202 [Assembly 



mences; you can then continue to draw tliem until the reduction 

 comes down to almost a single fibre. Tliis peculiar property belongs 

 to unrotted hemp alone; and can be accounted for by the starch or 

 g-um of the fibre being in a crude or undissolved state. In devv rot- 

 ted or water rotted hemp, the starch or gum is dissolved and forms a 

 paste, \y\ucb, when dry, cements the fibres together, and prevents their 

 free passage in the drawing frame, unless cut down very fine on the 

 hackle. 



By spinning the unrotted hemp info fine yarns, through the simple 

 process of boiling them in soap and water, would give them the ap- 

 pearance of half-bleached linen, and they would be found sufficiently 

 white for the best canvass, made or useil in this country or Europe. 

 Surely, such canvass would be found much stronger than that requir- 

 ing an aciil in the bleaching process, or that made from decayed or 

 decaying hemp. 



I am convinced that the labor and loss consequent in the prepara- 

 tion by hackling of ordinary h. mp, can be entirely avoided by the use 

 of the article we are now prepaiing; for I believe, that with proper 

 drawing frames, it can be drawn down to a cambric thread, without 

 the intervention of a hackle tooth. 



I trust the aliove statement may so far interest the members of the 

 Institute, as to bring their minds to a considerati m of the importance 

 of this staple to our cou:itry, for surely, if my views arc correct, no- 

 thing can arrest the proirress of its manufacture, until it displaces, in 

 a great manner, the consumption of cotton in all heavy fabrics at 

 leiist. It is lurther interesting to know, that the article can be grown 

 by free labor, and can be produced in every free State in the Union. 

 Yours, respectfully, 



JAMES ANDERSON. 



T. B. Wakeman, Esq. 



NEWELL'S PARAUTOPTIC B/\NK LOCK. 



The committee of the American Institute, 1o whom was referred the 

 examination of Newell's parautoptic bank lock, report: 



That they have given the subject referred to them a careful and at- 

 tentive investigation, and have received full and complete explana- 

 tions from the inventor. 



