No. 199.J 



159 



The entire value of the linen manufactures of England and Ireland, 

 is now estimated at $38,400,000 per annum, giving employment to 

 185,000 persons. This shows us the importance of encouraging the 

 production of this staple as beneficial to the farmer and the mechanic. 

 The following table, compiled from official documents, shows the 

 value of the importations of linen into the United States for a series 

 of years past. The variations in quantity from year to year are very 

 great, for which we do not immediately perceive an adequate cause. 



Imports of Linen. 



Thus it would appear that the importation of linen, notwithstanding 

 the fluctuations in quantity from year to year, is largely on the in- 

 crease. Since the advancing perfection of machinery is gradually 

 lessening its cost and increasing a demand for it, it would seem to be 

 expedient for us to begin to look about and provide measures by 

 which we can profitably encourage the production and manufacture 

 of this important staple of our own country. 



Such were the views of our worthy President, General James 

 Tallraadge, when in 1847 he offered as a special premium a gold 

 medalj for the best piece of linen, of not less than thirty yards, wove 

 by power loom. There was no claimant for this award until the Fair 

 of 1849, when it was taken by Mr. Henry H. Stevens, of Webster, 

 Massachusetts, who exhibited a piece of linen, of the required dimen- 

 sions, of good texture, spun by machinery and wove by power loom. 

 It being the first piece of American linen, thus fabricated, which has 

 graced the Fairs of the American Institute. Mr. L. T. Beardsley, 

 of AVaterford, N. Y., had previously shown linen thread spun by 

 machinery, of a very superior quality. We shall look with increased 



