Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-03-30
PRICES UPON FLAX
SEED AND STRAW IS
SETTLED BY BOARD
Experts Are Engaged To Sup
ervise Work Of Establish
ment Of Industry

The state board of contro' Yesterday
afternoon adopted an order whereby a
flat charge of not to exceed So per
bushel is to be charged the farmers for
flax seed with which to put in crop
of flax for this year and to pay the
farmer $l5 per ton for flax straw, de-
livered at the penitentiary, pay for the
seed to be deducted from the proceeds
of the straw. 1t was also ordered that,
in the event that board decided the
flax should be pulled instead of cut, in
order to secure the best grade of flax
fibre, that the pulling would be done
by convict labor without charge to -
farmer.
1t was also agreed that Emil H4'-
sett, the Belgian flax expert should be
employed at a monthly wage of $3.50
for experimenting the seeding and
harvesting of the flax and that an.
other expert from a manufacturing
standpoint, probably John C. Cady, of
Albany, be employed to take charge Of
the ordering Of the necessary machin-
cry for the establishment of the flax
plant at the penitentiary and for the
installation of such machinery when it
arrives. Mr.. Hansett has been at work,
under the auspices Of the Salem Com
mercial club for several days already,
soliciting acreage from the farmers,
and the time he has devoted to the
work will be paid for by the state.
The flax seed ordered from Wiscon-
sin is due to arrive within very short
time and Secretary Ralph Moores re.
pofts that fully 400 acres have been
signed up already, or sufficient to in
sure that amount of acreage and yes
terdays' formal action of the board in
fixing the price to be charged for the
seed lrd to he paid for the straw. re.
MOVES the only obstacle to immediate
negotiations with the f" rmers who are
ready TO enter into contract with the
stae. Tie price to be charged for the
seed, $3 per bushel, is less than the
actual cost ~ the state delivered in
Salem. and the price of $l5 per ton for
the flax straw will insure the farmers
much greater profit upon their acre.
age than could he realized from either
hav or grain and Secretary Moores. Of
the commercial club. feels certain that
he will have no trouble in securing all
of the land desired for the establish
ment Of the industry.
Farmers GROWING Enthusiastic.
As 375 acres of flax land have al.
ready heen contracted for there is no
longer anv doubts as to whether the
flax pronositon will meet with the an.
proval Of the farmers. Every day in
ouiries are being made at the CONNER
citl Club and to the members of the
state honrd of control regarding the
possibilities of flax raising. and il is
evident that rreat number Of the
farmers near Salem viii give the pro.
position fair trial this wear.
!. c. Morris of Marion. is so enthus.
iastic over the flax proposition and has
such confidence in his ability to raise
/ flax. that he has declared his intention
of nlanting 100 acres and is now
awaiting a conference with Emil Han.
sett 10 learn whether his land is
esneciallv adapted to lax culture.
The following is n list Of the men
who have agreed to go into flax cul-
ture and the number Of acres they will
cultivate this year: