416 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



southward as fast as slavery disappears, if the climate would per- 

 mit, but that may prevent it. 



Mr. Stetson. — The consumption of our cotton after the war Avill 

 depend upon the state of domestic quietude which may exist after 

 the war, more than upon the efforts of other nations to produce 

 a similar article. One effect of the war upon the mechanic arts 

 will be to turn the attention of artizans more and more to use- 

 fulness and to economy, and less to the purely ornamental. 

 While we are all engaged in production, we may feel able to 

 afford many articles of elegance and luxury ; but when the num- 

 ber of producers is materially lessened, whether by war or from 

 any cause, the consumption must be less, or the wealth of the 

 country will be diminished. Artizans and manufacturers, there- 

 fore, will find it for their interest to turn their attention to the 

 production of articles of use, rather than of articles of ornament 

 and luxury. 



Dr. Stevens ej^pressed the opinion that if the war should con- 

 tinue six or seven years, it would cause the entire destruction of 

 the cotton manufactures of the United States, and a pecuniary 

 loss from which this generation could never recover. It has 

 been estimated that a change of a quarter of an inch in the length 

 of the staple would be sufficient to destroy the value of our cot- 

 ton machinery. No cotton can be procured excepting from the 

 southern states which will be adapted to our present machinery ; 

 and hence cutting off our supply of southern cotton would destroy 

 our manufactures of cotton. It would become necessary to create 

 a new manufacturing interest ; either to engage in the manufac- 

 ture of flax or wool, or to begin anew the manufacture of cotton 

 after the conclusion of the war. 



Mr. Tillman. — The efi'ect of the war upon the fine arts will be 

 detrimental, but the general effect on the useful arts will be 

 beneficial ; and particularly on that class connected with agricul- 

 ture, for the reason that the place of farmers who are taken from 

 their labors will be supplied as far as possible by machinery. 

 The effect of the war upon the manufacture of iron is to improve 

 its quality, a material continuously good being required for 

 muskets and other war implements. 



J^ew Subject. — Mr. Dibben proposed for the next meeting the 

 subject of " Piers and Docks," which was agreed to. 



Prof Seely will make some remarks upon the subject of "Coal 

 Tar." Adjourned. 



