April — june, 1857.] Observations on Cotton. 119 



English goods.* While the American manufacturer saves the dif- 

 ference of freight, he buys a superior article, and gives J a cent, to 

 1 cent, more per lb. (|d. and |d.) than for shipping qualities sent 

 to England. 



The English manufactures for foreign markets are composed 

 greatly of East India Cotton, which is shorter and weaker, though 

 possibly finer, than American ; it is also greatly mixed with particles 

 of brown leaves and motes, which, notwithstanding all preparatory 

 processes, get spun into the thread and weaken its adhesion ; and 

 though they are removed in the dressing of white cloths, they yet 

 leave the web less entwined throughout : the leaves and motes are 

 occasioned by neglect of picking the Seed-Cotton from the pods 

 as they successively open. 



The fibre of Cotton,f viewed through a microscope, is described 

 as having a range of hooks on its edges, by which one fibre ad- 

 heres to another. On this account it is said to be less fit for sur- 

 gical purposes than flax ; the fibre of which is found to be a suc- 

 cession of smooth hollow joints. Where these serrated edges are 

 less perfect the thread will be weakened, and to prevent their 

 breaking, the English Fabrics require a slower operation, especi- 

 ally when mixed with East India Cotton. 



It is said by an English operative, who counted the strokes with 

 his watch in his hand, that the American spinner, having paid 

 from 5 to 10 per cent, higher for his selected wool, gains 20 per 

 cent, by the rapidity of his machinery ; as, when weaving for a 

 foreign market, he can give 130 strokes at the loom per minute, 

 instead of 100 to 110. On this point, however, I only repeat the 

 information received. The American manufacturer has likewise, 

 in different portions of the States, a great command of water-power, 

 and in selecting new situations, in such an unoccupied country, 



* In the year 1831 the export of American manufactures was £220,000 sterling. 

 — American Almanac for 1833, page 126. In 1841, it was £600,000 sterling, 

 chiefly of white cottons.— Ditto for 1843, page 191. In 1847, the value exported 

 was £816,500; and in 1848, it reached £1,143,600 sterling.— Ditto for 1850, page 

 176. 



f Bainea' History of the Cotton Manufactures of Britain. 



