Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-05-23
SUGGEST SCUTCHINC
| MILL Be BUILT HERE
Textile Manufacturer S Atten-
ton Called to Ii by Sec
retary Mcdaniel

The advisatility Of erecting scutch.
ing mill in Salem has been suggested to
several of the leading textile manufac-
turers of the country by Ivan G. Me.
Daniel, manager Of the Salem CONNER.
cial club. In his letters TO those firms
Mr. Mcdaniel has noted the fact that
about 400 acres OF good flax land has
been contracted for by the club. in adj
ditiOn 10 the amount needed by the pres
ent mills. Also the fact that the land
planted was selected by government
expert and that it win produce 500 tons
or more of extra fine fibre flax straw
and about 1000 bushels Of seed
The object IN planting the extra acre
age was to provide raw material for any
concern desiring to establish scutch-
ing mill al Salem. In his letter TO the
textile firms, Mr.. Mcdaniel also notes
that flax can he retted and handled here
as cheaply if not cheaper than at any
point in the United States; also the fact
that Salem has two mills using about
l,500 acres Of flax and that at least
$4,000 acres of flax land may be found
near Salem.
Firms Express Interest.
In reply to the letters sent them, two
of the largest textile firms in the coun
try say they are interested in the flaN
proposition and write as follows:
/ From the Northwestern Textile com
Ipany, West Duluth, Mimi, manufactur
ers of "Gleneoe" linen towels anC
crashes: owe are in receipt of you
favor of the 11th, and are pleased t.
note the thorough manner you have tax
en- up the question as 10 flax raising.
u should like to bring your PROPOSE
tion up before my fellow directors, bu
before doing SO, should like to hav
samples of fibre and more information
as to the matter. AT present We impor
large quantities of linen yarns iron
Scotland and have had frequent in
quiries from our agents as to the pos
sibilities of getting supplies of fibr
from this side. Could you give us an
idea as to the cost of fibre from you
state; also as TO what amount of capita
would be required to start a scutchin
mill in the vicinity of the flax fields?
Pleased With Fibre.
The Niagara Textile company q
Lockport, N. Y, manufacturers of tn
I" Niagara" linen and Union towels an
crashes, one of the big firms Of tn
p east, writes as follows:
"We have your letter of the llth tt
gether with the form OF contract tha
= your club is making with the grower
r in the interest of flax cultivation. Wh5
A we have learned regarding your effort
: in Oregon has been very interesting
0 us, and we aIe looking forward to Sc
J. what may be the results of your effort
! We have seen samples Of flax that hi
7 been grown and treated in your sectlc
g and must say that we have been please
+ with its appearance. .,
"We are large importers of fla
s warns from Ireland and Scotland Slnt
e 1914 we have bought large quantlti'
0 and up to the present time have had 1
e difficulty in getting what we require
e Notwithstanding the high price We nay
had to pay. But the present outlook
n most discOuraging and we do not ST
d where we are going to procure the su
o ,1ies to carry on our business with an
+ degree of certainty.
:. Now is the Right Time.
= CIT would appear to US that now
the time for the development OF II
Q flax industry in this country, for IL
reason that experience which otherwi
might be disastrous financially, cou
J. be made today without that element
l. risk. =.
Y "CWe do no spinning of cotton or Ii
en-, but are in position to use a lars
" amount of domestic yarn as soon as
! ! can be produced suitable for our us
+ and believe that the capital could be /
:. vested in spinning in your section
y the country where the flax could
4 crown and spun, as it can be, shou
be attractive to people in your part
. tbe country. The possibilities. for SUI
q enterprise we believe to be without lii
r it."