Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-31
NO WAY TO RELIEVE
slTuATloN THIS SEASON
Capitalists and oovsrnmsnt Expsrts
Now Turning 70 Philippinss Fer New
9 Source Of supply Of Raw Material
unesrtainty 40 70 lslands' Future
Has Prevented development.
IspecIal correspondence.l

Carranza forces in Yucatan, to the
possibilities Of supplying sisal or hemp
for binder twine to the manufacturers
of the United States, and thence to the
farmers from sources other than Mex
jean. The visit to Washington OF rep
resentatives OF the cordage interests
this week for conferences VITA Secre-
tafy of State Bryan and other officials
brought out clearly the appalling help
lessness Of this country to handle the
situation independent OF other coun-
tries. Apparently, unless the policy OF
watchfully waiting and shaking the
warning forefnger produces unex-
pected results, millions Of dollars OK
wheat, rye, barley and oats will rot on
the ground because of lack Of string to
tie them up with. Were 1t possible for
the United States to develop within Its
own borders, and therefore subject to
its own Jurisdiction. raw material Of q
character workable into binder twine,
then the United States could afford to
let things in Mexico go on their own
sweet way undisturbed.
It Is little known fact, however,
that the Philippine islands can furnish
fbers in sufficient quantities to take
care Of the crops Of the United States
All that Is lacking is the capital to go
into the islands and develop agriculture
along these lines. The United States
now imports something like half
million tons Of hbers, valued at some
z 10000, 900. Every ton of this could be
raised In the Philippines. The area
adapted to the cultivation of Manila
hemp and abaca is almost unlimited.
ern parts Of the islands being unsuited
to these crops.
Lock to Philippines.
With . view to encouraging this in
dustry in the Philippines. the insular
bureau of agriculture has prepared
report for special circulation at the
Panama-Pacifc exposition on abaca,
or manila hemp. For a number OF
years this most important fiber has
comprised approximately two-thirds OF
the total expert trade Of the islands.
The recent increase in the production
of eepral and sugar, It Is stated. haA
reduced In . measure the relative Inn
portance Of this crop. but 1t still re-
mains tho leading export product It
is Of historical interest to know that
in 1920 sample Of this fiber was
brought TO Salem. Mass. by John
White, a lieutenant in the navy. From
1924 till 1927, the use of abaca in
Salem and Boston was quite extensive.
Actual expectation Of abaca began in
1878, with the modest amount of II
tons. Top notch was reached with an
expectation Of 10000 tons in 1910, since
which date. owing to the fact that
modern methods of cultivation had not
been introduced, the expectation de-
clined. reaching, in 1914, 1883 tons. It
should be noted however, that the VAL
ne OF this expectation was within
million dollars Of the value Of the
$4,000 tons. the product Of the pre-
yious year.
The Philippine bureau Of agriculture
states that the use Of abaca in binder
Irvine has been declining of late be-
cause Of the scarcity of the middle and
higher grades and their consequent
rise In price, as well as because Of the
increase in the production of henequen
and other sisal fibers, which are said
by experts to be more uniform in quail
ity than abaca, and which, tho not as
strong and durable as the latter, yet
are strong enough for binder twine In
the neighborhood of 10 per cent of the
total supply of abaca is now being
used for binder Irvine.
This same authority declares that
the results have shown that the abaca
industry can be made one of the most
profitable, branches OF investment for.
the tropical agriculturist The cost Of
bringing to maturity an acre Of land
planted to abaca is estimated at $50,
including rental of land. clearing Of
forest, wages and salaries, and other
expenses. From IS to IS an acre is
enough to take care Of subsequent cul-
tivation. The cost Of harvesting, ex-
tracing the fiber, and marketing the
product ranges from $43 to $50 an
acre. The normal net income will be
about $45 per annum.
Capital Timid.
It Is said, unofftcially, OF course. that
the failure Of American capital to de-
velop tho Philippine hemp industry is
In part. at least, to be attributed to
uncertainty about the future OF the
dslands-their ownership. their form
Of government. and the possibilities of
American investments. Internationally
ut 10 true that were these matters once
and forever settled. capital would flow
in and develop this and other resources
Of the Philippines.
The difficulty Of securing enough
sons crops may have a curious reflex
upon the labor situation. One Of the
representatives Of the cordage inter
ests stated In washington the other
day that Il sufficient quantities of
binder Irvine could not be, supplied to
tie up the crops, the only way In which
these crops could be saved would be
to resort to the old method Of tying
them up with wisps OF the grain, after
the faahion Of centuries. But the
trouble with this method Is the lack Of
labor. Q most serious difficulty. when
1T ID appreciated that one man opeTat-
Ing q machine binder has replaced
probably scores OF men tying by hand.
This fact has been brought to the at
tention OF the authorities OF the de-
5pattment Of labor interested in supply
ing labor for the harvesting Of the
crops, and 1t 10 possible that, in the
event bf failure In the Yucatan sup
ply, they, may be able to devise means
of connecting jobless men with, the
nenlsss task q tying up the 1915
errors ss NJ 4
Y 2sz ~ ~ 3 %