The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-14

COLON
III the cultivation Of hemp and manufacture OF ne1 and did
not need the encouragement of the rewards.
The English government, however, entertained the
idea Of the manufacture of either linen WOODEN cloths III
the colony with any degree Of favor The Englishnen were
willing, oSbe sure that Virginia should produce raw mate
rails, but claimed for themselves the right and privilege Of
manufacture However the wishes Of the English people
did not greatly the colonsts. They rapidly
learning that many things they must look out for them-
selves and that if should prove profitable for them to man
uacture into finished products their materials, it
would not bcw for them Ito hesitate to do 50.
The that repealed in 1856 reenacted in 1903
with notifications This time the act provided that
instead Of the tobacco used for rewards being taken from the
generaevy be furnished by each county to its own
growers. Under this three pounds OF tobacco
to be given for every ell Of manufactured inen The linen
was to be not less than thrcequaers Of yard wide, nor
less than fifteen yards in length Three samples were re-
qucd from each claiming the reward Aspecialre-
ward was offered OF eight pounds OF tobacco Tor the
piece Of the best quality Of nen hundred pounds for
grade for the third grade four hundred pounds OF
tobacco offered This acremaned in force until 1900
In spite Of all this, however, the colony gave itself
to very general cultivation Of flax In 1893 in answer
communication from the Governor asking to what extent
the linen had been manufactured the county OF iddlesex,
was answered that the quantity amounted annually
about fifty yards This may be fairly taken indication
OF the that attended the effort to encourage the
nacturc Of linen It oughtto be undersood however that
linen for its TheVrgnans slow to dis
that f easier and profitable to sell tobacco
and buy the linen than it was to manufacture linen.
In the manufacture Of WOODEN goods the coonists met
with even more stubborn resistance from the English
facturers. It is somewhat amusing to note how-tlc
country exploited for nearly everything else imaginable
get seriously deprecated matter Of sheep hsbandy
and wooden industry It rclgousy asserted that the
fact that God had denied sheep Virginia indication
that the settlers ought not to fly in hcace Of Providence
and undertake that which had already been provided for in
the old country There evident determine
ton among the olonsts provide wooden goods at least for
their So determined were they in this purpose that
in 1859 spassed prohibiting the expectation wool
was etat England providing clothing sufficient
for the needs OF the colony and 600 the General Assembly
determined to take active steps in the encouragement
of WOODEN goods Captain Mathews Governor Berkeley and
others had already shown that twas possible and profitable
for the planters furnish their households and plana
ons with Wooen goods The of each county
deed by the General Assembly toestablisl loom
ploy to work it every county It
Batter provided that the different counties should build houses
in which the children OF poor should be assembled
and to be taught to spin and well learn
other trades
Under the exceeding pressure brought o bear from the old