No. 129.] 73 



The committee report, that the exhibition of cotton goods for 

 1851, although respectable, affords nevertheless but a feeble rep- 

 resentation of the extensive variety of fabrics produced from this 

 great staple in the manufacturing districts of our country, many 

 of which, although not exhibited, might justly be regarded with 

 pride by all who feel an interest in the prosperity and success of 

 American manufactures. 



From the specimens presented, your committee are enabled to 

 report a steady progress in the arts of weaving, dyeing, printing, 

 and finishing, which affords an encouraging prospect of a degree 

 of ultimate perfection which will one day place our domestic 

 fabrics in the front rank in competition with the world. 



Having carefully examined the articles submitted to our in- 

 spection, we have decided as follows : 



The brown sheetings, from the Williamsville Co., Providence, 

 R. I., are the best exhibittd, of good cotton, fine texture, beauti- 

 fully made, and not easy to excel. 



The bleached sheetings from the Wamsutta mills. New Bed- 

 ford, Mass , are a vast improvement on former exhibitions from 

 the same source, and from tlieir exceeding fineness and pure 

 bleaching deserve high commendations, and are, in the former 

 respect, unrivalled by any other specimen presented. They 

 compare favorably with the choicest styles of British and French 

 shirtings ever seen in our market. It was insinuated that tliese 

 goods were made from imported yarn expressly for exiiibition. 

 But we learn from the most reliable source that they are made 

 from yarn of their own spinning, and that the same quality of 

 gnods from the Wamsutta Co., are now sold in the market to a 

 considerable extent. 



Bleached Shh tings from the New-York Mills. These goods 

 maintain their standard excellence, and although not as fine as 

 the specimens from the Wamsutta Mills, are made with uniform 

 perfection, and from their superior weight and firmness, are 

 justly distinguished for their durable qualities. 



