The Washington herald., 1908-08-02

tured in China Both the United States
and European countries import Il largely.
and though il passes in this country u---
der several names. II IS a Chinese prod
uct- America uses about $500, 900 worth
Of Il annually. and IL is from Shartuzc
province principally that the straw plau
comes that the ladies' wear in their
hats Of the more expensive pattern.
Consul wilbur T. Gracey. OF Tsingtau.
has sent 10 the Department OF Comue---
and Labor the following account OF TIE
straw plait business as conducted IN lie
north OF China:
In 1s9S almost the entire straw braid
trade OF this province CShantung) wzs
done throush the old established business
houses Of Chefoo. but with the compla-
ton Of the railway from Tslngtau 70 TIE
interior Of the province, and the improved
facility for transportation Of braid there
BY. the trade has been entirely diverted
70 Kiaochow. with the consequence that
TsingtaU IS now the largest straw braid
emporium in China
Wheat straw Is Used
The straw generally used in the prov
ince Of ShaatunE is that secured from
wheat. Small farms are found through
out the entire province. varying IN size
from twenty yards square 70 sometimes
several acres. but are never found cover
ing large areas. as IN the United states.
The cultivation IS carried out in the same
manner as has been done for hundreds OF
years No special precautions are taken
70 protect the wheat or % improve IFS
quality. and the crops are dependent en-
tirely upon weather and other natural
conditions. The methods OF cultivation
have not passed the rudir1eutarv stages
The manufacture Of straw braid IS con
fined 10 certain districts. and the quality
Of the braid produced is largely depend
enJ upon The condition Of the years crop
OF straw The crop Of straw is cut with
hand knives. tle wheat OF barley IS sold
fer milling purposes. and the straw
bought up by straw dealers.
These straw dealers sort the straws
into lengths and qualities The straws
from the farmers are approximately four
feet IN length but up 10 one foot from
the roots is considered unusa5ie- and the
tcoJ or so near The top OF the stalk. after
cutting on The head. is Issd for matching
purposes and is sold by 80 straw dealers
% the country people for that purpose.
This leaves two 10 two ard a half feet
OF straw which is available for making
braid The straw dealers clip from the
Straws all pieces which can be used for
first quality braid. the pieces varying in
length. four TO rive inches being generally
sufficiently clea- and perfect for this pur-
pose Occasionally longer pieces are
found and in years when an exceptional
y good crop has occurred these longer
pieces are more frequent. The remainder
Of the straw IS used for the manufacture
Of the poorer qualities Of pIait
70 the plai1erS either as whole pieces Of
straw OF the required quality or spli- into
strips For the splitting process small
roughly made knives are used. having a
point about one inch in length. which IS
inserted and the straw easily split into
Two four. or seven pieces Of equal length.
How the Straw Is Plated
TIE plating cf the braid is carried out
IN certain districts Of Shantung. and es-
peciaIly IN and about the Sha River.
known as the "Sha no district" This
district consists Of a series Of small VII
lagos and farms. and It may he safely
stated that almost The entire cornuu1ftv
men, women. and such children VINO are
large enough 20 know how. are engaged
II the plating Hardly a viIlsger vau be
seen without his bundle Of straw under
his arm walking about the streets or sit
ting upon his doorstep CT that Of MS
nelgnbor continuously plating
II IS said that the quality OF the plat
IS largely affected by the weather and the
feeling OF the people, so that a superior
quality Is made IN The summer. when the
plailers can remain outdoors IN the sun
shine. IN the winter. when the extreme
cold Of Shantung confines The people 10
their houses. the braid is liable 10 be af-
fected by the smoke Of the lamps. char
coal fires. with their fumes, &c. The fact
that all straws must be vet during the
plating also affects the manufacture. as
during the winter months. which are dry
and cold, il IS more difficult 70 handle
the stTaws-
The plaiters have no other occupation
than this. and ma sufficient work for The
entire year. although during the four OF
nve weeks when the straw crop must be
gathered they stop plating and assist in
the fields
The quantity Of braid that q platter can
make IS dependent entirely upon the quail
ity OF the product Split plait- the kind
usually sent to the United States takes
according 20 width. from two 70 six davs
20 make piece OF 50 yards Split plait
10 70 Il millimeters (0-394 10 Cs334 inch) in
width VIII average about two davs'
work for the average platter for q So
uring from . 10 s milimeters .lOlq7 10 @ rs
inchj. would probably take FIVE or six
days This is partially due 10 the fact
that platter cannot work so long or the
liner grades Of work. and in some cases
viii not DO more than one or two hours
work day on special quality goods, but
VIII continue working on some inferior
quality as a rest
Pay Less Than a Cent n Day.
The pay Of plaiters is very small and
would probably not average / cent IN rnId
per day per man Il IS almost fmposzfb1a
20 get any definite idea Of the income of q
platter, as II depends largely on the skin
Of the operator. the number Of psonIa on
gagged IN the work who are members ~
his family. the cost OF stravvs. sc The
plalters buy their straw from the dealers
and sell the manufactured braid 10 srravv
braid brokers, who pass through the VII
lagos al more or less regular intervals
and either purchase what braid is avail
able or make contracts with the plaf-ers
for supplying certain quantity of the
quality OF braid required
Braid is sold entirely by the Chinese
'chih" OF foot GA1 American Inches) bv
The plaiters 20 the brokers.
The Chinese dealers in the interior vybo
are located n the larger cities Of the dis
tricts where the braid is manufactured.
purchase from the plaiters and prepsre
the goods for sale 10 the foreign buyers.
These dealers send their brokers rbro7,gh-
out the district either making contracts
for the manufacture OF the kinds Of braid
they require or buying what IS available
on the market-that is. what they are
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