Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-07-12
Alistellaneolls.
Editorial Correspondence of the Tribune.
The Flax-COttOn Revolution.
LoNpoy, Wednesdny. June A. 1s5I

cnneIy hNu prOcesseS recently invented or
adopted in Europe for the manufacture of
cheap fabrics from Flax; have seen enough
TO assure me of their value and importance.
have been disappointed only with regard
10 machinery for Filax-Dressing, which seems
on casual inspection, TO be far less efficient
than the best on olIr side of the Atlantic es-
pecially that patented of late in Missouri aud
Kentucky. That in operation in the British
Machinery department of the Exhibition
does its work iaultlcssy except that it turns
out the product too slowly. | roughly est-
mate that our Western machines are at least
twice as efficient
Nj. Cluussen is here, and has kindly ex-
plained to me his processes, and shown me
their products lie is no inventor of Flax
dressing Machinery ut ALL and claims moth
ing in that line. In dressing, he adopts and
uses the best machines Inc can find, and |
think is destined to receive important aid
from American inventions. What he claims
Is mainly the discovery Oft cheap chemical
solvent OF the Flax fiber, whereby its coarse
ness and harshness afe removed, aud the
tlncness and soitncss of Cotton induced in
their stead. This he has accumulated
Some of his Flax. Cotton is scarcely distn-
gIIisliablo from the Sea Island staplc, while
to other samples he has given the character
of wool very nearly. | can imagine no rea-
son why this cotton should not bo spun and
woven as e0sily as any other. Tho staple
may he rendered Oft any desired length, tho
the usual average is about two inches II is
as white as any cotton, being mnde so by an
easy and cheap bleaching process. NJ. Claus
sens process in lieu of rotting requires hut
three hours for its completion. II takes the
flax as il comes from the field, only somc-
what dryer and with the seed beaten of; and
renders il thoroughly fit for breaking. The
plant is allowed to ripen before il is harvest
cd, SO that the seed is all saved, while the
tedlousness and injury TO the fiber not TO
speak OF the unwholesomeDess of the old
fashioned rotting processes arc entirely OBJ
waited. Where warmth il desirable in the
fabrics contemplated, the staple is made TO
resemble wool quite closely. Specimens |
dyed red, blue, yellow, &c. are exhibited, !
TO show how readily and satisfactorily the
lax cotton takes any color that may be de-
sired. Beside these lie rolls of aannels,
lettings, and almost every variety of plain
textures, fabricated wholly or in good nart
from fax as prepared for spinning under NJ.
Clcussens patent, proving tho adaptation of
this fiber to almost every use now subserved
by either cotton or wool. The mixtures of
cotton and flax, flax-cotton and wool, ure eX-
collcnt and scrvicable fabrics.
The main question still remains 10 be con-
sldered-will il pay? Flax may be grown
almost eyerywhere-two or three crops
year IN some clinates-thrce times the pres
ent annual product of cotton, flax and wool,
all combined, could easily be produced even
next year. But unless cheaper fabrics all
things considered, can be produced from flax :
cotton than from the Mississippi staple, this
fact is of little worth. On this vital point, ?
must of course rely on testimony, aud NJ,
Claussen's is as follows.-
lie says the Flax-straw, or the ripe, dry
plant MS it comes from the field, with the
seed taken off may be grown even here for
SO per ton, but he will concede its cost for
the present to be Sl5 per ton, delivered, Ms it
Is necessary that liberal inducements shall
he given for its extensive cultivation. Six
tons OF the straw or flax in the bundle will
yield one ton of dressed and clean fiber, the
cost of dressing which by his method so as
TO make it Flax-Cotton, is $35 per ton |
Our superior Western machinery ought |
considerably TO reduce this.) The total cost |
of the Flax Cotton, therefore, will be $l25 .
per ton, or six cents per pound, while Flax |
us il comes from the field is worth SIS per
ton; should this come down TO $40 per ton, |
the cost ofthe fiber will be reduced to $95 per
ton, or less than five cents per pound. AT
that rate, good field hands must be rather
slow of sale for Cotton planting, at $1,000 |
each, or even 500.
Is there any doubt that Flux-straw may he |
profitably grown in the United States for
Sl5 or even $40 per ton. Consider that it |
has been extensively grown for years, even
IN our own State, for the seed only, tho !
straw being thrown out TO rot and being n
positive nuisance TO the grower. Now the
seed is morally certain to command, for two
or three years at least, higher price than
hitherto because of the increased growth and
extended use Of the fiber. Let no farmer
who has Flax growing be tempted to sell the
seed by contract or otherwise for the pres
ent; let none be given over TO the tender
mercies of oil-mills. We shall need all that
is grown this year for sowing next Spring, !
ana II is morally certain TO bear u high price |
even this Fall. The sagacious should eau
ton their less watchfiil neigllbors on this
point ] shall be disappointed if bushel of
flax-seed be not worth more than two bush F,
els Of Wheat in most parts of our Country
next May.
Our ensuing Agricultural Fairs, State and
local, should bo improved for the diffusion
OF acknowledge and the attainment of concert
aud mutual understanding with regard to the
flax culture. For the present, at any rate
few farmers can afford or will choose to in-
cur the expense of the heavy machinery re-
puired TO break and roughly dress their flax,
10 us TO divest il of iour-fiths of its bulk and
leave the fiber in state for easy transporta-
iion to the central points at which hux-cot-
ton machinery may be put in operation. If
the flax straw bus TO be hauled fifty or sixty
miles over country roads to find purchaser
or breaking machine, the cost of such trans
pOrtation will nearly eat up tho proceeds
il the farmers of any township can be assur-
ed beforehand that suitable machinery will
next summer be put up within few miles
of them, and n market there created for their
flax, its growth will be greatly extended. And
If intelligent energetic, responsible men will