The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-02-17
Director Trowbridge of Agri-
cultural College Sees Bright
Future for Industry.

cultural College Sees Bright
Future for Industry.
TELLS OF DEM A ND S
Fargo, N. D., Feb. 17.-Flax pro!
duction in North Dakota may be
| doubled or trebled during the next
few years without any danger Of
! flooding the market, while the de-
creased acreage Of other crops re-
sulting might help to increase the
price for other products" declared
rector Pc +. Trowbridge today
Mr.. Trowbridge mas just returned
from Minneapolis where he attended
a conference with the flax develop
ment committee, which represents
the crushers and other users Of flax
seed products. President John Lee
Coulter, DR.. H. L. Bolley and DR..
H. L. Walster of the college also
attended the conference.
"The flax production of the Unit
ed States and of North Dakota has
been decreasing steadily each year,
DR.. Trowbridge continued, "while
the consumption of linseed oil has
been steadily increasing. While the
average consumption of linseed oil
for the past ten years has been
steadily increasing. While the aver
age consumption of linseed oil for
the past ten years has been 65,OOO,-
600 gallons, which is equivalent to
26,00O,O00 bushels of flax, the pro.
duction of flax during recent years
has only been between 10000, 900 and
100000 bushels, and the balance
has been imported, mostly as flax,
but some as linseed oil. During the
year ending Sept. 80, 1922, the total
consumption of linseed oil in this
country was S1,855,725 gallons, equi-
valent to more than 100000 BUSH
els of flax, and manufacturers esti-
mate that 35,0OO,OOO bushels of flax
will be needed to furnish the re.
quirements for linseed oil this year.
Flax Centers
"The principal flax crushing cent
ers are in Minneapolis and Duluth
and along the Atlantic coast. The
flax crop of the. northwest, which is
the flax crop of the United StateS
is crushed at Minneapolis and Du-
ldth, while the eastern manufactur-
ers depend chiefly on imported flax
seed, mostly from the Argentine.
The present tariff on flaxseed is 20
cents per, bushel. with correspond
ing tariff on linseed oil. Freight
rates from the. northwest to the At
lantic coast make it impractical to
ship our. flax there for competition
with the Argentine flax, but also
make it expensive to ship the Argen-
tine flax to the mills at Duluth and
Minneapolis.
During our recent visit at Min
neapolis we inspected one flax-crush-
ing mill that had a capacity of H.
900 bushels per day, but it was only
using 5000 bushels per day, due to
inability to secure more flaxseed, and
in several cases the mills there have
shipped in flax from the Atlantic
coast SO that they could keep run
ming. If the flax crop in the north
west falls off to such a point that
the manufacturers cannot depend on
a steady supply, the manufacturers
in Duluth and Minneapolis apparent
ly will have to 60 out of business.
and the farmers of this territory
will have to ship their fla4 to the At
lantic coast to compete with Argen-
tine flax.
Argentine flax. sells. for about
$1.85 per bushel, which, with the tar
iff. makes total price Of 1926. Flax
was quoted at $2.68 short time ago
in Fargo. In Argentine peon labor is
used, land is cheaper, and flax dis
eases do not seem to be So prevalent
there. These are the reasons why
tariff is necessary to protect our
farmers.
Should Be Profitable
"An examination Of the situation
makes it apparent that in the ordi
nary course of events, flax should be
a more profitable crop for farmers
to raise than any crop or product
which is exported, since prices for
products are exported arc based on
world prices at the principal point If
manufacture minus transporta+;o"
costs, while prices for any product
which is imported, such as flax are.
based on world prices plus cost of
transportation, and in the particu-
lar case, plus the tariff. FLAX is or
dinarily considered as profitable as
wheat when it brings so cents more
per bushel. At the present time the
price for flax is $1.5O per bushel
more than wheat, and all indications
point toward the price staying at a
reasonably high level.
I'm the past flax has been consid-
cred virgin country crop, due to
the fact that after it has been grown
for a few years in one locality, dis
eases. develop that take heavy toll.
With the development by Prof. H.
Bolley of the wilt resistant strains
Of flax, particularly NDR IN, this
situation has been overcome 50 that
flax may. be. grown. on the old land
with the assurance that disease will
rot be the principal factor limiting
yield" 80 - ~ s4er. e ,ls."v,,'
II NEW CISRS