WOOL INDUSTRY. 205 



in the above named 10,073 sots, which, iu fact, represents the de- 

 gree of skill attained, we repeat the statement made to us personally 

 by one having the highest authority ; viz., Prof. Ilerm Grotho of 

 Germany, the author ol the latest and most esteemed European 

 treatise on the manufacture of wool, who, the last summer, visited 

 our principal representative establishments. He declared that 

 our mills had all the recent machinery and processes found in the 

 best mills abroad, and that he saw nothing to be improved either in 

 the mechanical appliances or administration of our establishments. 



Character of our PRonucTS. Having had the opportunity of 

 an official study at the International Exhibition, for many weeks, 

 in company with able foreign and American experts, of our own 

 wool products in comparison with those of other countries, we 

 feel authorized to express an opinion as to the character of our 

 products with confidence. In woollens proper, we make, with no 

 exception now occurring to us, all the classes of fabrics made in 

 the best European mills. The same may be said of hosiery. In 

 worsteds, we make all mixed cotton and wool dress goods, — the 

 classes of dress fabrics entering into most general consumption, and 

 therefore of the first utility, — and many all-wool worsteds. We 

 do not make the all-wool merinos and cashmeres, which are not 

 made successfully even in England, nor some other fine wool 

 novelties in dress goods, which are obtained wholly in France. 

 Their use is confined to the wealthy and fashionable classes. 

 Some we have very recentl}' attempted with signal success, — such 

 as the all-wool merino plaids and matelasses, — and shall doubtless 

 make them all, except possibly the merinos and cashmeres. In 

 carpets, we produce every variety except the Persian and Turkish 

 and the Aubusson hand-made carpets, used only by the opulent 

 classes. 



In woollens, we are inferior only in broadcloths, and that not in 

 quality, but in quantity of production, the general disuse of broad- 

 cloth, except for drees suits and by the wealthy, making it more 

 profitable for our mills to run on goods in general demand. That 

 we have no want of capacity is shown by the product of the few 

 mills who still pursue this branch of manufacture, and by the fact 

 that the finest sample of broadcloth shown at the Exposition, 

 though not for competition, was made in this country twenty- 

 three years ago. In blankets and flannels, our products are abso- 

 lutely uneqalled by any made abroad. In fancy cassimeres and 



