New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-28
Hzesnp@FIax-CoifOn


The paramount Importance for some
wears accorded to Cotton as the material
of textile fabrics is novel, unnatural and
cannot endure. Not to speak of Wool
q mere valuable but more costly material
it is notorious that there is produced
far greater quantity or weight of cleaned
fiber per acre of Hemp or Flax than OF.
Cotton, and at less expense. Whitneys
invention of the Cotton Gin, with the al
most Simultaneous invention or perfection
of processes for carding. spinning and
weaving Cotton especially by steam or
water power, has given Cotton its recent
predominance. While the manufacture of
Cotton thus obtained rapid and extraor-
binary development, that of Hemp and
Flax, but especially of the latter, has beer
thrown back by the obstacles encountered
not only in spinning and weaving, but in
breaking and cleaning it-that is, in sepa-
rating the fiber entirely from the woody
and worthless portion of the stalk which it
enfolds.
We believe ripe Flax might be profit
ably grown in nearly every State of the
Union for an average of Sc per hundred
or $l2O per tun, prouded machinery exist
ed by which it could be broken and clean
ed at a cost of not more than $50 per tun
and that ought to be abundant But in
fact, by the rude and clumsy mandrake
and swinging knife which have come
down to US, probably from Noah's time
it is worth at least $500 and really nearer
5000 per tun to dress Flax well; and this
heavy charge has very obviously o'.4~;l
uted to keep Flax Tor years In the back
ground. 1t has been by no means uncom-
mon to grow large crops of Flax for the
seed alone. throwing out the threshed
stalks, fiber inclusive, to rot and return to
the soil. This seed is exported to coun-
tries where the practice Of pulling the
plant green, in order to secure greater soft
ness and fneness, has created demand
for il while a good deal is manufactured
into oil. We do not believe all the Fla&
fiber grown in this country during the last
thirty years has netted the growers So per
hundred weight after deducting the cost of
breaking and cleaning.
Now if, as we understand and believe,
machinery and processes have been de-
yised and perfected in our Western States,
whereby Flax may now be rotted, broken
and cleaned at a cost inside of $40 per tun,
with every prospect of speedy reduction
to onehalf that cost, while saving is eff
fected over the DID, rude methods of at
least twenty per cent. in the quantity aad
quality of the fiber, and if corresponding
inventions, discoveries and improvements
have been recently made in Europe, where
by Flax is rendered plant and feasible in
the hands of the spinner and weaver as
Cotton is, it is evident that revolution is
Just upon US. Even now good Flax is
worth but little more than half the price
OF Cotton in this market, although all know
that the fiber of the former is by far the
stronger and more enduring. With the
best machinery and ample demand, we be-
lieve Flax could be produced on the vast
prairies of the West to good profit at SlOo
per tun, and delivered in any part of New
York or New-England for Sl20, while
good Cotton, so delivered, will now COM
mand $3.50. We say Flax could be de-
livered at the mills for $500 per tun, if ma
chincry were common whereby it could be
thoroughly dressed and all the fiber saved
at a cost of less than $50 per tun; but we
trust it need not be sold for less than $50
to 5000 per tun. Even at 5000, provided
it can be manufactured as easily and ra-
pidly as Cotton, or any thing like it. an
opening clearly exists for a new manufac
turing business of signal profit and promise.
We hear and trust that it is likely to be
extensively improved before the close of
1851, and meantime we would urge our
most extensive and enterprsing farmers,
especially in the Great West, to look ear
nestly into the subject of Flax culture and
Flax-dressing Machinery, and see whether
they do not proffer good chances for in
vestment.