168 • [Assembly 



Mr. S. T. Armstrong has submitted a proposition to Congress to 

 construct a telegraph line from a point on the American coast to a 

 point on the Irish or EngUsh coast, and will complete the same in 

 the space of twenty months, at a cost of three million dollars. The 

 hne to be owned by the British and American governments. We 

 understand the project is deemed feasible by scientific and practical 

 men. Much credit is due to the indefatigable exertions of Mr. Arm- 

 strong, in applying Gutta Percha to many valuable purposes, which 

 must be seen to be appreciated. A visit to the depot of the manu- 

 factory at No. 181 Broadway, will well repay the trouble. The 

 American Institute awarded to Mr. A. a gold medal in 1848 ; and 

 another in 1849 for further improvements. 



SHAWLS. 



The display of shawls at the twenty-second Fair, greatly surpassed 

 any former exhibition. Those from the Bay State Co., Lawrence, 

 Mass., took the highest award. We trust it will not be deemed out 

 of place here to state, that this company now ehiploy, in that portion 

 of the works in operation, one thousand hands, and consume over 

 one million pounds of wool per annum. The shawls on exhibition 

 are made entirely from American wool. The daily product is about 

 one thousand long shawls, and only one-third of the mill is yet filled 

 with macliinery ; the remainder is gradually filling up. It is only a 

 year since the commencement of this manufacture, and already they 

 have obtained a iavoiable reputation in the principal cities of the 

 Union. It is gratifying to know that thus far, in the use of these 

 shawls, the style, color, and weight, have proved satisfactory to the 

 consumers ; and we are assured by competent juilges that in all re- 

 spects they compare well with the best styles from Europe. We 

 cannot but look upon a maid- or matron, clad in one of these beautiful 

 and comfortable garments, with as much respect and admiration as if 

 clad in the very costly, but less comfortable fabrics of India. 



It is highly complimentary, and must be gratifying to the proprietors 

 of the Bay State Company, to be informed that the attention of our 



