Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-04-04
Flax VS.. Cotton.

Flax vs. Cotton.
The attempts in England to manufacture fax SO
economically as to compete with or even supersede
cotton, seem to be approaching successful accom-
plishment In the meantime, however, Kentuck-
ian has constructed machinery by which hemp, as
taken from the field be at once broken and spun
without the mixture of cotton, and the linen cloth
sold at the same prices now charged for cottons-
The element in the high price of linen is the six
landings of the hemp before it is ready for the spin
ner. These mani pulations are done away with, and
the material is delivered at the factory cheap
cotton. At present cotton goods are worth from six
to sixteen cents yard, linen from forty to ninety
cents yard. Here is description of the process
taken from the Cincinnati Commercial
Leaving the old beaten track of experiments and
muddy theory, DR.. Leavitt struck boldly at one OBJ
ect alone knowing we'll if he failed in that the whole
matter was at an end. He saw clearly that if fax
or hemp could be reduced from the dry unrotted
stalk to lint of sufficient softness and pliabty to be
taken up and spun though but partially by cot
ton spindles, he could succeed in adapting other
spindles to the lint. Here he saw lay the whole
difficulty, and shaped his action accordingly. He
found that by crushing and bruising the stalk of
hemp sufficiently they could be reduced to lint as
soft cotton but he found that the primary fbres
of flax and hemp instead of shortening retained their
entire length down to the most minute fneness
This fibre averages from three to five inches in length
and when beaten out to the proper condition for the
spndles it is equally white cotton, and reflects all
the brightness and brilancy of native silk. DR..
Leavitt found that by slight alteration in cotton
machinery they could be made to take up the lint,
though but slowly, and at once set himself to work
to adapt machinery to this purpose.
{" He succeeded in the first attempt, and set his
energies to work to build model set of machinery
Slowly but surely he worked his way forward, until
his friends saw in the model his triumph, and the
accomplishment of his hopes and aspirations and
having patented the model, he does not wish to
monopolze the benefits of his discovery, or confne
them to place alone but invites all who wish to
avail themselves of this source Of wealth. to
come forward and embark in the undertaking. DR..
Leavtt wishes only to build the machinery for all
companies that wish to engage in the manufacture
of lint linen thus throwing open at the door
that enters to this field of industry, and all may
in who WILL and partake of its advantages and
profits.
The machinery being very similar to cotton ma
chinery, can be moved by either water steam
power. so that instead of bringing motive
power into use, those factories running cotton
spindles and machinery have only to remove them
and substitute the machinery for the lint or in
deed those factories contemplating an enlargement
of buildings and extension Of machinery readily
use the new lint machinery for the same
Should this discovery succeed in practice, another
great revolution is approaching. The culture and
manufacture of cotton within the last half century,
has been of the wonderful phenomena of the age.
The cotton field has in fact given law to the indus
try of the world. The United States, by its COM
mand of this single plant, holds in check the vast
power of England. The discovery of the cheap mode
of manufacturing hemp will, however, deprive us of
this powerful agent Years, however, must elapse
before the supply of linen meet the demands of
the world. In the meantime the sugar lands of Loui
siana and Texas must appreciate. The thousands
of laborers, now employed cotton will be put in
the cane fields. So far as these two States con-
cerned we do not consider the gradual abandonment
of cotton injury.
The northern parts of the cotton States will pro-
duce wheat and stock. Missouri and Kentucky will
receive large accessions of slaves to be employed in
the hemp business But the destruction of the cot
ton culture will develope the manufacturing
ces of the South. Alabama, Georgia. South Carroll
ma, abound in water power, coal, iron, marble
Slave labor is admirably adapted to manufacturing
purposes The free operative is paid by the capital
list to learn the art which becomes his The
! power of increasing his wages is his own. Not so
with the slave. When he has learned the trade the
increased value is the property of his master he is
worth that much more. Then too, the condition of
the slave is improved, physically and morally, by
the change from the field to the workshop. The SUI
periority of the rough mechanic over the field hand
is acknowledged by both. The time is not far dis
tant when the slave States will be the great manu-
| featuring region.
Pennsylvania, with her coal and iron. and wheat
fields requires additional protection While in Ten
nessee, Alabama, and Georgia, the iron business,
even under the present rates, is fourishing. The
freesol papers exult at the prospect of destroying
the cotton supremacy. But they will yet find that
the resources of the South have been encumbered-
overlaid by the and profit of the cotton culture
and that gradual change in its industry will on
! ~ develope these neglected resources.
! NeW Orleans Crescent.