Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-03
A CENTURY OF COTTON.
How the First Spinning Jenny was
Exhibited in Philadelphia.
Gnth in Cinnilrlnti E,aQntrer.

Gath in Cincinnati Enquirer.
We have no industry which appeals to
both sexes like that OF the cotton manu-
facture, because women make and use a
great proportion of all cotton goods. 1t
was lust at the eve OF our Independence,
in 1915, when the first spinning Jenny was
exhibited in Philadelphia. 1t spun TWEEN
ty-four threads at one time. Ihe Phiia-
delphians thereupon formed Joint stock
company TO manufacture, intending to
make cottOns, wooens and linens. The
celebrated DR.. Rush was the President,
and Immediately there was demand made
on the Continental Congress for the ex-
clusiou of British goods. Near the close
OF The American revolution spinning jen-
MES were manufactured at Worcester,
Mass, and tbereupon the British Parlia-
ment renewed statute iorbidding the
expectation of any machine, engine, tool,
press, paper utensil, or implement, or any
part thereof which row is or hereafter
may be used in the muslin. cotton, linen
or silk manufacture OF the kingdom.
The penalty was made $1,000 and i'm
prisonment for twelve months, with tor
teiture of the machine. In 1882 a penalty
OF $4,000 was put upon the expectation
OF any blocks, plates, engines, tools or
utensils from England for the preparing
or flushing of calico. cotton, muslin or
linen printing. Convictions were OBJ
tanned under these statutes as we'll as for
euticing artiticers to emigrate either to
America or the, Continent. Tench Coke,
OF Philadelphia, had all his brass models
OF Arkwright's machinery seized IN Eng
land in 1876. Nevertheless, now and then
a Yankee would slip over to England and
learn a trade in order TO bring away the
knowledge of it. The same year, 1875,
MIR. Orr, of Massachusetts, brought out
Scotch mechanics to make for him ma
chimes at East Bridgewater.
The State Legislature assisted to set
these men up. Providence, Beverly,
Mass, and other places now began to
manufacture cotton and to introduce
single cardIng machine, which then cost
&I.100. Probably Providence, r. l., was
the first place in the country TO commence
the systematic business of manufacture
ing cotton machinery. Scotch mechanics
were generally used. The great Brown
family about Providence gotits start from
tue manufactures. While we are consider
ing the suicide of Mrs. Gray, near Boston,
it may not be amiss to recall William
Sprague, the Governor of Rhode Island,
who has been driven from his extensive
avocations by one thing or another, but
who seems to have managed 10 keep his
personal integrity in money matters.
Samuel Slater, who was one of Ark
wright's overseers, came out to America
in 1889 from seeing notice of grant OF
$500 by the Legislature Of Pennsylvania
Tor whoever could make cottOn-carding
machines. He brought neither patterns,
drawings nor memoranda, relying en-
tiIely upon his memory Brown invited
him up TO Providence and gave him an
interest, and the mill went into operation
in 1893. They made corduroys, ribs,
denims. cottonettes, jeans and Iustians to
the amount of 5000 yards In nine months.
Alexander Hamilton brought his power
full mind to bear upon the manufacturing
problem, and in 1871 had the Legisla-
ture of New Jersey incorporate a manu-
featuring company; a. that spot are now
made most of the American silks, which
have nearly expelled the cheap silks Of
Europe from the Western world.