Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-05-31

Foreign. Observation-Disclosures. l64, 1872
Total increase 2ss, 1895
The British tonnage outcard has increased. 69,ss3
Foreign Ib9
Total increase. .......-........ 1866
The flax question continues attract great deal Of at
tention. The following statistics have been published in
connection with it. The foreign flax imported into England
in ls4s 80, $40 tons in 1850 amounted 81, 097
tons The annual produce Of England and Ireland
does not exceed 10000 TONS There 374 linen fac
tories in England, Scotland and Ireland, containing
$685. G3 spindles and 367O power LOOMS and employing
434 persons the work done being equal the hand
labor Of persons The quantity of linen and yarn
exported in 1850 was in value, f4,s45, $50; the quantity
kept for home consumption valued at es, 7oO,OOO
gether, Ella 545, $50.
The question whether fax be substituted any great
extent for cotton has been solved far prove that the
former may be spun by the machinery which has hitherto been
used for the latter the flax having been previously subjected
to process, mechanical CHEMICAL partly both Messrs
CHAMBERS, Of Edinburgh, say upon this subject
"A this is very well SO far it goes, but con.
seaons convince that the proposed innovation
be productive Of either present ultimate benefit In the
first place. the fax must be greatly weakened 10 its natural
consists Of fbres fifteen twenty6v inches long
and these shortened two inches they would
require be manifest that the strength yarn spun there
from would be materially diminished secondly, there would
be advantage the Of economy because fax can
scarcely be called cheaper than cotton-by weight is but
when we bear in mind its greater specific gravity and heavier
waste we'll the attending the proposed method of
preparation, should find that ultimately is cheaper,
bu. the lastly the system to become general
has been apty Observed the demand for fax thence
sutng would necessarily advance the already high price Of
that article, and in the same proportion, cotton being less
in demand, would fall that the very outset, the sub
stution would checkmae ITSELF and consequently cease
hpn.t hatn from
these experiments, and think the evil complained Of
can only be efecualy emedied by taking decisive steps
for extending the culture OF cotton large scale
other lands and especially to the British possessions in
the East" I@" ~.
We coincide in great with these observations but
think the agitation Of the question will produce vau
able result II will probably lead raising from
SOIL and to the great advantage of the agricultural interest,"
the ninety thousand of fax which have hitherto been
compelled to import every year from foreign countries.
The sanitary condition of London judging from the last
weeks of deaths, has certainly improved-the
deaths this week being O4l last week they s94 the
average years being $40. The births 572 their
average BAL The births during the last three months
England and Wales were l57, 374, the deaths los, 446-
showing increase Of population of 5l,92s The number
Of emgrants from English ports 49, $685. and including
Scotland and Ireland, 5sO72; but all the emigration from
English ports must not be considered in reduction of the
sailed from Liverpool.
} The GREAT EXHIBITION has, thus far, advanced
without single accident or discouraging circum-
stance; every thing which could tend to accident
or failure has been most carefully guarded against
, by the foresight of the Commissioners and Com
mitees. Fire, that most dangerous and destructive
OF enemies, has been most especially the object Of
attention; and here peculiarly happy combination of crcum
at olofth
Worlds Fair and powerful agent as an opponent Of
fire, in Mr. PHILLIPS simple but wonderfully effective Fire
Annaors," number Of which dispersed through the
Glass Palace The old enemy Of fre-water-s in mos
powerful enough to gain the victory in its contests with
its anagonsic elements but water would prove almost al
to the rich stores Of art science and labor which
adorn the building as fire. Hence is peculiarly fortunate
that this unctue, when the collected wealth Of the in
dustry and ingenuity Of almost every nation on the earth
surface gathered under roof the skill of mar
should also have provided the of preserving the rct
collection from its most nsidous enemy fire. without en-
ployng the almost equally destructive AGENT water. Phil
pss Fire annhiiators-small portable machines-opera
BY Of chemically prepared gas perfectly nnoxiou
to life and productive Of injury to property, its application
nstananeousy subdues the flame, and great practical eul
is effected which may be said interest all mankind. W.
consider this discovery of Mr. Phillips likely have grea
practical influence upon the proprietary interests of tn
country Organized companies with large capitals have beer
formed in England, and upon large scale is about being
established in France to place the Of this Fire Annha
tor within the reach Of the community substituting, through
the agency Of FIRE nsurance the mode Of exngushin
fires, instead Of the old by FIRE engines, &c. Phillips
portable machines distributing daily from the office Of h
English company LeaDdenhal street all parts the EN-
pre- and their attended with almost universal
Her Msesys Palaces Windsor ST. James, and Bucking
ham House supplied with the "Annhator," ard ar
the residences of the principal nobility and gentry The chic
manufacturing establishments in Manchester &c have adope
them The leading public journals speak unanimously in hei
praise and efficacy. Mr.. DIcKEss has dedicated nearly
entire number Of his Household Words" TO description
their Importance and Lord BRoUeHA lately said that "h
hoped before long vessel would be allowed put
n. without having PhIpss FIRE annihsors board" You
readers must not be weary with this long account Of hi
great invention regard Of the principal dscove
d. es and Of the greatest blessings Of this age Of progress
I'D and improsemenan age which has witnessed the subu
nd the locomotive wishes man. and the employ
men OF The electric fluid communicate bis desires and want
oil wn toe rapidly OF thought We employed two invisible
agents 10 annihae time and space and we have now har
70 the car Of science protect us from the
Of fire. The building has also proved itself capable Of res;u,in
the attacks OF water. One Of the heaviest showers f nj.
known in England fell upon the roof on Monday but without