AND USE IN UNITED STATES. 35 



census of 1880 was 843,965 pounds. This, 

 at Mr. Sisson's figures, would be worth 

 something over $100,000; and yet to en- 

 able a few flax dealers in New York to 

 handle even less than this amount, the 

 American people were called upon to pay 

 $154,508.63 in duties on raw flax during 

 the year ending June 30, 1887, and domes- 

 tic linen manufacturers were handicapped 

 to that extent. 



It was variously estimated before the 

 commission, that from half a million to a 

 million tons of flax are annually burned 

 by Western farmers. 1 The larger limit is 

 probably nearer the truth. Mr. Sisson 

 tried to convey the impression in his testi- 

 mony, that this was done because the 

 manufacturers of linen could buy their flax 

 cheaper abroad ; and that, although the 

 Western farmer would be glad to give 

 away the straw to be rid of it. As Mr. 

 Sisson expressly stated that he was not 

 well informed as to American flax, his 

 misstatements may be perhaps excusable ; 



1 Rep. Tar. Com., pp. 287, 288, 992. 



