The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-01-01
MONEY is MADE
FROM SOAP WEED
WHAT WAS FOR YEARS CONSiD-
ERRED PEST IN KANSAS II
GIVEN COMMERCIAL
VALUE.

Topeka. Kans.- Kansas is begin
ming to think that there is some use
for everything that grows in tine
state.
For many years the sunflowcr,
from which the state vas given it
nickname, was nothing but a weed,
but each year hundreds of tons OF
sunfl0Wers are sold for use in making
coarse paper and insulating mater
ials.
The Russian thistle, which cams
into the country with the Importation
u seed wheat from the Crimea, Was
considered a farm pest, and laws
We're passed for it's eradication. Nov
it IS extensively used as a forage, and
when cut before the spines become
hardened makes an excellent hay.
The latest addition to the worth
less weeds that have become articles
of value is the 5oapweed that grows
wild on the dry LANDS of the western
part OF the state. Fourteen carloads
of the weed have been sold this year
and many moro carloads are beiH5
gathered as the farmers have time
to rake up the weeds in their pas
Iture lands.
tfIiCt fEstf:t vi ! "a
The soapwepd grows wild on the
poorest and best lands OF the western
third of the state. 1t has been the
bane of farmers for years, because ~
was almost impossible tO kill il cut or
to pillow through it because OF the
toughness OF the roots and stems.
1t has long beer the custom IN
western Kansas TO use the soap Weed
in place of ropes for many purposes.
When cut and tied together while
still green and allowed to dry in the
sun. the weed made a rope stronger
than any BRAIDED or twisted rope OF
equal size that could be purchased,
unless il is the real hemp rope,
which is too expensive for ordinary
use.
II has long ben used as a substl-
ltute for soap throughout the west. "
has all the qualities OF a vegetable
SOAP. and it is not unusual to sec
lin the farm house a box of soapweed
~ileaves beside the Kitchen sink. When
one wanted 10 wash the hands h
would pick up three or tour leaves
dip them in water and then crusi
them in his hands, and there wouls
be a lather and cleansing properties
of fairly good soap.
The soapweed is being used II
making both rope and soap Iheft
are several factories which buy the
weed baled and turn it into the fms
ed product for the market. There j.
keen competition for the weed amonf
the business men Of Wa3tern Kansas
who are acting as agents of st. Louis
Chicago. and Cleveland firms, VIII
are using the weed.
Leaves Made Into Soap.
The stems OF the weed and tn
) roots are used in making rope. lh'
leaves are crushed and beaten, an'
the vegetable oils, when mixed wit
other soap ingredients, makes q fair
ly hieh-grade soap.
/, The soapweed is worth 50 a to,
green and not baled. 1t is worth =
a ton dry and not baled. and So
!, ton dry and baled. The buyers offe
! 81 a ton for baled soapweed in car
! load lots. 1t is baled like broom cor
5 and the bales weigh. 400 to 700 lbs
each and are tied with soap wee
ropes, instead of with wire, as ia
: weeds are sufficiently strong /
i stand the strain.
The handling OF the soap weed
t simply an industry to the hans2
K farmers. Some farmer boys haF
. made sufficient money to pay the
. way through school for a half yea
= on the soapweed they gathered dul
: ing the fail.