ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE PRODUCTION OF FLAX

COTTON IN RHODE ISLAND.

From the Transactions of the Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of
Domestic Industry, for 1861.

At the meeting in April, the special committee on Flax culture made a report, which was taken up for consideration, and at the May meeting referred back to the committee, with instructions to report some premiums to be offered by the Society for the manufacture of Flax cotton. This committee made the following report, June 25th, which was received and adopted:

The committee of the Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Industry, upon the subject of Flax culture, having reconsidered their report on the subject made to the standing committee at the meeting on the 17th of April last, as per vote of the standing committee on the 15th of May last, report their recommendation of the following for the adoption of the standing committee:

First.-A premium of thirty dollars for a bale of not less than fifty pounds of the best prepared Flax cotton, with a statement of its culture, production and preparation, including the cost of the several processes.

Second.-A premium of twenty dollars for the second best bale of the same, upon the same conditions.

Third -All necessary expenses of transportation and care upon these specimens to be paid by the Society, and after exhibition, the Society to retain the specimens if they choose, at a fair compensation for their value.

Fourth-That the secretary of the Society be requested to take such measures as he may deem expedient for the promulgation of the above premiums.

Respectfully submitted, by

PROVIDENCE, June 25th, 1861.

ELISHA DYER,

JAMES Y. SMITH,

B. E. EVANS,

WILLIAM VIALL,

ROBERT S. BURROUGH,

LYMAN B. FRIEZE,

Committee.

Notice of these premiums was immediately published by the secretary in the newspapers in Providence, and slips containing the same were mailed to all persons supposed to be interested in the same.

On the 12th of July, a special meeting of the board was holden. The meeting was called by the President, pursuant to the by-law relating to special meetings, at the request of the members of the committee on Flax culture, who had signed the foregoing report. At that meeting, said committee presented the following report:

The undersigned, in behalf of the special committee on Flax culture, respectfully reports, that immediately subsequent to the last meeting of the standing committee, at which the report and premiums recommended by your com nittee for Flax cotton were presented and adopted, a special meeting of this committee was called at the request of one of its members, and held at the office of the chairman, on Friday, the 6th inst. At this meeting, a paper was presented containing subscriptions of more than five hundred dollars, from members of the Society and others, which sum has been placed at the disposal of the standing committee, for the purpose of increasing the premiums offered for Flax cotton. Your committee approving of this action, signed a call to the President of the Society, for a special meeting of the standing committee at the earliest opportunity, and they now offer for considerat on and adoption the accompanying resolutions and subscriptions as previously referred to. ELISHA DYER, Chairman.

PROVIDENCE, July 12, 1861.

The resolutions were as follows:

WHEREAS, since the meeting of this committee on the 25th day of June last, certain members of the Society, and other individuals, have placed a fund at the disposal of the Society, for the purpose of increasing the premiums voted that day to be offered for Flax cotton, it is therefore

Resolved, That this Society cordially accept the means so tendered, and for the purpose of carrying out the intentions of the donors, do now offer a further premium of $500 for the best bale of prepared Flax cotton of not less than fifty pounds, which shall be exhibited at the Society's exhibition at Providence, on the 11th day of September next.

The premium will be awarded only, upon the condition that the article is of a quality, and can be produced in quantity, and at a price, to be an economical substitute for cotton, all which must be proved to the satisfaction of the judges. The award will be made pub ic on the third Wednesday in September, or as soon thereafter as the judges may be able to make their report.

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Society be requested to take such measures as he may deem expedient for the promulgation of the foregoing resolution. The resolutions were adopted with unanimity and published as the preceding ones had been.

At an adjourned meeting in August, the special committee on Flax culture were authorized to appoint judges, on the specimens of Flax cotton that should be entered at the exhibition in September next, for premiums, and to award the premiums for the same; said judges to be selected from their own body, or from members of the Society, or from persons not members of the Society.

At the meeting on the 12th day of September, the special committee on Flax culture made the following

REPORT:

That in accordance with the request from the judges upon the specimens of Flax cotton, offered in competion for the Society's premiums and herein inclosed, a meeting was held at the office of the chairman this day at 10 o'clock, and present Messrs. Smith, Burrough, Evans and Dyer.

It was unanimously voted, to request the standing committee to make the appropriation desired by the judges, and that request is now made.

The committee report as the judges upon Flax cotton,

Messrs. ROBERT S. BURROUGH,

CHARLES JACKSON,

STEPHEN WATERMAN,

ALBERT WATERMAN,

SCOTT W. MoWRY,

ZACHARIAH PARKER,

GEORGE KILBUN.

ELISHA DYER, Chairman.

Respectfully submitted by

Providence, September 16th, 1861.

The report of the judges above referred to was as follows:

TO THE COMMITTEE ON FLAX Culture:

The judges to award the premiums offered by the Society, for Flax cotton, having given the subject attention, are of opinion, that the samples on exhibition and the explanations of the exhibiters, render it desirable, on the part of the judges, to test the product practically on cotton machinery. They are happy to say that some of their members are willing to furnish the necessary machinery, if stock in sufficient quantity can be had. They, therefore, respectfully ask the committee to request from the standing committee of the Society, an appropria. tion of one hundred dollars, to be expended by them, the judges, in the purchase of stock for this purpose.

