64 FLAX CULTURE 



by the removal of the duty on raw flax, 

 dressed and undressed. 



In spite of the present duty, the linen 

 industry of America, having an invested 

 capital of ten millions, imports annually 

 nearly two million dollars worth of the 

 raw material, and from that source the 

 surplus in the treasury was increased by 

 over a hundred and fifty thousand dollars 

 in 1887 ; and yet the production of Ameri- 

 can fibre is steadily falling off. Instead of 

 manufacturing our own linen goods, we 

 are importing over fifteen million dollars 

 worth per annum. How much of this 

 could be manufactured in this country if 

 the manufacturers could import their raw 

 material of every kind, free of duty, may 

 be left for future determination. With the 

 present duty on raw flax, however, it is 

 idle to expect the manufacturer to risk his 

 capital in an enterprise where so many 

 wealthy corporations have failed. 



Enough has been said to show the bur- 

 den of this tax on the domestic manufac- 

 turer, and its uselessness, nay, direct 



