Res 1132-58 RESOLUTION NO. 1132
A RESOLUTION OF TMT~. CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING A THREE
TO FIVE YEAR FACT-FINDING PROGRAM BE INSTI-
TIFFED TO STUDY ALL PHASES OF KENAF FIBER AS
A SUBSTITUTE FOR JUTE.
WHER~S, the Nation,s supply of Jute has been threatened
at its source by disturbances in several Middle Eastern countries,
and
WHEREAS, the National Defense will be served through
development of a satisfactory supply of this fiber or substitute
therefore within the United States, and
WHEREAS, Kenaf fiber has proven fully satisfactory and
sometimes superior as a substitute for Jute as testified by the
Corps of Engineers and the Post Office Department, and
WHEREAS, it has been demonstrated that Kenaf can be grown
in practically every state in the United ~tates and particularly
in Florida, where progress has been made in the improvement of
Kenaf varieties, and
WHEREAS, Kenaf may be grown under average or difficult
soil conditions, and vast acreages of abandoned or unused land may
be employed; use of seasonal farm labor may be stabilized, and the
crop offers a potential for approximately one half the agricul-
tural states of the United States, and
WHEREAS, the Soft Fiber Industry has indicated that 20
per cent of its continuing annual requirements may be allocated to
Kenaf as a substitute for Jute, and
WHEREAS, it is in the National interest that a three to
five year fact finding program be instituted to study all phases
of the problem, including seed supply, cultural practices, devel-
opment of a more efficient harvester-ribboner, improvement of
equipment for washing retted fiber, and increasing domestic fiber
supply for adequate mill testing.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Senator Spessard
Holland, Senator George Smathers, Representative Paul G. Rogers
together with other Florida Representatives in Congress, together
with all other Members of Congress concerned, be requested to
obtain an allocation of funds in the supplemental budget of the
Department of Agriculture, for the Fiscal Year 1959, in support of
such a program, said funds to be estimated at not less than
$100,000 during the first year for agronomic, engineering and
technological work.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of
Delray Beach, Florida, on this the 14th day of July, A.D., 1958.
VICE MAYOR
ATTEST: