Willmar tribune., 1909-07-07

The expression Panama hat" az in.
dicative of the origin of this cele.
brated article Of headgear, is an evi.
dent misnomer, inasmuch az these
hats are made in the greatest perfec-
tion In Ecuador, Peru and Colombia.
Formerly the entire output of this
product destined for the foreign trade,
was shipped via the principal port of
the Isthmus Of Panama, which became
the great mart and intermediate de-
pository Of this important article Of
South American commerce, and in the
course Of time these famous, and much
sought-for hats were inappropriately
designated. in the markets of the
world, Panama hats" For many
years Panama enjoyed the enviable
distinction Of being the chief mar
ket for the sale and distribution of
these hats, but Guayaquil, Ecuador,
long ago wrested that honor from the
isthmian city, and remains to-day the
great emporium and distributing cen
ter Of the Panama hat industry of the
world. In Latin America these hats
are not now, nor have they ever been,
known as Panama" hats, but are uni
versally called "jipijapa," in honor
of the town in Ecuador where it is
said they were first manufactured.
In Europe, and especially in France,
1t is generally supposed that the straw
out of which Panama hats are manu-
factured is so expensive in the coun-
tries producing the raw material that
hats made of it are articles of luxury
beyond the means of all except the
well to do or rich. This is popular
error, since Panama hats are in COM
mon use by rich and poor alike in the
South American countries which en-
gage to any considerable extent in
their manufacture. The high price of
Panama hats in foreign countries is
largely due to the import duties placed
upon them and to the fact that they
pass through the hands of consider.
able number of commission merchants
before reaching the ultimate pur.
chaser. The price of the hats in the
places where they are manufactured
varies greatly, according to the quail
tty of the material used and the skill
of the workmen employed. A fine
quality Of jipijapa or Panama hat,
made in the province of Manabi, Ecua.
dor, out of particularly strong, soft,
and silky straw, is seldom seen in the
United States, because the planters
along the Ecuadorian coast are will
ing to pay $50 to 500 for a hat so
plant and flexible that it can be fold
ed up and carried in the pocket with.
out the slightest injury.
One of the finest Panama hats ever
made was sent to the prince of Wales
some years ago, and it was so delicate
and exquisitely woven that it could
be folded into a package no larger
than his watch.
The raw material. or toquilla straw.
out of which Panama hats are made.
and to which is due their compact
ness, lightness Of weight, durability.
elasticity, imperviousness to water.
and ease with which they can be
cleaned when soiled, comes chiefly
from Ecuador. The shrub, Carludo-
vica palmata, from which toquilla
straw is obtained, is from six to ten
feet high, and grows wild in the hot
and humid regions of the Pacific
coast Of Ecuador and Columbia, and
in the forests of the Upper Amazon
in Peru. There are five or six spe-
cies of the plant, some of which have
been more or less successfully cult
vated, but the main supply of the
fiber or straw comes from the plant in
it's natural state. The price of the
straw varies according to the place of
production, color, length, thickness,
and number of threads to the strand