and
consumption of macarOni and like edible
pastes. not only in France, Italy, Spain and
Switzerland but all over the globe.
This gentleman states in an interesting
monograph upon this subject that a hard
wheat. containing a large percentage of
gluten and relatively small percentage of
starch Is required and that the millers and
bakers of France are finding out that
bread is much improved by putting into it
a larger amount of gluten than is found in
the French wheat, or in the ordinary
starchy wheats from America.
Mr.. Covert states that the estimated
output In France alone of these edible
pastes approximates now 170,o0O,O 900 pounds,
and is surely destined to a vaster increase.
This estimate, of course, does not include
the manufacture and output of macaroni
in Italy, Spain or Switzerland, where the
demand for hard. glutinous wheats is year
ly increasing, the consul stating that a
number of establishments constantly
employed in making large hydraulic press
es for the production of these pasteS, not
only in France, but in Italy, Germany and
Switzerland.
Believing that the wheat exactly adapt
ed to the making of macaroni and similar
edible pastes is that hard, flnty, glutinous
wheat called in north Texas the Ncara-
qua wheat and seemingly almost Indigenous
to our black lands and warm climate and
knowing that there never was failure in
the growth of this grain in north Texas,
and that such is it's wonderful productive
ness that an average of fifty bushels to
the acre is made, l took occasion to write
these facts to Mr.. Covert
Mr. Covert became deeply interested in
my letter, realizing at once the great pos
sibilities to north Texas, and referred it
to NJ. Edouard w. Sorrell, a distinguished
chemist of Chabeuil France. That gentle
man wrote in reply letter of some six
pages too long to insert here), but sub
stantially stating that if We could grow
this character of wheat practically limit
less demand existed for it In Europe, and
that 1t could readily be shipped through
Galveston.
MIR. Sorrell further suggested that he be
sent two bushels of this Texas-grown
wheat for chemical analysis, which he
would gladly make. and If it was as antici-
pated, not only could France take all pro-
duced in north Texas, but that capial
would quickly come from France TO Texas.
putting up here establishments with a
yearly output of S1S,oO0oO0.
1T is proper for me to observe in this
connection that Consul Covert suggests
that If this wheat, prove suitable to edible
paste requirements, Texas should have a
quantity made into macaroni and exhibited
at the coming exposition at Paris; and he
would himself, in the interest of Texas and
the immense possibilities growing out Of
the production Of this grain, devote a
month of his time to bring the matter be-
fore the milling and macaroni trade of
France. + Di
Mr.. Sorrell also is. pleased to say in his
letter to Consul Covert7 1 would be happy
to have you tell the Dallas people that 1
will be glad to help them.
''Since L nave taken up this grain matter,
1 have spoken with several farmers of Dali
las county, who are unanimous in their
opinion that we can grow to perfection in
ncrth Texas just the wheat required by
this great European industry. and salts
factory would be found the profits. that
our black lands w>uld advance quickly
from p per cent to 30 per cent in value.
Two bushels of the wheat will be for
warded to the consul at Lyons for the pro-
posed analysis by NJ. Sorrel