Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-07-16
From the New York Tribune.
The Flax. Cotton Revolution.
LONDON, June 4, 1856


Il LONDON, June 4, 1851.
Although I have not yet found time for
a careful and thorough examination Of the
machinery and processes recently invented
or adopted in Europe for the manufacture
of cheap fabrics from Flax, l have seen
enough to assure me of their value and
importance have been disappointed only
with regard to machinery for Flax Dress
ing, which seems, on casual inspection,
to be far less efficient than the best on our
side of the Atlantic, especially that patent
ed of late in Missouri and Kentucky. That
in operation in the British Machinery de-
partment of the Exhibition does its work
faultlcssly except that it turns out the pro-
duct too slowly. l roughly estimate that
our Western machines are at least twice as
efficient.
NJ. Claussen is here, and has kindly ex-
planned to me his processes and shown me
their products. He is no inventor Of
Flax-dressing Machinery at all, and claims
nothing in that line. In dressing, he
adopts and uses the best machines he can
frd, and l think is destined to receive
important aid from American inventions.
What he claims is mainly the discovery Of
cheap chemical solvent Of the Flax fiber
whereby its coarseness and harshness are
removed and the fineness and softness of
Cotton induced in their stead. This he
has accomplished. Some of his Flax Cot
ton is scarcely distinguishable from the
Sea Island staple, while to other samples
he has given the character of Wool very
nearly. l can imagine no reason why
this Cotton should not be spun and woven
as easily as any other. The staple may be
rendered of any desired length, thoug h the
usual average is about two inches. 1t is
as white as any Cotton, being made SO by
easy and cheap bleaching process. NJ.
Claussen's process in lieu of Roiting re-
quires but three hours for its completion.
1t takes the Flax as it came from the field,
only somewhat dryer and with the seed
beaten OF, and renders it thoroughly fit for
breaking. The plant is allowed to ripen
before it is harvested, SO that the seed Is
all saved, while the tediousness and injury
to the fiber, not to speak Of the unwhole-
someness of the cld-fashioned Rotting pro-
cesses are entirely obviated. Where
warmth is desirable in the fabrics contem-
plated, the staple is made to resemble
Wool quite closely. Specimens dyed red,
blue, yellow, &C., are exhibited, to show
how readily and satisfactorily the Flax
Cotton takes any color that may be desired.
Beside these lie rolls of Flannels, Feltings,
and almost every variety of plain textures,
fabricated wholly or in good part from
Flax as prepared for Spinning under NJ.
Claussen's patent, proving the adaptation
of this fiber to almost every use now SUBJ
served by either Cotton or Wool. The
mixtures of Cotton and Flax, Flax-Cotton
and Wool, are excellent and serviceable
fabrics.
The main question still remains to be
considered-Will it pay? Flax may be
grown almost every whe-e-two or three
crops year of it in some climates-three
times the present annual product Of Cotton,
Flax and Woo 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,an NJ. Claussen's
is as follows
lie says the Flax-straw, or the ripe, dry
plant as it comes from the field, with the
seed taken off, may be grown even here
for $40 per tun, but he Will concede its
cost for the present to be SIS per tun, de-
livered, as it is necessary that liberal in
ducements shall be given for its extensive
cultivation. Six tuns of the straw or flax
in the bundle will yield one tun of dressed
and clean fiber, the cost of dressing which
by his methods, so as to make it Flax
Cotton, is s35 per lun. (Our superior
Western machinery ought considerably to
reduce this.) The total cost of the Flax
Cotton, therefore, will be SIPS per tun, or
six cents per pound, while Flax as it comes
from the field is worth SIS per tun;
should this come down to $40 per tun, the
cost of the fiber will be reduced to sos per
tun, or less than five cents per pound. At
that rate, good ''field hands" must be
rather slow of sale for Cotton planting at
81 900 each, or even 500.
Is there any doubt that Flax-straw may
be proitably grown in the United States
for SIS or even $40 per tun! Consider
that it has been extensively grown for
years, even in our own State, for the seed
only, the straw being thrown out to rot,