167

THE STATE BANK.

CAPITAL, $50,000.00

WILLIAM M. CLARK, President.
FRANCIS C. GRADLE, Vide-Pres.
CHARLES J. GRADLE, Cashier.
ARTHUR E. CALLIHAN, Ass't Cashier.

CRAWFORD, NEB. DEC 7th. 1891.

Prof. Chas. E. Bessey, Botanist.,

Lincoln Nebraska.

Dear Sir:-

I enclose you herewith some leaves from a plant which grows wild in this section of the country, which is known by the name of soap-weed.

The fiber of this plant seems to have extraordinary strength, and some of our farmers have suggested that this fiber might be valuable for making twins and rope.

Will you please examine the specimens, and let me know what the correct name of this plant is, and what is known of the durability of the fiber.

You will notice one of the small samples shows the fiber very plainly, it is an old piece of the growth of a year ago, and has been laying on the ground since this fall a year.

This plant will grow very luxuriantly, we have thought that it might be profitably employed in the manufacture of twins (binding).

Thanking you for your kind attention. I remain,
Yours Respectfully,
[signature]

(Dictated)