PROCEEDINGS OF. THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 465 



chunioal aptitude ami the ktiowlcdg-c wliicli utilizes tlieni. These facts have 

 worked out tlie great results of previous years, and it is fair to assume they 

 will work out greater in coming years, and their product will distribute 

 among us a steady stream bf wealth to nourjsh ev^ery important industrj'. 



In this connection much could be urged in favor of a greater proportion 

 of steam tonnage, whicli should, and doubtless will in due time, be far in 

 advance of what it has been. We touch the beginning of the end as to the 

 war, and we are therc^fore in a condition to consult our prospective wellare. 

 Let us be prepared for the activities and responsibilities, the profits and 

 omo1nmeuts.of peace, by CKtending our steamship comniunication whenever 

 it is practicable, and it is to be hoped that Congress will lend its aid to 

 any enterprise which looks to inter-comniunication with foreign commercial 

 nations. It may be remarked that the custom and commercial interests of 

 England have induced her to subsidize ocean steamship lines in every di- 

 rection, and to an amount which has been considered appalling by other 

 nations. The custom has increased her tonnage, expanded her commerce, 

 her manufactures, her exports of every variety, and proved so profitable 

 generally as to have become usual. If we intend to compete for the com- 

 mercial advantages of Europe, South America and Asia, we must employ 

 the instrumentalities which arc used against us. Nor has there ever been 

 a time, perhaps, in our national history, when we were so pushed to expend 

 the penny in order to secure the pound as]atthis moment. The wisest econ- 

 omy consists, occasional!}', in a very lavish expenditure. 



The Chairman next called on Mr. Watson to open the regular subject of 

 the evening — 



The Manufacture of Thread. 



Mr. Watson — To the people of this country at large, the importance of a 

 good sewing thread is very great. Until a few years, almost from the com- 

 meneement of the war, English thread controlled the mai-ket, but within the 

 time spoken of a va.st trade has sprung up, involving tens of thousands of dol- 

 lars of capital, and giving support to hundreds of persons. There are, at this 

 time, in this country, many thread manufacturers, and the aggregate value of 

 the manufactured products amount^ to 84,000,000 annually. The number of 

 yards made is incalculable. 



The necessary qualities in a good sewing thread are strength, smo6thness 

 of finish, regularity in size, rotundity, freedom from knots, and uniformity in 

 the quality. All these are obtained in our best American threads. I have 

 been at some pains to obtain the loading threads in the market, and I have 

 I'foujrht here, for your inspection, the Willimantic thread ; the Green & Dan- 

 Is thread and the Stafford Bros, thread. In addition to these there are 

 other threads made. Perry's Water-twist, Samoset, Shaker's, and Circassian, 

 are well known brands. 



I have here also an English thread of Coats, and another one whose name 

 I shall not give ; the latter I submit for your examination. (The speaker here 

 handed around an English thread which was very inferior.) Coats English 

 thread is justly celebrated. It has been in the market twenty-five years, and 

 !« uniform in quality. I think, however, that our domestic thread is, in all 

 [Am. I.NST.] D* 



