Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-03-03
SALEM AND OREGON MADE LINENS


Eugene has suddenly awakened to the Importance Of
it is inaugurated
1t woke up suddenly in fact so suddenly that it
cepted POrand offer to devote $500 toward starting the
growing of flax in the valley before Salem heard Of
the offer
Then it went after the matter in true Eugene STYLE
getting meeting of farmers business and railroad
officials and arranging to go at the job IN Workmanke
and intelligent manner
Eugene Bosse who is from Salem, though his name
belongs neighbor up the creek there and told
the gathering all about flax growing for ne knows all
about and has tried to get the industry its feet here
twice at least both times unfortunately his plant being
lost by fire
1t will be seen from this that the movement at Eugene
is not as stated "the beginning of great industry In the
state"
The Capital Journal has advocated the growing of
flax for several years and largely due to this agta
ton that the state induced to try the experiment and
provide the money and machinery for putting the product
in the form of fiber This paper has insisted that it
would eventually prove Of the great industries OF the
state owing to the fact that climate and all other things
necessary its successful growth and subsequent prpar
alton here ideal 1t pointed out the fact that 1t is
crop that requires great deal of hand labor and would
thus give employment to many and establish payrols for
a large part OF the year
The trouble with the matter in Salem was that we
tried to run before we could walk and wanted to go to
manufacturing linens and laces before understood
how to handle the flax or get the fiber from it.
The state is now experimenting along CleSe lines anu
has so far made a satisfactory showing.
We are glad to see Eugene also getting in the SWIM
for the more the merier and the bete for the greater
showing we as a state can make the sooner will the
manufacturers of the east turn their eyes and plants in
this direction.
There is great demand in the United States for
linen and other flax products and an important feature OF
the crop is that it will stand shipping without the cost OF
transportation eating up all the values.
Once the fact that the growing Of the flax and its con-
version to fiber is shown to be easily and cheapy done
those engaged in manufacturing linens and twines will
attend to the balance of the business Here in Oregon is
the greatest and cheapest water power in the world and
it is easily controlled With abundant material and
cheap power there is that Salem should not be
the Belfast of America.
The Commercial club can do no more important work
than keep eyerlastingly at it. and in touch with the
manufacturers of the east until there is or more linen
factories running here.
The farmers should take hold of the matter with a
VIM even though the crop for year or two might not
bring big returns for it would be the making of dozen
towns through the valley and good market for all the
other products of the farm Flax should make Salem
city of $4,000 few years and treat Eugene and other
places as we'll
The United States imports annually above twenty mil
lion dollars worth of linens and other flax products and
there is no reason why the Willamette valley should not
supply the entire demand