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

! Emil A. Berndt, vlce-president and
manager of w. w. Dfmond 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
, CT door-matS and other articles OF
commerce from the fiber Of the cocoa
nut
Mr. Berndt's statement was made
through the fact that Alexander q.
Rothschild, connected with the Grand
Rapids Furniture Company Of San
Francisco, is in Honolulu investigating
the possibilities of starting a factory
for the manufacture Of an article,
which he has not as yet named, from
the husk of the cocoantt. 1t IS un-
derstood that Mr.. Rothschild is rep
resenting a company. said to have
headquarters in New Jersey, which is
now in control of the manufacture Of
the so-called cocoa doormats, 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 n1anufac-
ture of commercial article
Mr.. Berndt's remarks on the matter
were not made in the light to criticize
Mr.. 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-
waii-should be financed by local CAPT.
tai, thus keeping the money in the
islands as we'll as putting Hawaii on
the map as a manufacturing center.
The demand for these dcor-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.
The enterprise which | believe this
company is now trying to get should
be made Hawaii industry" said Mr.
Rerndt 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. Ny
idea for such an industry would be
one central factory, say in Honolulu;
a factory put up and backed by local
capital The small farmers then
could be induced to grow cocoanuts
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. It would put. Ha-
waii in line to get hold of the market.
The demand for these mats is so great
today that it is almost impossible to
secure them for the retail trade. Be-
sides the mats. SUCH a factory in Hon
olulu could make other articles such
as scrubbing brushes, and know that
cocoanut fiber is an excellent nom
conductor Of heat, and used largely in
the making Of refrigerators. Then.
too. the copra could be utilized. I
know of two local business men who
are experimenting with the growing of
coccanuts, 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
OF such an industry"