The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-14
Some of New Jerseys Industries.

Some of New Jerseys Industries.
There are certain kinds OF production and
manufacture TO which the natural condi-
tons Of New Jersey seem peculiarly adapt
ed, but whose development on an extensive
scale is OF quite recent date. Among these
the pottery, flax, and cranberry industries
deserve particular attention. and report
lately published by the new bureau Of s.a-
tlstics supplies US with authentic and In
teresting data.
Few persons are aware that New Jersey
has outstripped every other part OF the
Union in the successful prosecution Of the
pottery interest. and ranks all other States
In volume OF production That this capti-
waiting art industry should have come, with
In the last few years, TO be specially identi-
fled with our neighboring commonwealth,
Is mainly due, no doubt, 10 the superior
quality OF its clay beds, although its pot
terry manufacturers were notably stimu-
lated by the success OF their exhibits at the
Philadelphia Exposition. Foreign compet
tors and juries Of experts were alike
impressed with the high character OF
the ceramic achievements displayed by
some New Jersey potteres whose wares
heretofore had failed TO attract the
notice they deserved In the American
market. 1t is now generally conceded by
dealers, we believe. that the stone white
ware, or American china, made in New Jer-
sey, is the best attainable and creditable
progress has lately been made at Trenton
in the fabrication OF true, or transparent,
porcelain. 1t is affirmed that tho carths
employed possess the quality Of durability
to a greater degree than the materials OF
| imported porcelain, and produce a surface
and hue better adapted To decoration. In
deed the porcelain made at Trenton is said
by experts TO have the same creamy tint re-
marked in Sevres ware. 1t appears, too,
that the creditable work Of the New Jersey
potteries is not confined 10 body and sur
face but is extending to the sphere Of orna-
| mcntation and design In one Of the Tren-
ton factories, for instance some expert
ments have been made in enamel painting
and Parian statuettes and busts, which
eyincc unmistakable ability both in concep-
tion and execution. The gradual diminution
OF pottery importations sufficiently attests
the growth OF the industry In this country,
and some striking figures on the sub
| ject were presented at the convention OF
| the United States Pottcrs Association
held in Trenton about a year ago.
1t was there shown that the receipt
OF English, French, and German wares in
stead OF keeping pace with the increase in
population and the corresponding consump-
tion, has for some years been steadily
shrinking. Indeed, the aggregate value Of
earthen and china goods imported in 1874
FL I..ll. f.,-f
some three and three-fourth millions in 1871
although the commercial and financial con-
dition OF the country had somewhat i'm
proved during the interval For the last
named year, the American production of
white granite and china wares was COM
puted at about three million dollars. We
may note one other fact that forcibly Illus
tratos the progress OF a manufacture which,
as we have said, is closely associated with
| New Jersey. 1t seems that granite wares
are sold to-day under forty per cent. tariff,
eighteen per cent. cheaper than they were
in 1860 under a twenty-five per cent. tariff.
| The significance Of the change is, OF
course, much intensified by the considcra-
ton that the sizes and qualities OF the pot
terry now offered are vastly superior TO those
OF native products twenty years ago.
1t appears, from the statistics compiled
for this report, that the cultivation of flax
for the fibre in New Jersey has Of late re-
ceived considerable impetus. Previous to
1862 the largest product Of the State in any
single year falls short Of fifty thousand
| pounds; but the amount Of yield has since
been quintupled, although the cultivation Of
the staple has been retarded by the neces-
| cit ~ ~ ppnplnVipfs n la aVt I'm
labor in all the processes. We are Informed,
however, that machine has recently been
| invented to separate the fibre from the
shive, and its performances, examined by a
committee OF the Franklin Institute Of Phila-
delphia, and by some experts from the north
Of Ireland, have been pronounced highly sat
isfactory. In the case Of this experiment,
the flax straw was grown in New Jersey,
and although it was damp and not
well rotted when passed through the
machine, yet the shlve is said to have
boep elfectually removed from the fila
ment in forty seconds. We need not point
out that successful mechanical scutching,
as the process Of cleansing the tibro Is
called, is essential TO the large dovel-
opment Of flax culture in this country, and
| the amount OF the home demand for n cheap
staple may be inferred from the fact that
the United States imported piece linens
! from Ireland to the value Of $lsOOOOOO. At
Paterson, in New Jersey, there is already a
large and well-appointed mill devoted to
the spinning Of linen thread. and there is
reason TO believe that arrangements will
soon be completed for tho weaving of piece
linens In that State. We may here remark
that the scutching machine referred to is
quite as well adapted to hemp as TO fax
and although the former staple has for
merly been accounted Western and South
! western product, there is no doubt that the