New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-12
Culture and Manufacture of Flax.

specal reference to a subject which seems TO as
of great and general SUPPLEMENTARY, the
improvements recently made, or now being made,
in the modes Of dressing Flax and Hemp and
preparing them to be spun and woven by steam
or water.power. We are confident that the
means have already been invented or discovered
whereby fabrics Of Flax or Hemp, equal if not
superior in every desirable quality, may be pro-
duced at prices as low as those Of the cheap and
common fabrics Of Cotton. Some modhca cation,
some adaptation, may be still requisite; but 1t IS
deplorable blunder, a fragrant absurdity, that
Cotton should now be twice rs dear as Flax while
fabrics of Flax are twice az dear as those manu-
featured from Cotton. 1t is not rational nor
natural that the Industry and Business OF the
civilized world should hold their prosperity sus'
pended on the occurrence or absence Of an unsea-
sonable frost on the lower Mississippi. This de-
pendence Of Labor, Skill and Thrift on the aOsn-
dance Of the Cotton Crop is an incident in the
worlds progress which our children will have out
grown and discredit or greatly wonder at.
We go to London las do several others more
competent to pay some attention to Flax pro-
ducts and Flax machinery, though we have no
belief that the most valuable inventions for Flax
dressing have been made in Europe. Undoubted-
", great improvements in Flax machinery have
recently been made in Belgium and in Great
Britain, but we believe those of our own coun-
trymen will be found Of equal if not superior
value But nearly or quite every recent i'm.
provement on the clumsy and ineffective pro-
cesses hitherto employed will doubtless be exhib-
I'll tbaxy oil no COmnaFpQ
and estimated at great saving of time and cost,
and with facilities for dete mining their compare
tive and positive value which cannot be enjoyed
elsewhere We trust one immediate result Of the
observations there made by Americans will be the
immediate construction or adaptation in this coun-
try of some millions worth Of machinery to tho
preparation and manufacture of Flax. To this
end, it is not enough that the processes adopted
shall be obvious and vital Improvements on those
hitherto employed Those who invest their means
to the extent required for advantageous working
must be sure that erery improvement OF conse-
auence is embraced ia their schedule, so that,
should they be able to manufacture Linens at half
the present cost, they may not be nevertheless
undersod by rivals who having machinery still
more comprehensive and perfect, are enabled to
sell twenty per cent lower still
The progress of invention and improvement
in Flax machinery is now rapid on both sides Of
the Atlantic. AS we write, we have before us q
specimen of Flax prepared for carding and spin
ming at single operation by Messrs E. Kellogg
Il Co., New. Hartford, Conn, by process discov.
cred by them. The fiber is fine and short enough,
with a soft silky or woolly texture and feeling OF
warmth which Flax, as usually prepared, has not.
We are not expressly informed that this Flax is
so prepared from the stalk at one operation, though
we infer that it u.s. The woody portion is en-.
tirely removed that we cannot tell whether any
rotting or steaming process was first resorted to;
bat we advise all those interested in Flax culture
or manufacture to write not to rs las is too com.
mon) but directly to Messrs. Kellogg * Co. for in
formation in detail. TIE public attention cannot
be too generally drawn 70 this subject, and only
adequate knowledge is needed to give new and
most profitable direction to Free Labor, both agri.
cultural and manufacturing. We bespeak for it
the careful regard of inventors especially The
Geld Of Improvement ia Flax machinery, though
considerably occupied, is by no means exhausted.
ISDIANA- Constitutional Convention. This
body was to adjourn last Monday, and We pre-.
sumo did so, though our dates from indianapolis
do not come down so far. At our last advices,
however, the main features Of the new Consttu.
tion had been settled, that they were very IN
likely to be disturbed. We may therefore give
a sketch of its more important provisions:
l. Jadiciary-All the Judges are henceforth to
be chosen by the People those of the Supreme
Court by general ticket; the Circsit Judges by
the several Districts The Supreme Judges were
once settled to be chosen by Districts but it was
seen that that would allow some Wings to come
in, so it was changed by party vote.
Lar Reform-The next Legislaturei is required
to appoint three Commissioners to reform and
simplify the Legal Practice OF the State, abolish
the distinction between Law and Equity, and If
the Legislature should so direct codify the Statute
Law: This was adopted by vote of three to ono.
Corporate Liability, Banks, $c.-Stockholders
in anks are to be individually liable for the debts
thereof to an amount equal to their stock therein
respectively; stockholders in other corporations
shall be individually liable to such an extent as
the Legislature may see fit to prescribe.
The State Bank is to be continued, bat the
State is not to be interested theren its Branches
are to be liable for each others circulation and
there is also to be system of FREE BANKING
like ours, based on such Public Securities as the
Legislature shall prescribe. This passed by 25
majority, and on an attempt to reconsider was
sustained by much larger majority. Consider.
ing that the Convention is, by almost two to one,
nomnslly Loco-Foco this is very well.
Special Legislati0n.-No special actaare allow
able where the object sought is attainable by a
General Law. Much business Of local charac
ter hitherto imposed on the Legislature is hence
forth RENTED to TIE County Boards.
Education The Swamp Lands within the
State recently ceded to it by Congress- are est-