AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM 2|jf 



maiiuractnrcd by our citizens, which might vie, for fine- 

 ness and elegance, with those manufactured in L ondon 

 Sedan, or Elbcuf In this District, several marufactories 

 have latelv been established. A machine for cardinff* 

 roving and spinning cotton, working ninety six spindles^ 

 is now in full operation at the Four-mile-run; besides a 

 Cannon Foundary and Paper Mill near Georgetown, a 

 Ghiss House and Nail Factory in the City of Washing- 

 ton, and several other establishments of less importance. 

 I had, not long ago, the curiosity to ascertain the num- 

 ber of weavers in this Town ; and after a diligent enqui- 

 ry, found that there were twenty one looms ; sixteen of 

 which were constantly employed, and had then on hand 

 to the amo'jnt of one thousand four hundred and sixty- 

 yards ofdifiterent kinds of cloth for family use. They 

 each weave from three to six yards a day, making on an 

 average seventy two yards a day altogether, and allow- 

 ing fhree hundred working days in the year, twenty one 

 thousand six hundred yards a year. 



Here it is proper to observe, that these looms are all iti 

 private fam-lies, and all but one worked by women, anci 

 that, with one exception only, they use the common shut- 

 tle. Several of them informed me that they intended to 

 adopt the fly shuttle ; and there can be no doubt, but 

 when once adopted, it will immediately gain a decided 

 preference over the other, on account of the ease and 

 celerity with which it can be worked. I am informed 

 that, besides the public factories of cloth in Washington* 

 and Alexandria, there are many private looms in both those 

 places, abundantly supplied with work. I would recom. 

 mend it to such as may be friendly disposed towards (]o^ 

 mestic manufactures, to ascertain their number, and, as I 

 have done, publish the result of such enquiries as it may be 

 deemed proper to make. I am persuaded that it will be 

 found that,'at least, not a less quantity of cloth is woven in 

 each of those places, than there is in Georgetown — Yet> 

 however great the whole quantity may be, it is a certain 

 fact, that, for the want of proper artists, much yarn is senfc 



