REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEE ON MANUFACTURES, 

 SCIENCE, AND ARTS. 



aEPORT ON CR. O. S. LEAVITT's FLAX MACHINERY, AND PROCESS OF 

 MANUFACTURE. 



The committee report that they have examined the samples of 

 flax in various states of preparation exhibited to them by Dr. O. 

 S. Leavitt, and have received from him full explanations of his 

 processes, and the machinery by wliich he proposes to perform 

 them. 



In order that they might perform the duty assigned to them 

 more satisfactorily, they have invited Colonel John Travers to aid 

 them in their investigations, and to unite with them in their 

 report. 



1st. From the samples exhibited, it appears that by Dr. Leavitt's 

 process, ripe flax, after being stripped of the seed, can be cleaned 

 completely and prepared for manufacture without being rotted. 



2d. That from the flax, in its earlier stages of preparation with- 

 out rotting, rope, twine, and coarse fabrics may be made, with a 

 great saving of manual labor. 



3d. That by further mechanical processes, the gum, gluten, 

 and resin, may be chiefly removed, and by the use of machinery, 

 in aid of the usual chemical processes, the flax may be deprived 

 entirely of its color, and rendered fit for the manufacture of fine 

 linen. That the thread exhibited to them, apparently in conse- 

 quence of the omission of the process of rotting, and the substitu- 

 tion of mechanical methods, for much of what has hitherto been 

 performed chemically, is stronger than common linen thread. 