After consideration, the board passed the following resolution: Voted, That the said sum of one hundred dollars be appropriated for the purpose of purchasing Flax cotton to be experimented with by said judges, (the product to be the property of the Society) and be paid out of the treasury to said committee.

At the stated meeting of the board in November, the committee on Flax culture made another report, inclosing the report and award of the judges. This may be found on page 349.

The subject is still before this committee. It is one of the greatest importance, and exciting a great deal of interest at the present time, among farmers as well

as manufacturers. The soil of Rhode Island is known to be fitted for the production of Flax. It was made to produce enough for the supply of many families, especially with coarser cloths for constant use, before the introduction of cheaper fabrics of cotton by machinery. A large amount of linen and tow goods is still in use in the State, procured by importation. Shall the farmer be advised to resume here the cultivation of Flax? It is idle to hope that the manufacture of it in the family will be resumed. Will capitalists take the crop of the farmer at remunerating prices, and manufacture it into fabrics, to supersede the linen fabrics, now imported? It is said that the cost of the machinery and the high price of labor forbid the hope of this result at present. Capital seeks remuneration and increase, but is doubtful of either if employed in this direction. Can Flax be cottonized, the length of its staple reduced, and the fiore rendered so fine, as to be used on cotton machinery as an economical substitute for cotton? This question has engaged the attention of many of the best minds in Europe and America, for many years. The facility and cheapness with which cotton could be procured has hitherto weakened the efforts to decide this question. Whenever any circumstance has occurred to render doubtful the supply of cotton for the mills erected for its manufacture, the manufacturer has looked toward Flax cotton, and ingenious and scientific men have been called upon to exert their energies for its production. As soon as such circumstances have been removed, the manufacturer loses all solicitude on the subject, and the ingenious men engaged in the investigation are left to their own resources to pursue their inquiries, which, if successful, they could have little hopes of having introduced into use to their profit. The attention paid to this subject has therefore never been steady, with a resolution to solve the question proposed, but spasmodic in its exertions, regulated by other causes. There have been some exceptions. Individuals, ingenious and scientific, and almost, of course, without spare means, have always since the question was first broached, been toiling over it. According to the report of the judges to the Flax committee their efforts have been partially successful. A lint has been obtained which can take the place of cotton in fabrics of mingled wool and cotton, with advantage. Confessedly stronger than cotton, taking and holding colors better than cotton, and capable of being produced as cheap as cotton in a much larger extent of our country, there seems to be no reason why it should not for this purpose supersede the use of cotton. But these judges go further in their report. They imply a hope, and almost the belief, that Flax cotton can be made an economical substitute for cotton, on cotton machinery, in the ordinary fabrics made of that material. That such men as these judges are, entertain such a hope, is it not expedient that they should be induced to go on with experiments and settle the vexed question. They are men practically acquainted with machinery, with cotton and with the manufacture of cotton-men who commenced their examination of the subject with serious doubts whether any thing could be done with cottonized Flax. Their doubts, it would seem, are shaken, and further experiments will show their hopes illusory or

change them into certainty. In either case advantages would result from them. If successful, the advantages are apparent-if unsuccessful, the ingenuity of other minds will be profited by their labors, and induced to make stronger efforts for success, or satisfied by the result, will turn into other channels.

To the Standing Committee of the Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Industry.

The undersigned, the committee on Flax Culture,

REPORT:

That at the meeting of the standing committee, on the 25th of June last, a first premium of thirty dollars, and a second of twenty, was offered for the best, and second best bales of not less than fifty pounds of the best prepared Flax Cotton, fit for use on cotton machinery, accompanied with a statement of its culture, production and preparation, including cost of the various processes.

At the meeting of the committee on the 12th of July last," the further premium of five hundred dollars, for the best bale of prepared Flax Cotton of not less than fifty pounds, without respect to the place of its manufacture or production, which shall be exhibited at the Society's Exhibition in Providence, on the 11th day of September next," was offered.

In response to this action of the standing committee, there was exhibited at the recent exhibition of the Society (on the 11th of September last), by Stephen Randall, of Warwick, R. I.,

One bale of 51 pounds of Flax Cotton, marked A 1.

One bale of 54 pounds of Flax Cotton, marked A 2.

Fifteen different samples colored Flax for wool.

One sample of White Flax for wool.

Seven samples of Flax Cotton.

Three samples of Flax and cotton (one half each).

Five samples of yarn (Flax and Flax cotton).

Four samples of cloth.

Two samples of colored Flax Cotton.

Five other samples of colored Flax Cotton.

Three samples from drawing frame (in process of manufacture).

One piece of pantaloon stuff (30 per cent. Flax).

One piece of 37 inch sheeting (25 per cent. Flax).

One piece of prints (25 per cent. Flax).

Two lap rolls of Flax Cotton (in process of manufacturing), and a model Flax brake.

Hall & Farrar, of Jamaica Plains, Mass., exhibited one box of 53 pounds of Flax Cotton.

One bale of fine Flax wool, 36 pounds, and one bale of coarse Flax wool, 36 pounds.