AND USE IN UNITED STATES. 63 



American Linen Company, the Williman- 

 tic Linen Company, and other concerns 

 of large capital, which failed in an attempt 

 to manufacture linens, largely on account 

 of their inability to get cheap raw material, 

 is a sufficient warning to any but the bold- 

 est, not to establish any more linen-mills 

 here. The farmer does not raise flax, be- 

 cause there is no home-market for it, and 

 there are few mills to create a market. 

 If the duty on raw flax of every descrip- 

 tion were wholly removed, a stimulus 

 would be given to the linen-manufacture 

 in America ; competition would then be 

 encouraged, and the consequent demand 

 for flax would be an incentive to the 

 farmer that no duty can supply. With 

 flax-mills springing up in all sections of 

 the country, a ready market would be pro- 

 vided for the farmer. His attention is 

 more likely to be directed to the niceties 

 of flax culture, should he receive the direct 

 encouragement of domestic manufacturers 

 to grow fine flax. At any rate, it is diffi- 

 cult to see what interest will be injured 



