Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-06-05
JUST A SUGGESTION FOR THE STATE GRANGE

Now that the State Grange is in session., and only
across the hall from the governors office in the capitol
it would be wise its part to make digent in
quy to what the has done purposes doing
in regard to the flax industry. This is something in
which the farmers OF the valley are deeply interested
and it is subject about which they should be given the
fullest information. The growing Of flax and the
facure of its products will sometime make the Willamette
valley of the weathiest sections of the country one
of the richest in the world 1t will dense settle
ment that will make home market for all farm produce
and at good prices for money will be abundant All that
is required since it has been demonstrated that the valley
grows the very finest flax is the awakening of interest in
the CROP Once this is done the balance of the industry
will take care Of itself Once the flax is grown there will
be plenty of capital to handle it. Indeed there is great
er demand for linens than in the history of the
flax industry Russia the great flax country, has prac
ticaly quit temporarily growing it. Belgium has been
forced to quit has France which the war has forced
to devote all her soil to food production This leaves Ire
land the sole producer of linens at this time and Ireland
was never so prosperous.
When the value of the finished product, the linens is
taken into consideration it will be found of flax
will yield from S1700 to $2500 an A 40 acre farm
will produce flax that when it goes the counters to
the consumer as finished product will be valued at from
$4,000 to $7500O The crop from 1000 acres of flax will
in the finished product be worth as much as the entire
crops of Marion county, around $2000000 OF course
the greater part of these values from the manufac
turing and not from the material, at the time
the growing of flax will bring fine and steady returns
directly; and indirectly will prove OF nestlmabe value to
the farmer from the creation of great market for farm
produce and especially for the truck patch and garden
materials
Ireland is estimated to have had 10000 acres in flax
last year and the value Of the finished product from this
industry placed at above $3O000000O or about 500
for each of her people, 1t is because Of the tremendous
possibilities Of the industry that should awaken interest
among the granger and especially their representatives
gathered here to discuss matters Of Importance to the
members of the order 1t would be good business to
before the next state grange full statement as to the
growing of flax and the manufacturing Of its products
One thing that nj favor of the manufacturing side Of
the industry is the wealth of water power that be
furnished cheapy than anywhere else in the world
ncidently the states experiment in flax growing should
investigated by the grange whose members helped with
their taxes pay for it. Such an investigation would clear
the atmosphere and show where the monkey wrench
dropped into the machinery who dropped it. and why. It'll
should make both interesting and profitable reading.
The Germans would feel decidedly disappointed over
their submarine raid the American coast could they
offo hod tha n1lca