in large amounts, being a must in the manufacture of cigarette paper, is
adequately supplied by the Davidson.
At the time Ecusta was being built, cigarette paper was being made
in France from discarded linen cloth, gathered from many countries in
Europe. The material for this cloth came from the European long-stem
variety of flax, which was unsuitable as raw material for cigarette paper.
Anticipating an increasing use of cigarettes, foreseeing the scarcity of
linen rags, and the possibility of war, Mr. Straus, working with chemists
and engineers, found ways and means of making cigarette paper from the
fibres of the American seed-flax plant. Western and Midwestern farmers
had long been growing this variety of flax, the seed of which is the source
of linseed oil. The seed was a cash crop for the farmers, but the disposal
of the stalk presented a major problem. This problem was solved and the
value of the crop was increased when Ecusta began buying the straw, which
was sent to decorticating mills in California and Minnesota, where the
fibres were separated from other parts of the stalk.
The finest cigarette paper ever produced rolled from the Fourdrinier
machines just ten years ago—September, 1939. This new American in
dustry insured a supply of cigarette paper for our armed forces and civilian
population during World War II, and enabled cigarette manufacturers to
keep pace with the ever-increasing number of smokers.
In one decade, Ecusta has grown to almost three times the size of the
original plant. New buildings have been erected, new and better methods
of operation have been developed, and new products have been manufac
tured. Aside from being the world’s major supplier of cigarette paper,
Ecusta is now manufacturing Bible and printing papers, makeready tissues,
silver wrapping tissues, technical specialties and other fine thin flax papers.
The farmers have not been forgotten during all this time. Ecusta main
tains a plant research department, where, in laboratories, greenhouse and on
an experimental farm, various varieties of flax and test crops have been
studied to aid the farmers. Better seed yield, better stalk, and a weed-
free crop are some of the results of this department’s work.
Since entering this peaceful mountain valley, Ecusta has continually
added physically and financially to the religious, agricultural, health, social,
and educational growth of the surrounding area. It has been a great asset
to the County, State, Nation, and to the entire world. Great things are
planned for the future and, with continued cooperation among all of us,
our dreams will come true.