Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1909-08-12
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saw palmetto. and is fan-shaped.
Just before ripening, when the
shrub attains a height of about fiVe
feet. It is cut, boiled in hot water,
and after being thoroughly dried and
assorted is ready for use. In the
case Of the highly priced shrubs that
grow in the damp and gloomy depths
of the tropical forests, slightly dit.
ferent process of gathering and cur.
ing the fiber is observed, inasmuch as
the fan-shaped leaves are cut from
the trunk of the shrub just as they
are in the act Of opening, are stripped
of their outer filaments, immersed for
few seconds in a vat Of boiling wa
ter, then withdrawn for moment
and again submerged for an instant,
taken out, vigorously shaken and
carefully suspended on a string to
dry in the shade, and day later
bleached in the intense rays OF the
tropical sun. Greater Wilderness OF
straw may be secured by originally
boiling the fiber in water containing
certain proportion of lemon juice.
A central school of hat making has
been established at Panama, pro
vided for by government funds.
Fourteen scholarships have been es'
tablished, two from each of the seven
provinces of the republic. Pupils
must not be less than Is years of age,
of good conduct and health, willing
and DESTROYS of learning hat weaving,
have good eyesight, and contract an
obligation to teach the same industry
wherever designated by the govern
ment. The school was opened June
Is, 1906, and general interest is taken
In the result Of this new enterprise.
On the Pacific slope Of Ecuador,
Panama hats are made in the prov
inces of Manabi and Guayas, the for.
mer producing the celebrated jlpi.
japas of Montecristo and Santa Ana,
and the latter those Of Santa Elena
and Manglaralto. In the inter-Andine
region Of the republic, the manufac-
ture is confined to the provinces Of
Azuay, Canar, Pichincha and Lola. In
the first-named province over 5000
persons are engaged in the hat indus.
try. The celebrated Sigsig brand of
Panama hats are made in this prov
ince out Of a fiber so durable that
hats made of 1t are said to stand with
out injury the most violent crushings.
In the Amazon region Of Ecuador,
Panama hats are manufactured at
Santa Rosa out of straw brought from
NapO. The province Of Manabi, how.
ever, is the great toquilla straw-pro-
ducing region of the republic, most Of
the hats manufactured in Ecuador be.
ing made out of this straw, and large
quantities of 1t are exported to Piura,
Peru, notwithstanding the heavy ex.
port tax to which 1t is subject, to be
used In making the celebrated Peru
Wan catacaos hats. Antioquia is the
principal Panama hat manufacturing
center Of Colombia.
The United States is the largest
purchaser Of Panama hats, having Inn.
ported from Ecuador in 1906 JipE
japas to the value Of $600,901. Ger.
many, Great Britain and France, in
the order named. are next in impor.
lance in this trafflc.
The straw exported from Ecuador
to Peru is shipped in bales weighing
about IS pounds each, pound of the
straw bringing from 20 to so cents, &C
cording to grade. Germany also takes
small quantity Of straw. The manu-
facture of a Panama hat often re-
quires the labor Of a skilled weaver,
working ave or six months in the late
twilight or early dawn, the only time
available for making the finer grades
Of hats.