Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-11-20
DOOR MATS ARE
SUGGESTED As
FINE " INDUSTRY
Emil A.. Berndt Points Out New
and Profitable Use for the
CoGoanut Fiber

Emil A Berndt, Vice-president and
manager of w. w. Din1ond and Com
pany. this morning made a statement
to the effect that one of the greatest
industries that could be started in the
Hawaiian islands, and one, he be-
lieves. from which the income would
be greater than that from sugar or
pineapples. would be the manufacture
of door-mats and other articles OF
commerce from the fiber Of the cocoa.
nut
Mr. Berndts statement was made
through the fact that Alexander n.
Rothschild, connected with the Grand
Rapids Furniture Company Of San
Francisco, is in Honsmlu inyestigat ing
the possibilities Of starting a factory
for the manufacture Of an articles
which he has not as vet named, from
the, husk of the eocoanut 1t Is I'm.
derstood that Mr. Rothscl1ild Is rep-
resenting company, said to have
headquarters in New Jersey, which Is
now in control of the manufacture of
the socalled cocoa doorfnats, for
which there is an unlimited demand.
As he said to The Star Bulletin yes
terday, If he can make arrangements
with the small planters and the cocoa
nut growers to supply him with the
required amount Of nuts; he would
start a factory here for the maIiufacs
tnre of commercial article. -
Mr.. BeTndt's remarks on the matter
were not made in the light to criticize
MIR. Rothschild's prospects but he be-
lieves that such an Industry as the
manufacture of.-cocoa door-mats-if
there is to be- one established in Ha-
wall should be financed by local CAPT
tai, thus keeping the tmoney in the
islands as well as putting Hawaii on
the map as manufacturing center
The demand for these door mats, said
Mr.. Berndt, far exceeds the supply,
and during the past seven years the
prices on them have gone up from
the fact that the fiber is being de-
pleted. - an. g..
F.. The enterprise which believe this
company is now trying to get should
be made a Hawaii industry" said Mr..
Perndt Although the market is now
controlled by a trust, the industry
should be started and made to stick
her, It covers a big field; bigger,
even, than sugar or pineapples. My.
idea for such an industry would be
one central factory, say in Honolulu:
a factory putsup and backed by local
capital The small farmers then
could be induced to grow coeoanuts
and sell them direct to the factory.
Open hands would reach forth from
the mainland to take the output of the
factory, and in this way every cent OF
money would be kept In the islands
and a continually Increasing revenue,
would be coming in. 1twould put Ha-
wall in line to get hold of the market
The demand for these mats is 50 great
today that 1t is almost impossible to-
secure them for the retail trade. Be-
sides the mats such factory in Hon
olulu could make other articles such
as scrubbing brushes, and know that
coccanut fiber is an excellent nom
conductor of heat; and used largely in
the making Of refrigerators Then.
too, the copra could be utilized.
know of two local business men who
are experimenting with the growing Of
cocoanuts, and they figure that one
tree brings them 81 per year. I be-
lieve that there are great prospects
ahead for Hawaii in the introduction
t,,d.s u