New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-17

a, N -, or,,vinp co1p<res, il was d)ne ny manu.
S..-,no one noupd Of the clean staple from the seed
~ 49, wo,k for a woman In the evening the
.aves were collected in squads AT the ZANE employ
mont Bot the slowness of the process was fatal 70
az axteusion Of the business. Cotton cost more than
Aax and until ingenuity could devise some machinery
which would greatly facilitate the process of cleaning,
IL was vain to think Of raising cotton for market
This remarkable conversation was listened 10 with
deep attention by Whitney. His amiable hostess, ever
desirous Of promoting bis advancement, remarked
"Gentlemen, apply to my young friend Mr. Whtney'
lie can make anything" She then conducted them 70
q neighboling ROOM showed them her favorte tamooar
frames and number of toys he had made for her chill
dren. She extolled bis genius, and IN every way COM
mended him 10 their notice. They explained then-
eelves more fully TO which Whitney answered that he
had never cotton cotton seed IN bis e and
dscairned the high estimate Of his
which his hostess had awarded to him. But Whitney
hid heard enough from these gentlemen TO impress bis
mind with the magnitude Of the interests involved, and
with bis usual energy he determined to apply Ills
gens the solution Of this great question. No seed
cotton could then be had, the season being over; but
unwilling 10 wait for the growing of a new crop he
went 10 Savannah, and searched the boats ana ware
houses until he discovered small quantity This he
bis intention to construct machine for cleaning cotton.
Miller heartily into the enterprise, encouraged
Whitney 10 the utmost and assigned him room IN the
basement of the house. where provided with the few
rude materials and tools which Georgia plantation
afforded Whitney secluded himself 10 give shape and
consistency to the mighty invention with which his
mind was charged. Here be manufactured the wire
which formed the teeth Of the original gins not pound
of il being purcbasable in Savannah. Miller and Mrs
Greene the only persons admitted into the room
and 10 these three the reason OF these se-
cret labors was limited Many were the
garmises and inquiries from members Of the family as
70 tee cause of Whitneys close seclufiOn, but without
drawing from either Of the three the least ntmation OF
the work in hand. No one, at this day. can say what
failnres the inventor met with in his solitary work
shop how many times he changed his plans or whether
the first conception Of the process was as perfect as
the completed machine. OF his sbors in producing bis
frst model he has left no account. But toward the
close of winter he had far completed the machine as
10 be able to demonstrate his friends that it en-
tirey successful Though roughly made, and small in
size performed it's work Of cleaning the cotton from
the seed with wonderful rapdity. There was the cyl
inder armed with iron teeth, and the brush, identical
with the gins Of the present day-a machine, in fact
On which improve ment has ever been made. II was
the instrument which has subsequently revolutonized
the agriculture Of the entire South, given incredible
impulse to manufactures oil the world fed millions
In Europe and enslaved millions in America, while, re-
motey il las led the way for Slavery TO claim on this
continent either the right Of dominion the privilege
Of rebellion. Larger machines have been constructed
the gearing may have been changed and details been
altered, but the principle has never been improved
IT came from Whitneys hands a perfect machine, 30
4ba If 70
remain a monument of simplicity and ingenuity which
no Subsequent invention VIII he able to surpass.
Whitneys two friends, elated his success,
burned with impotence TO communicate the fact TO
their numerous friends especially to those gentlemen
whose conversation while at Mrs. Greene's had frs.
directed his attention to the subject. the three
parties none seemed to be fully aware of the import
ance Of having the great invention secured by patent
before being publicly exhibited. Whitney himself,
though senibe Of the magnitude of the prize within
his grasp and urged by lis friends Immediately 20 re-
cure patent hesitate on account Of the great ex-
pense and trouble which attended the introduction Of
new invention and the difficulty Of enforcing hs rights
against the many who would undoubtedly invade them
He further urged his great reluctance 70 abandon LIS
hopes Of lucrative profession, unwilling to exchange
them for anything likely to be awarded TO him either
BY the gratitude or justice Of bic countEymen, even
should the invention realize the most sanguire ezpects
tons Of Lis friends. Meanwhile, Mrs. Greene invited
70 her house large number Of gentlemen from various
portions Of TIE State and when they Tad all assem-
bled conducted themto bailing which had been tenn
porsrily erected contain the machine, which was
then put in operation II turned by single ne
gro; but they witnessed lite operation with asonish-
meet and delight. They beheld for themselves the
hitherto incredible feet that more cotton could be sea
rated from the seed in one day, by the labor
CT single hand than could be done in
The usual manner In the space Of many months
Their emulation was ndescrbable. They saw
suddenly opened an almost boundess source OF wealth,
and when they reached Their several homes, described
the performances Of the astonishing machine they had
iuft witnessed These narratives spread through the
country and produced the widest excitement Multi
tudes of persons came TO see it. but were denied ad-
mission This refusal to crafty their curiosity only
served to inhame it. The public were determined TO
possess the machine, even robbery necessary.
They came by night broke open the building and car
ried away the coton-gn. In this way the public be-
came possessed of the machine. The fatal exposure Of
the secret to the eeect party Of friends had done its
disastrous work and before Whitney could complete
his model and secure Lis patent numerous gins were in
successful operation some with slight deyietions from
The original intended as evasions but substantially the
game machine. To this imprudent disclosure Of the
Invention to the friends of Mrs Greene may be attro-
uted most Of the long, costly and unrerunerative ti-
CATION which Whitney was subsequently compelled to
undertake. It's history affords melancholy evidence Of
the deprayty of a community upon whom he had con-
ferred the greatest Of all benefits.
Whitney now entered into partnership with Miller,