73 
Jute is the commonest fibre that is made into textile fabrics, but 
it is not extensively used in England. There are only one or two 
firms, besides ourselves, that make use of it. Dundee, Scotland, 
is the headquarters of this branch of the weaving industry. 
Here, in Lancashire, cotton is the great staple of our trade, and 
as it gives employment to so many, we naturally look upon it as 
our chief fibre. 
Modern processes and machinery have made weaving a fairly 
profitable occupation for both sexes, and one that can be followed 
all the year round. In some places machines have been intro- 
duced to create an artificial humidity, as experience has proved 
that a certain amount of moisture is essential to ensure perfect 
weaving. It would be a great boon, to both manufacturers and 
operatives, if some means could be devised whereby the air in 
our weaving sheds could be kept moist, yet pure, and near to 
natural conditions without interfering with the health of the 
worker. Steaming must, therefore, be put to one side, as not 
fulfilling the requirements of the case. It appears to me that 
the desired result will yet be arrived at by some system of 
waterways under the looms, either open, or under gratings. The 
same much to be desired result may, perhaps, be attained in the 
future, by impregnating the air with a chemical solution, through 
the medium of pumps or sprays beneath the looms. The hand- 
loom excels the power-loom in elasticity, and is thus enabled to 
humour the yarn and promote easy weaving, in a manner which 
is denied to the more rigid modern invention. The moderate 
speed at which the hand-loom is obliged to run assists with both 
warp and weft, and conduces to the production of perfect cloth. 
The construction of the loom has undergone little change during 
the last fifty years. Attention has been focussed on fancy weav- 
ing. The improvements or alterations that have been made 
relate to dobbies and Jacquards, and the getting up of cards, or 
designs, etc. ‘Ihe all-important consideration of improving the 
plain loom so that weaving will be made easy to the operative, 
and result in the production of better cloth with less expenditure 
of power. time, and material, has been almost entirely ignored. 
Instead of improving our antiquated machinery and methods, 
manufacturers as a body, have been content to use best spun 
yarn, and take advantage of all improvements in spinning, to eke 
out the defects of their own plant. 
Shuttle pegs are a great item in weaving, and they have been 
engaging my attention for some little time past, as I was 
confident that they might be improved. The pegs are wrongly 
constructed and in addition to this many weavers broach the 
cop wrongly also. Cops are wound in spiral form with layers 
of threads, like screws. Shuttle pegs, in the earlier stages of 
