New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-10-21

National shame and misfortune that our
Country should still purchase It's Linens OF the
British Isles and Belgium, It's Hemp OF Russia
and It's sai.Duck. Cables. Cordage, &c IA good
part from European manufacturers. We know 1t
is said that these articles are imported only be
cause they may thus be obtained more advanta
geously- actually cheaper-than If home made
but We know also that this "a grave mlsconceP-
ton II may cost fewer dollars today 10 buy
given quantity of Hemp. or Linen, or Cordage'
from Europe than from the producers IN this Coun-
try but if there were insured TO our producers
such demand as the entire market Of this coun-
try would create all experience shows that the
price would fall, while the quality would improve,
until the American article should every way, rival
any other. There is no country in the world better
adapted to the growth OF Hemp and Flax than
ours. and no people better qualified to transform
these staples into Linens and Cordage respect
lively on moderate terms but our manufactures
are yet comparatively in their infancy, and do not
compete on equal terms with their Foreign rivals
A most serious obstacle hitherto to the extension
of the Hemp and Flax Culture among US has been
the imperection OF our machinery and processes
for rotting, breaking and dressing which, in con-
nection with the relatively high prices of labor
among US, has nearly psrslyzed all efforts in this
direction Yet 1t must be- 1t IS, easy so to improve
our machinery and processes as to render this
country the greatest and essentially the cheapest
producer Of Hemp and Flax Linens, Duck, Cord
age, &C. IN the world
We have repeatedly called attention to the i'm
portance OF this subject and urged our capitalists
and men OF enterprise to look into It. What ma
chinery is best we do not presume to decide, but
have commended all-Anderson's, Levetts, Bill
lings's-to public attention. Mr.. Billings, after an
absence Of some two or three years, is again in
our City. exhibiting some OF the Hemp and Flax
dressed by his machinery at the FAIR and we have
in conversation with him elected the following
facts
His Hemp-dressing establishment IS located
near Springfield III and is now boiling breaking
and dressing ab at three-iourths OF a ton of Hemp
per day. The company grows about 900 acres Of
Hemp itself, which yields from 600 to ZOO pounds
Of dressed Hemp to the acre. The specimen at
the Fair 5 from a tract that yielded 1000 pounds
70 the acre, and S Of admirable quality The Com
pany have contract with the Government for 300
periments having proved It at least 25 per cent.
superior TN strength and endurance 70 the best
Russia Hemp. In Mr. Billingss process the
Hemp IS rotted by the escape steam Of the en-
CINE which propels the machinery and IS prepared
for breaking in three or four days OF course. the
color Is uniform the fibre unbroken and rs strength
uniniured by the process Of rotting. There are
three other Hemp dressing establishments near
Springfield. al using the machinery Of Mr.. B.
The Flax dressing works based on Mr.. Billings
patent are located near Schenectady in this State
and now turn Out some 400 pounds Of dressed Flax
per day, at a cost Of something les. than - per
c~t The saving Of the fibre by this process is
estimated at 20 per ct--the amount Of waste Or
70" not exceeding Il per cent. The rotting by
steam requires three days. and the color Of the
Flax Is Of course remarkably bright and uniform.
The hore, being saved the exposure 70 the alternate
heat, Cold Damp, nc OF the dew-rottinz process
could not isil 70 be superior. The Flax dressed
by this process IS in quick demand st { cents per
10. and we see no reason why il may not be pro
daced in any quantity 70, cents. whenever sufi-
cient capital shall have been embarked in the
business, under the guidance OF capacity and ex-
perience. This Flax may be spun and wove BY
machinery aud We trust the day IS not distant
when the Flax grown and manufactured in this
country shall fully equal is crop Of Cotton.
-Such IS the sum and substance OF the inior-
nation We have gathered on this subject but We
trust We have many readers who will not be salts
ned with this. The topic is Of National impor-
tsnee' and II Mr.. Billingss or any other existing
machinery is In truth TO the Hemp and Flax cul-
ture what Whirney's Gin has been TO Cotton, i, is
Of greater worth to the country than al our boasted
victories since Yorktown. Mr.. Billings NAV be
seen AZ the Far or AZ Clinton Hotel and the Office
o. me ElAx Company u a. AZ Stone Il