Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-06-18

too early to take up the flax ques-
tion and perfect arrangements for
growing few hundreds acres next
year The Capital Journal purposes agi.
tating this matter persistently until re.
suits are accomplished, even at the risk
Of the subject becoming trifle tire.
some II believes that flax is the an.
swer to the question of Salem s future.
1t believes that whether or not that
10000 for Salem in l920," is to be
realized or not, depends upon that one
little word of four letters-''flax. "
Salem, from its location, must become
a manufacturing city, or it must be con.
tent with a slow and moderate growth,
in place of q swift and phenomenal one.
Twenty miles away is unlimited wa
ter power and science has performed
the miracle of making this available.
Mahomet need no longer 60 to the
mountain in this case, for the mountain
which in this case is the power devel.
oped by the mountain stream, can be
made TO come to Mahomet. Salem has
a greater water power available than
has Spokane, for the cost of the trans.
mission of power from the Santiam
would be but a trifle. We speak ad.
visedly in saying greater power, for
the Santiam is about as large as the
Spokane river and instead Of hundred
feet fall, 1000 or 5000 feet fall can be
controlled.
The only question between Salem and
goodly array Of factories employing
thousands Of people, is something to
manufacture. Flax will supply this.
Experiments made by Eugene Bosse,
demonstrated the adaptability Of our
soil and climate to flax growing. He
grew quality Of flax fibre here, unex.
colled in ireland or Belgium, longer,
finer and more valuable fibre than any
of them, a fibre from which the very
finest linens in the world can be made.
II is up to us to reach out and grasp
the opportunity to profit by what Mr..
BOssc has demonstrated for us, to mako
Salem not second Belfast, but the lin.
On city Of Oregon, and the linen center
of the world. All II requires is a little
energy, a trifle in money from our citi.
zens and little concerted action. The
lllihee club can find no more important
matter to turn its attention to and We
hope to soc IL take hold Of the matter
and push IL to success.
Mr., Eugene Bosse, an authority on
flax growing and everything pertaining
to It's manufacture is now in Belgium
but is expected home soon So soon a,
he arrives the Capital journal will tax,
the matter up with him, and it urges il
advance, that every Salomte do whaI
ho can to forward the matter Tn,
farmers residing near Salem should b,
deeply interested in the matter and will
no doubt take hold vigorously.
In talking to Mr. l.. II, Roberts, o.
the Sunset Fruit Farm Co., recently, h,
said he intended to put in eleven acre
this spring after reading the articles il
Tho Capital journal, but was unable /,
get the seed,
We will consider it favor IL al
those who have planted a small tract ii
flax this year will send US such infor
nation as TO results 80 soon as they ar
known this fall, aud we will be NOR
than pleased II all who have plante,
flax this year, will send their names
and tho acreage planted to us, W
want all the data possible, and will tr,
to use II in such way as to be beno
ficial to the whole community. "50,O0
in Salem in lo2O" will be a dream
realized, whom the blossoms OF the fla,
reflect back tho azure Of Oregon
summer skies It's up to us to "a.
when this shall bo realized,