Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-30
FAIL TO OVERCOME
1 SHORTAGE OF FLAX
U. S. Demands Pile Up, While
Mills Abroad Work Half
Time
SHIPMENTS GO QUICKLY

New York, Aug. 80. - Parcels of
linen reach this port. periodically from
Belfast and are Immediately absorbed.
The situation abroad is only slightly
changed and the greatly increased de-
mands in this country and elsewhere
cannot correct the difficulty abroad,
where the mills are only working half
time because Of the shortage of fax.
Interesting reports are being received
in this city continually from the other
side. Only a day or two ago James
| GilmoIe, Of Mcdonald Macleod & Co,
linen importers, New York, returned
from an extended stay in the linen sec
tions of Ireland and Belgium, during
which time he made an exhaustive in
vcstigation.
In summing up the story of his trip,
Mr.. Gilmore said that the stabilization
of the linen industry depends almost
| entirely on the flax market. This mar
ket was never in greater state of un-
certainty than now. He says that 25s,
30s and 35s and a number of other
yarns are entirely exhausted, and for
the meager stocks found here and there
in dealers hands quotations change
every few hours and always upward be-
cause of the acute shortage Speaking
of the industry in Belgium, Mr.. Gill
more explains that that little country
is rapidly recovering and that the linen
workers are progressing as promptly as
the yarn stocks will permit. The fax
acreage in Belgium is about 80 per cent
OF pre- war years, which is far short of
requirements.
Belfast manufacturers are at their
wits ends in an endeavor to increase
nF limo fnh
chandise made therefrom. Besides lack
of yarn, mill owners are experiencing
labor troubles; coal is scarce and al
most prohibitive in price and the flax
situation in Russia is, not being ad-
! justed. =.
Russian Flax Situation
Il. A. Martlushin, the representative
of the Co operative Unions of the
Northern Region of Russia, now in this
country, gives interesting information
regarding the flax in, Russia. He saws /;
Acreage under cultivation in 1913
was 81 ,293 ,638; in 1917, 2,3O7, 800
acres, a decrease of about 81 per cent.
The flax harvest in 1913 was $50. 600
tons: In 1917 the amount was only
224,OOO tons. The fax acreage was
further reduced last year. During the
|
5000 tons and in 1917 to 1000 tons.
| To define the fax reserve in Russia
at the present is difficult. From the
1917 harvest o-operatives collected
10000 tons. Also about 81, 300 tons
were collected for manufacture and
about 10000 tons were spun in the
homes. From a total of approximately
10000 tons to $4,000 tons. "a, 900
4 tons remained with the growers un-
sold. Reliable informants say the
Central Association of Flax Growers
succeeded in exporting through Arch
angel in October, 1918, about II ZOO
tons of flax fiber. Besides this SO, 900
tons were expected to be exported dur
ing 1913, but was not shipped, owing to
political circumstances. Approximately
10000 tons were left partly with mer-
chants and partly with growers, which
] means that around 100000 tons re-
mained unsupported from the harvest of
1917.
The 1918 harvest shouldhhave been
placed on the market in the autumn of