Morning journal and courier., 1884-03-15

yet reached this place, and it is by no means necessary that they should. Neat little ghsr- ries, drawn by the most diminutive of all di minutive ponies, are ths representative mode of conveyance. EMILE. Made Cheaper and Better by the Ala of
 Machinery and Wood.
 From the New York Sun.l
 "There has been @ very great change in the basket business in the past few years," an old merchant said. 'sFormerly basket and woodenware stores were generally combined now there are plenty of firms in the basket business only. In the old times the chief manufacturers were to be found in what we used to call Dutch Town, in Williansburgh. They would bring over few nests at time and sell them to the dealers. Now there are many manufacturers who have extended the business until domestic products are serious y competing with imported articles. Even for the baskets made in this country large quantities of willows were imported. The first important increase of the basket indus try h this coantry grew out of the extensive planting of willows-by Colonel Colt at Hart ford. Conn. These willows were planted chlefy to supply roots to hold together the big dykes built by Colonel Colt for the re- clamstion of marsh lands, but the willows thrived SO well that the branches became 8 valuable commodity. As the old world pro- cess of removing the bark of the willow without staining the wood was not well known here, the earlier American products were In the form of dyed and vanished bss- kets. very extensive industry grew up, almost by accident.
 ''Sinee that time there have been many signal changes in the business chief among which are the introduction of machiaery and the use of split woods, chiefly of oak and G-o ,I4L strongest baskets are now made. There IS one establishment in Northampton, Mass, probably the largest in the world, where they turn out about eight thousand baskets a day, comprising nearly sixty varieties, and em- ploying two hundred hands. Most of these are used for fruit, vegetables and berries, and are made so cheaply that dealers caa afford to sell their commodities almost without taking the value of the basket into consid- eration. In the peach business, for instance, it was formerly large part of the risk of the business to keep track of the baskets Nov, strong peach baskets holding a bushel are made at about eleven cents each, so that the buyer may use the baskets for kindling wood if he sees fit. The same is true of grape baskets, which are made low as 4 cents each, and are preferable to the paper or wooden boxes Strong and durable baskets are also made for carrying coal, oysters and other heavy goods.
 
 splitting of bamboo and rattan for the mak- ing of various baskets, and the result is gradual osnteripg of the business in the hands of large establishments, competing even with the products of charitable insi1tus tions The old sailors at Sailors Snug liar ber have for many years made their grog and tobacco money by the manufacture of bas- kets in their odd hours, but lately they have found strong competition in the market. Machinery and capital are taking possession of the bulk of the basket business, and car rying the work out of homes into the facto- ries The smaller establishments are mainly confined to the manufacture of special and fancy products, such as ornamental work baskets, baby carriages, bottle covers, lunch baskets and various kinds of basket work requiring peculiar skill As yet, however, the very finest and most beautiful baskets continue to be mainly imported. The French, as usual in matters where artistic taste Is re- quired, are in the van, and yet supply us with most exquisite workmanship in baskets, although we also receive 8 great many bas- kets from Germany. French knife baskets, market baskets, hampers and office baskets are very beautiful while in fotEer, fruit and travelling baskets I think they are unap- proachable.
 stSome pretty as yell as durable baskets are made of straw, paImleaf, hemp and ma nilla In short, it would take a very large house to hold even one sample of each kind of basket in the market. There 8 num- ber of basket factories in New York city em ployipg from ten to twenty hands each, and the industry is growing, so that the work men have formed trades union and feel strong enough to control wages Probably the most expensive baskets made are the huge hampers that used for picnic parties, costing at retail as high as twenty to thirty dollars. There have been a number of pa tents in the basket business, chiefly relating to modes of strengthening. Fine willow baskets are very durable If kept moist. If they are allowed to get dry they are liable to crack. A good housewife will keep her bss- l kets well scrubbed. The most interesting baskets are those wonderful productions which young mothers have to hold their first baby clothes There is no end to the trim ming and ornamenting of these baskets, and they make very nice presents; but, as 8 matter of fact, the trimming is generally more important than the basket. The bas- ket work on fine baby carriages, phaetons, whip handles, table mats, baby rattles and ladies' satcheIs often borders on the fine arts To the true philosopher g well appointed fishing basket is a joy forever.
 'Speaking in general, it is true that bas- kets are cheaper and better. You can now buy basket for fifty cents as good as one that formerly cost two or three dollars. As in all other industries, the ingenuity and forethouRht of Americans have put 8 good deal of brains in the basket business, and there is yet room for greater enterprise and improvement. I ought not to omit to notice the possible use of baskets for balloons, and have no doubt that when aerial navigation becomes prevalent the evolution of the bas ket will be found to be not the least impor- tant of its characteristics. '"
 Regulating Medical Practice ia the