The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-01-10
THE S|SAL-
FIBER CROP
Yield From Large
Hawaiian
Acreage.

ne OI Int ftdNdl
Fiber Company held a special meeting
yesterday morning at which w. c.
Weldon, the Secretary and Treasurer.
presented report of his Investigations
into the mainland market for the prod
uct of the company's plantation at Sis
Al, near Eva, Oahu. and presented also
estimates for machinery with which to
equip the plantation. Those present
were Cecil Brown. President; w. c.
Weldon, Secretary and Treasurer. and
A. II. Turner, manager.
Reports were made at the meeting
indicating that the industry in the Ha-
waiisn Islands had passed the expert
mental stage. and that in the neigh
borhood of $50 acres of sisal would
soon be taken off. After the reports
were submitted and read a committee,
consisting of the Secretary and man
ager, was appointed to make certain
recommendations as to the machinery
and equipment needed for a cleaning
plant, the same to be submitted to the
stockt~ .ders at their forthcoming an
nua. meeting in February.
The Treasurer's report showed four
points of interest. First, that Hawaii
can successfully raise fiber to compete
with products elsewhere: second, that
sisal hemp Is not likely to get as low
in price as in former years; third, that
conditions of land here, especially on
the lower flats, are unexcelled for sisal
production: fourth, the Treasurer be-
lieyed that sisal hemp In Hawaii has
Y remarkable future before II, and af-
fords a splendid inducement for the
Investment of capital.
The company controls about 5000 acres
at Sisal. Oahu, between GOO and 200 acres
of which are laid out with sisal plants at
the present time. The plants yield twice
a year. averaging about a ton an acre
The prevailing price for sisal is good.
and the company expects to realize we'll
on their investment this year.
Mr.. Weldon submitted large amount
of correspondence bearing upon the price
of machinery, sharting. engines and
presses, and upon the demand for sisal.
In his report, presenting the result of
his Investigations on the mainland, he
said that having previously sent samples
of the fibre to c. Il. Dodge the Special
Agent on Fibres in the Department OF
Agriculture Washington, ID. c., he met
him at the an-Amcrican Exposition
More samples of the local product were
shown him, the agent giving them care
ful and critical examination. questioning
linn closely to the character of tn,
nounced the fibre of excellent quality
comparing favorahly with any he hat
seen, and expressed the opinion that the
nature of the coral islands was wonder
fully well adapted to the cultivation o
the true sisal plant
Mr. Weldon made visit to the Inde
pendent Cordage Company, of Toronto
Canada, and submitted to them thre,
different growths of fibre samples. Tn,
members OF the company were wei
pleased with them, especially the tensil,
strength when compared with some Ma
Mia fibre they had just received from tn,
Philippines. The company expressed it,
willingness to take the entire product
as II came along
At Milwaukee he saw large distributors
OF binders twine. and ascertaned the
demand for sisal hemp Is fsr beyond the
supply and that all through the western
States the farmers prefer the sisal twinc
one factory manager sent II report on
samples submitted to him for inspection
that they were superior. At Cleveland
ohio. another distributing concern for
twine We're much Interested In the sam
pies shown by Mr.. Weedon. and express
ed desire to take the entire output
Offering IA good price, (. o. b. ship al
Honolulu. Mr. Filter a prominent Phil
adelphia handler of twine. expressed ev.
cry confidence in the success ~ the loCa
enterprise. Mr. Weedon was shown sam.
Piles OF slsal received by this dealer from,
Porto Rico, which were Inferior to the
Hawaiian product Mr.. Filter asked to
have ton of the Hawaiian fibre ship
ped on to him that he might have II
worked up and he could then determine
the true value.
As to machinery. Mr. Weedon reported
h.. had visited several factories manufao-
turing fibre machines. He saw the AIbee
Smith machine and made test with
some aloe leaves upon which 1t did very
good work: the leaves. however. were
young and green and the fibre undevelop-
ed. but the experiment was fair one
He looked over machine manufactured
in Paterson, N. j.. which he thought was
well-bult machine. and he was assur-
ed that the machines were giving the
best OF satisfaction wherever used