The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-04-01

Following is the address made in
congress by Rep. L. B. Hanna regard
ing the amendment which he intro
duced for an appropriation to carry
on experiments to utilize the flax
straw
Speech Of Hon. L. 3. Hanna.
The house being in committee of
the whole house on the state of the
union and having under consideration
the bill (H. r. $4,000 making appro-
p%riations for the department of agri-
culture for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1913, Mr.. Hanna said:
Mr. Chairman. / desire to offer an
amendment.
The chairman. The clerk will re-
port the amendment.
The clerk read as follows:
On page Fl, line 10, after the word
plants" add the following: 'Includ-
ing the test of flax straw in co-opera-
ton with the North Dakota Agricul-
tural college; also. on line 10, strike
out the words seven thousand five
hundred and eighty dollars and in
| sert 1915, 000.''
Mr.. Hanna. Mr.. Chairman, the item
FFOAA0 AEUA AANC hhAA6 4 JIG dAAACAANAAAOAAA
should be adopted:
For testing and breeding fibrous
plants, including the testing Of flax
straw in cooperation with the North
Dakota Agricultural college, which
may be used for paper making, $3.50 600.
In connection with this proposed
amendment / would like to present a
letter from DIR. Galloway, chief of
the bureau of plant industry. and have
1t read at the clerks Gesk.
The clerk read as follows:
United States department of agri-
culture, bureau of plant industry,
Washington, d. c., Jan. rs, 1912.
Hon. L. B. Hanna, house of repre-
sentatives.
Dear Mr.. Hanna: Replying to your
recent communication, la which you
state that you intend to propose an
amendment to the agricultural bill
when same shall come w on the floor
of the house proving for the utiliza-
ton of flax straw, / note your in
quiry as to whether the department
has done any work in this connection.
The department has in the past
given some attention to flax straw
oAAN los ASo(AAI0 AASENSAAEAhGAO4 NAA@k ~
is one of the promising crop mater
ials now going to waste. Nevertheless
we feel that caution should be used in
its exploitation and that whatever is
attempted in the way Of it's use should
be based on careful experimental
work.
Our experts estimate that there are
produced annually in the United
States between 3,00O,O 900 and 1000, 900
tons of flax straw, of which about
one-half is grown in North Dakota.
At present not more than 100000 to
800, 900 tons of this material finds
profitable utilization. The greatest
use at present is for furniture up
holstery tow; a much less quantity is
used in the production of flax Irvine.
and a still smaller amount in the man
ufacture of insulating materials, flax
felt, liner left and other similar pro-
ducts.
Under the appropriation which con-
gress makes at the present time - =
= for testing and breeding fibrous
plants which may be used for paper
making" laboratory experiments have
been conducted with a view to deter
1nAkAAAlS Tie JUS dAlA AAOSL RAaClACdO1S
methods of making book, writing, and
other kinds of paper from straw. Most
Of this work, however, las been con-
fined to the utilization Of cornstaIks,
which at present represent the great
est waste material and is therefore
receiving more attention than other
~by-products.
In the flax work that has been done
excellent qualities of pulp, with fair
yields of fiber-up to l.early 40 per
cent on bone-dry raw material-haye
been secured. Some difficulties have
been encountered in bleaching. but it
is not believed that these are insur-
mountable. AS indicated above, we
consider the material promising, but
the chief question involved would pro-
badly be the chief cost at which the
raw material could be laid down at
a mill at some central point In the
~flax-growing areas.
"a good many extrayagant claims
have been made and considerable
promoting has been done on the basis
of the supposed value Of the straw
of seed flax for textile purposes.
Considering Its matted and broken
condition as 1t ome from the thrash
ing machine and the probable cost of
hacking or carding it into suitable
shape for spinning 1t is rather doubt
full whether it has any practical value
for this purpose.
Should there be any further infor-
nation which we a furnish YOU,
we shall. Of course, be glad to do
so. Very truely yours.
B. L. Galloway, Chief of Bureau.
Mr.. Hanna. Mr.. Chairman, Or.
Galloway states in. his letter that
there are some 100000 or 4,00O,O 900
tons Of flax straw produced in the
United States every year, and that
about SO per cent Of it is produced
in North Dakota, the state which I
have the honor to represent here in
congress.
At the present time there is prac-
tically none OF the 100000 tons of
flax straw which Is produced In North
Dakota each year that is being utilized
for any purpose whatever. except a
very small amount which is fed to-
stock, and the balance, practically all
OF ii, is burned in the fields. In this
day and age. when we AR looking for
ward TO finding SOME method or means
whereby we can conserve and preserve
the forests OF the continent for future
generations, and when we are at the
present time using thousands upon
thousands Of aeres o. spruce timber