The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-09-16

and Stripes. Henequen grows almost
everywhere throughout the island, and
the natives have produced some or the
most surprising results with the fibre,
despite the fact that they have given
it little or no attention. They have
known the value of the plant for gem
erations, but with true tropical apathy
| have taken hardly any steps at all to
make the most of their knowledge.
There are four kinds of the fibre
plant growing in Port Rico. They are
Henequen, Maguey, San Leveria, and
Emajagua. All belong to the one family
of plant and although varying a trifle
as to the size of the leaf, and the quail
! ity of the fibre, they still show plainly
the one genus. The plant is thickest in
the Mayaguez district on the eastern
shore of the island.
Of the four varieties, San Leveria is
the favorite with the natives. They
plat ropes from this fibre that for
strength and lightness cannot be sur
passed. These ropes are used on all the
harbor sailing vessels and have often
been purchased by shippers of foreign
vessels putting in here. The rope is
made of every size, from the donkey
engine hawser to the much used piece
of deck Irvine. 1t gives complete sat-
isfaction.
A few enterprising men have tried
within the past few years to have the
natives stand by them in the attempt
to boom the growth of the plants here.
The native has remained energetic
until his interest was satisfied. Then
came the inevitable slump and the boo
n1er found himself alone and practically
i.
the exact location of the best supplies
of the plant, and the best methods Of
promoting the growth. With the sup
plies obtained, however. a consider
able quantity was shipped to England
from time to time, and the report from
that country was most encoura ging.
The fibre was woven into many fabrics
and caused the greatest admiration
amoung the larger weavers.
1t is stated that the best results were
obtained in Belfast, Ireland, however
where a linen manufacturer of that
city. who had grown enthusiastic over
the plant, evolved fabric that closely
resembled the finest woven silk This
fabric, which was named Borinuuen
after the ancient name of Porto Rico
was made into some of the finest sort
of dresses worn at Court receptions.
and was everywhere praised. The Bel
fast manufacturer, after making every
preparation to continue the weaving of
the fibre, had to give the project up in
despair. because of the uncertainty of
the supply. Ships from the distant ISL
and arrived seldom, and then with very
little of the plant product aboard.
While in many sections of the United
States the most determined effort is be-
ing made to propagate the sisal fibre
and with varying degrees of success,
here in Porto Rico, with hardly any
trouble whatever, the plant attains a
hardy growth and is in evidence almost
everywhere. There is not the slightest
doubt that the employment of a few
hundred thousand dollars by capitalists
in the United States would bring them
a large percentage of return.
The natives plat the fibre in a very
deft manner. They have six-strand
plat, which they then over-plait into
another six strand, until at last they
fabricate a piece of cloth" as they call
it, of about the consistency of finely
woven carpet. The workmanship is
something remarkable when it is re-
called that the aid of machinery can
not be called in. Some of the fibre is
used for harness instead of leather and
does excellent service. At the present
time there is no systematic manufac-
ture of henequen into marketable goods,
but a number of men who have expert
mented in the past hope to interest
manufacturers Of the North, who have
given an impetus to many innovations
in their various industries.