160 [Assembly 



The hemp spun in New-York and New-Jersey is chiefly for sail 

 duck. 



' The finest flax spun, is about 24, or 7,200 yards to the pound. 

 Hitherto it is not a profitable business, owing to the immense impor- 

 tation of it from Scotland, where it can now be made cheaper than 

 "we can make it, the duty on the hemp and flax in this country being 

 quite equal to the duty on most of the manufactured articles^ so that 

 there is no protection. Cotton bagging is an exception. Vast quan- 

 tities of this are made in the west, as already mentioned. The growth 

 of hemp in that quarter is greatly on the increase. We notice that 

 for the two years 1844 and 1845, there w^ere registered as passing 

 St. Louis alone, over 90,000 bales hemp. 



The capital invested in Mr. Beardsley's flax and tow factory at Wa- 

 tertown, New-York, is $'15,000 for machinery; for stock usually, 

 $10,000. He manufactures annually, over 300,000 pounds, with 

 about 60 hands in his employ. 



Silk Manufactures. 



So many of the general remarks which have been made in the 

 preceding reports on cotton, woolen and linen goods will apply to 

 the condition and exhibition of the si.'k department, that the com- 

 mittee will forbear repeating them. It will suffice to say that great 

 interest is always manifested by the public and the Institute in what 

 relates to silk and its products. No portion of our industrial or in- 

 ventive and enterprising population is more closely cheered by public 

 sentiment, or receives a stronger sympathy for the struggles they have 

 to make, than the silk growers and manufacturers; and it is with 

 deep regret that we have to report such a slow progress in their 

 labors. 



The exhibition this year was respectable, and gave to many great 

 satisfaction; but to the judges and to the Institute it did not witness 

 that forward march in quantity, variety and improvement which their 

 •sanguine wishes had led them to expect. The committee of judges 

 ■were among our most distinguished and competent merchants in the 

 trade, and in their unprejudiced opinion we have great confidence. 

 They say, " The exhibition of silk manvfactured goods (sewing silk 

 excepted,) has not much improved since last year, and presents but 

 little that differs materially from former exhibitions. They would have 

 been gratified to have noticed a greater variety, and more improve- 

 ment in this branch of American industry." 



