The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-05-02
Gle feIiti;na democrat.
From the Natchcz Courier.
THE COTTON INDUSTRY.

was in our city, and addressed highly inter
cstcd audience on the subject of II great inn
provement, patented by Mr., Geo. G. Henry,
of Mobile, in the convention or seed cotton
into yarns.
Ofthis Improvement, Mr.. Henry says: Ills
Patent is for "An Improvement in the Manu-
facturc of iarns"-that it is effected by "a
new combination Of Machinery" and its use is
designed expressly for Cotton Planters and
not for cotton Manufacturers-tha he brings
in NV ord, the spinning machinery of the cotton
factory to the seed cotton on plantations-cau
ses it to act in cooperation with that machin-
cry, and TINS forms his new combination. In
this new combination, he totally excludes the
cotton screws of this country, the Devil or
Picker, of the cotton factory.
Ills Improvement in the manufacture of yarns
is the result Of compound Of many improve
mcnts; and the grand finale is q stronger and
better yarn, and largely increased income to
the planter.
Why it is better yarn, will be apparent
when we describe the peculiar characteristics
Of the cotton fibre, When viewed through a
powerful achromatc microscope, we will see
thee rare from three hundred to eight hundred
corksercw twiStsin a section ofan inch: that the
edges Of this tubular lilament is scrrated with
q bearded hook, more powerful in proportion
to the size of the fibre, than is the tllorny hook
on the stem OF briar, and that it twists Itself
into the form Of figure eight This is the mi
croscopical description. Now this fibre, in the
present process from the seed to the twist into
yarn, is first thrown from our Gins, by the
Brlsll-wcel into the Lintroom; thence it is
packed INTO bales; taken thence to the factories
the bale is opened, and now, to regain its po-
sition as it went from the Brush-wheel at the
plantation it must have passed through various
machines to open and discntanglc it, and throw
out the notes and leaf in order that when it
is put to Cards, the matted and tangled fibre
shall not pull the Card-clothing off, or its teeth
out. This machine, the card, is a very costly
and Important one of the spinning series. by
it the llamcnt is raightcned, and then it passes
Oh to the drawing and doubling, elongating
and twisting processes. Hence, the opening
and beating process is Indispensable to the
present method Of manufacturing yarns
w Herein, then, is Mr.. Henry's Improvement.
Taking the iamcnts as they come from the
seed, where they must be already parallel, his
gin brush passes the cotton to a wire gauze or
squirrel cage cylinder arranged in his Gin stand
and this with little roller above, passes the
cotton on to some roller on the outside spread
into sheet. This sheet is caused to wind
around cylinder, and forms the lap, or lamina
OF the factory This lamina is taken to the
card, or if need be, is run through sprcadcr
with one or two beaters. This machine gives
u lamina also, which is taken to the card. Any
planter is well aware if his gin has very fine
teeth, and the feed to it is so light as only to
yield 100 pounds day, what the appearance
OF this lamna must be now attached to his
card, which has just como from the seed through
u superior gin, and brush Of good diameter
and speed Ii he will walk or ride, if even
100 miles distant, to a factory and see the la
nina at a card there; observe its strngy look,
its crooked and unequalized appearance, he
will at once be aware Of the enormous differ
cncc between the Strengthened, parallclcd and
cardcd appearance of his, in contrast with the
other.
1t is then Obvious that machine, so beau
tlfnlly designed and so delicate in its duties as
the card, will straghten the lint just from the
GIN far more perfectly and with less resistance
or eXertion Of power than 1t will that which
has passed through the machine Gboye referred
to, and which Mr. Hcnry's Improvement eX-
clndcs. In relation to the machinery and con
tryanccs thus excluded, we need say nothing
OF the lntroom or the cotton press. Each
planter will see at once the gain derived from
disusc of these. They are required for pnr-
poses Of distant and expensive transportation,
and seem especially adapted TO create expense
to the planter, and waste and damage to the
material. We turn to the factory, where the
work Of the previous pressing, COMPRISING and
bailing, has to be done. To accomplish this,
the Devil or Picker is employed; q machine
which however necessary to the factory, seems
to be peculiarly injurious. For instance, it,
rcvolyes 1000 times in minute, and in pulling
and beating the cotton to open it, it must nee
essarily break up and destroy much of the fibre
next, the dust it throws out, and which falls
into its journals, is very dangerous, and often
the occasion of setting fire to the looms and
factories in which it is placed. 1t has also to
be attended by unnecessary operatives and its
velocity and work require great power to give
motion, 1t not merely wastes much lint itself
but is the cause Of much Of the waste which
falls at the other machines, or flies Of and is
swept away; while in it, much Of the broken
and shortened fibre, which enters into tho ord,
nary factory yarns occur. Such is the nature
Il al, p al,