The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-02-24 00:00:00, page 4

For the PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST.
IN the last paper, I threw out a few hints concerning the
necessity of securing a fufficient quantity of FLAX ; but
as the sum supposed to be employed in that service, may pos
sibly alarm those, who have not attentively considered the fub
jed, I will lay before them a few calculations, to support the
propriety of the proposal ; —which are drawn from a&ual ex
periments, made on a large scale.
I have said, that a public magazine of fix hundred tons of
Flax, at seven-pence per pound, will cost £35,000.
If it be properly dressed, it will
yield, of neat flax, - - 642,850 pounds,
Which will give constant employ,
for a year, to - - - 4,105 spinners.
Also constant employ, for a year,
to -------- 1,173 weavers,
Who will produce, from the loom
(length 25 yards each) - - 51,428 pieces of linen.
They will be worth, at an ave
rage, 3s. per yard, - - £ 192,850
There will also be tow - - 621,422 pounds,
Which will give a year's em
ployment to ----- 1,587 spinners,
Also to - - - - . - - 248 weavers,
Who will deliver, from the loom
(length 25 yards each) - - 24,856 pieces of towlinen.
Which, at an average of 2s. 2d.
per yard, amounts to - - £ 67,320.
Thus we fee that the value of
£35,000 will give employ
ment to ------ 5,692 spinners,
1,421 weavers.
And will produce an actual value
to the country of - - £ 260,170,
From which if we deduct the
firft cost of the flax, - - 35,000
It leaves a profit to the province • •
of - - - - £ 225,170,
Which is chiefly expended amongst poor people.
If by a failure of Flax we Should be obliged to purchase
from foreigners to this amount, it will be absolutely a dead
loss of just so much money ; and will deprive a large num
ber of honest industrious inhabitants, of the means of ob
taining a comfortable living.
The cry may possibly be, “ there is no danger of wanting
Flax," but I contend there is always danger, where there is
no certainty ; and a wife legislature will never trust that to
chance, which a prudent forecaft may render secure from
disappointment. Until a free trade is again established, it is
absolutely necessary to provide raw materials for every branch
of manufacture, that our poor may be employed, and the
spirits of our farmers kept alive. If the difficulty of Shipping
off our produce to the European markets Should increase
(as probably it may when a large fleet comes on our coast)
the price of our exportable commodities will necessarily fall,
and for the very fame reason, linens, imported from France,
Holland, &c. wilt rife, whereby the farmer will be obliged
to fell lo<w, and purchase high. —To remedy this, let us secure,
beyond even a probability of disappointment, a fufficiency of
the raw material, and I know of no way so effectually to do
it, as by fixing an encouraging price, and purchasing for one
year, all that mall come to market : —This will set the farmer
to work with Spirit, since he will be sure of finding a ready
sale. You need not be afraid of Striking the money, for you
will always have the fund for finking it, in your own hands ;
a case which has rarely happened in any of the paper emifi
98
WANTS A PLACE, as Housekeeper in the country, a
middle aged woman, who has no objection to teaching
children to read and work, can make all forts of servants
clothes, understands the kitchen perfectly well, and can be
well recommended. Inquire of the Printer.
FOUR DOLLARS Reward.
STOLEN or STRAYED, out of the subscriber's yard, the
fourteenth of January last, in the evening, a BROWN
MARE with foal, has a small star, several saddle marks,
low in flefh, about thirteen hands high, branded on the off
Shoulder TA, without Shoes, and eight years old. Whoever
takes up said mare, and brings her to JACOB HILTZHEI
MER, in Seventh-Street, near Market-Street, Shall have the
above reward. Philadelphia, Feb. 24th, 1776.
Just Published, Printed and Sold by R. AITKEN.
Printer and Bookseller, opposite the London Coffee-Houfe,
Front-Street, Philadelphia (Price Eighteen-pence)
THE MODERN RIDING-MASTER, or a KEY to
the KNOWLEDGE of the HORSE and HORSE
MANSHIP, with several necessary rules for young horsemen,
by the famous PHILIP ASTLEY, Riding-master, late of his
Majesty's royal light dragoons. Adorned with sixteen neat
engravings descriptive of this manly exercise.
The Modern Riding-Master may be considered as an ufeful
Vade-Mecum for gentlemen of every rank and profeffion,
whether civil or military. It contains,
I. Necessary precautions in purchasing a horse.
IL Of the bridle and saddle.
111. The art of riding, and reducing a horse to proper obe
dience.
IV. To mount the horse; with a variety of directions for
the training and better government of this ufeful animat
V. Necessary directions on a journey, &c.
TO be SOLD, a SERVANT GIRL, who can spin,
and has been used to houle-work Inquire of the
printer. *
From theLONDON CHRONICLE.
On the late additional Window-Tax.
GO D gave us light, and bade that light to roll
Round the wide sphere, and reach from pole to pole.
Our gloomy Statesman, more afraid of day,
Bids darkness rife, and taxes every ray.
fions on this continent.*—l repeat what I said in my last paper
—if proper means of supply are not devised—you will be
ALL IN RAGS. H INT E R.
PHILADELPHIA: Printed by BENJAMIN
TOWNE, in Front-street, near the London
Coffee-Houfe.