FIBER INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 27 



a gullible public. Nevertheless, responsible capitalists are making 

 every legitimate effort to place the manufacturing industry on a solid 

 basis in this country, and to attain to the progress made in other 

 countries where manufacture has already been established, and where 

 the Chinese fiber is employed as the raw material. 



Thus far I have only considered spinning fibers. More than one 

 half of the raw fibers imported in the United States are employed 



A Florida Sisal Hemp Plant. 



in the manufacture of rope and small twine, or bagging for baling 

 the cotton crop. Cordage is manufactured chiefly from the Manila 

 and Sisal hemps, the former derived from the Philippine Islands, the 

 latter from Yucatan. Some jute is also used in this industry, though 

 the fiber is more largely employed in bagging; and some common 

 hemp, such as is grown in Kentucky, is also used. 



We can not produce Manila hemp in the United States, and this 

 substance will always hold its own for marine cordage. Jute will 

 grow to perfection in many of the Southern States, but it is doubtful 



