New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-15
FLAX AND FLAXEN FABRICS.


FLAX AND FLAXEN FABRICS.
A great many express disappointment at the
slow progress of the Flax Culture and Manu-
facture. since the discoveries Of Claussen and
others. We cannot concur in this view
Claussens discovery is hardly more than two
wears old, while most of the recently invented
or improved processes for dressing, &C. are
still more recent and two years is no time at
all in the progress of a revolution so vast as
the substitution of Flax for Cotton, or even
the serious rivalry of Cotton by the for
mer, must surely effect. If ten years from the
date of Claussen's patent shall suffice for In
creasng the consumption of Flax throughout
the civilized world to one-haf that of Cotton, it
will be all that could reasonably have been e1-
pected. Consider how long the Steam-engne
was in making its way into general use; re-
member that the Steamboat was by no means
In general use ten years after Fulton had made
his first triumphant trip from this city to Alba
nv and back. Now the Steamboat is its own
advertisement, and a most startling one; 1t
arouses ideas and obliges people to see it aud
think of it, however they may dislike or dread
it and it traverses the great nayigable rivers
where population is densest, enterprise most
active, and intelligence most widely dssemina-
ted What chance has q Flax discovery or
invention for rapid diffusion in comparison
with the Steamboat
We do not pretend to estimate the value of
Claussen's or any other invention. We do not
know that any one is calculated, of itself, to eff
feet the needed revolution but this We conf
IDENTIFY beieve-that machinery and processes
already exist whereby fiber as soft, as pliable,
as readily spun by machinery as Cotton, and
considerably stronger than that fiber, may be
produced at price decidedly below that at
which Cotton is now selling. Claussen or no
Claussen, we consider so much demonstrated.
The spinning of Flax fiber on machinery ex-
pressy designed for Cotton may be far more diff
ficult, though that, we believe, is practicable.
If machinery must in all cases be got UP exl
pressy for Flax-spinning, that, of course, vii
delay but cannot prevent, the Flax revolution
Among the American inventions which will
soon solicit the public judgment is one which
proposes to produce pure, old-fashioned Linen
mot Cotton, nor anything like Cotton) from I'M
rOtted Flax or Hemp, at prices no higher than
those of Cotton goods of equal fneness-that
is no higher per pound, we suppose for three
yards of Flax cloth will weigh nearly the same
as four of Cotton of like lineness. The Tow,
or broken, imperfect fbers, it proposes to con-
vert into substitute for either Cotton or
Wool Suppose this practicable-and that
good Linen can be afforded per yard, say at l2i
cents where Cotton Of like quality would cost
9 or 10 cents, who can doubt that Linen fac
tories will Overspread the land as rapidly as
Cotton mills ever did
This, too, it must be borne in mind, is but
one among many Flax inventions now being
perfected and proved. Any one of them may
fail and disappont its hackers, but they cannot
all fail 1t were absurd to suppose that the
whole world is to be mainly clad eyermOre
from the product of single tropical or semi
tropical plant. A few years will witness great
changes in this respect as in others.
by tie way What are our Paper-Makers
doing, as class, for the discovery of new sup
plies Of raw material Have we not long
enough ransacked Europe for her precarious
and inadequate supply of filthy and infected
Cotton Rags We believe a Clearly and
stronger fiber adapted to their use might be
obtained much cheaper from Flax, from Cotton,
from Hemp, Straw, or some other indigenous
and abundant material, if proper attention
were called TO the subject Why should not
our Paper. Makers unite and offer a reward,
say Of $4,000, for the discovery or preparation
Of material equal in all respects to clean,
white Cotton Rags, that could be abundantly
supplied them for six cents per pound-said
reward to be increased to $4,000 in case the
price could be reduced TO five cents per poundi
Give two years time, and We are confident the
end would be attained, and the saving to the
Paper-Makers Of this City alone would repay
the expense ten-fold in the course of single
year.
WHAT Is RELIGIOUS PRFPnnM.