Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-29
The EIan Crnn.

What are known in Indiana as cat
tails" belong to the flag family. another
member of which has considerable
commercial value. These flags, both the
Towering and the woodworking varie-
ties, begin To grow early in the spring.
as soon as the fresiets have subsidized.
They ore found in great abundance in
the expansive Montczuma marshes
which are situated north of Cayuga
lake. New York, and cover an area OF.
about forty thousand acres. The re-
eioa aside from being covered with
flags is neutrality-suspicious. notorious
would he the better Word-tor it's mos
quitoes and for considerable numbers
Of muskrats and wild ducks.
The flags enjoy IN uninterrupted and
proliir growth all summer. by August
they reach Il hight of eight 10 ten feet
9nd early in September The harvest
begins. This YEAR the work was done
under favorable circumstances as the
building of the CuYaga barge canal
drained a large part CT the swamp. But
boats still have to be used. In sponSy
places. says the New York sun, where
enough terra sirma exists. the reapers
leave the boats. Wading about and cut
ting the flags with long handled
sickles Great care has to he exercised
lest the workers become mired in tire
treacherous ooze. OFTEN workers would
lose their lives were it not for the as
sistance rendered by felloW-laborefs.
The plant is cut just below the water
line and carried to the highland. where
il is allowed to dry in the open AR.
Il is green at the top and WHITE d
the bottom. and as the flags lie IN reg
ular rows the bands of white and green
remind one of the stripes OF a mann
moth banner. When sufficiently sun
cured the flags are bundled and stored
in warehouses; Here they remain I'M
iii the harvest is over, which IS not
until ice covers the marsh and pre-
vents any further cutting below the
water line. Several cuttings are maae
from the same area each season. hun
drcds of men are now at work on the
first faaping of the season.
Sometimes the harvest is brought To
an abrlDt end by marsh fires VINE II
sweep over the tract, lighting up tha
country for miles at night and llluhl-
netting the clouds until the SKIES re-
ssmble billowy flames. Sky reflections
Of these fires have been seen thirty
miles away. ~
At on time the principal use OF the
dag output lay in it's use for efalf
hottoms and baskets. Then it was DIS
covered that a strip OF flag lald DE
tween the slaves of a barrel or cas>
made a tighter joint. Another recent
discovery demonstrated that from tue
cher cf the flag can be produced pa
rar # the best quality for certain
u,,noses. 1t is strong flexible ana
canable of resisting high tension with :
ont tearing. and it is also impeiNlous
:, moisture 1t may be dyed 10 ahN
desired shade and it Will take inc piaet
oc late hemp and wood pulp.
So great is the demand for nass IL
the 2ooperage business alone tho' nun
dreds of thousands of bundles are
shinped from MonteZuma 10 all parts
Of The United States. one company n
s,-racuse. using more than four 'hoIS-
and tons OF pasteboard anhu9llS ioi
salararus boxes and millions OF reailS
Of nap.r for lining barrels holding Sot'
csh. IS now using flags TO supply 10
needs. -.
Sig paper mills have been built upon
the marshes. and the smoke or taeH
chjmnavs. spreading like cloud over
wide stretches of green eXpanse, Is oiio
of the visible signs of TINS nov stea'
industry. \ great army Ell lapoi ei =
aided bv scientific appliances, IS no"
harvecting the crop and sending 1t os
aerial trolley to the vicinity oil the lde-
tories News.