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In machinery, &c.

4,060

Manufactured 3731 yards of velvets, vestings, dress, and other silks, &c.

6,324

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Cocoons, reeled and other prepared silk, warps in looms and other

stock, coal, &c., per invoice.

3,180

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TABLE, exhibiting the value of Importations of Silk Manufactures into the United States, from Foreign Countries, and Exports of the same, from 1821 to 1841, inclusive.

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1837

1838

1839

1840

Annual average for 21 years

8,748,274

And, including the consumption of foreign silks for 1842 and 1843, amounts, for 24 years, to 2 0,000,000

RAW SILK.

IMPORTS and Exports of Foreign Raw Silk (included for the above) for Five Years.

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In 1839, the importations of silk from various countries amounted to nearly 23,000,000 dollars, viz:

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other manufactures, from other places than India.......... 18,685,295

Manufactures of silk and worsted, 2,319,884 dollars (allowing

one-half the value to be of silk) ...

Total.........

1,159,942

..22,838,028

The importations of silk are one-fourth more than of any other article.

The amount of cotton manufactures imported was

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dollars. 14,692,397

12,051,668

7,025,898

3,507,161

1,159,942

18,831,907

(For further details, see tabular statements of the manufactures of the United States.)

MANUFACTURE OF FLAX AND HEMP.

In the early history of the colonies, Douglas, in his Summary, informs us, that the people from the north of Ireland, in 1750 to 1759, had greatly improved the fabrics of linen, and all manner of spinning, and for a long period linens made in families of the flax grown in the country, was generally worn by the agricultural population.

In 1810, the quantity of linen cloth made in families, as returned by the marshals, was 23,503,590 yards, then valued at 8,261,361 dollars; in some of the states, however, that made from flax was not distinguished. In New York, the quantity made from flax, was 5,372,645 yards, valued at 2,014,741 dollars, or about forty cents per yard; and in Virginia, was 5,155,798 yards, valued at 1,718,599 dollars, or thirty-three and one-third cents per yard. Since that period, we have no data, by which to determine either the relative increase or decrease of the linen manufacture, nearly the whole of which is still carried on in families. In proportion to the population, it has, no doubt, decreased. In 1824, the quantity of linen and cotton cloths made in families, in the state of New York, was 8,079,992 yards, then valued at 1,211,998 dollars, or fifteen cents a yard. The returns did not show the quantity made from flax, but it was probably one-half.-Pitkin.

The manufacture of cotton bagging has increased, with the increase of cotton, and has become an article of no small importance to the cotton planter. It has, in the same ratio of increase, supplanted bags made of hemp and flax.

In 1833-4, according to Mr. Pitkin, there were about 1,100,000 bales of cotton raised in the United States, requiring about five yards of bagging for each bale, making 5,500,000 yards necessary for the annual consumption. The average quantity of this article imported, in the years 1832 and 1833, was 1,112,000 yards, leaving for consumption of domestic production, say 4,400,000 yards, which, at twenty cents per yard, is 880,000 dollars; and the whole value of the domestic manufacture of flax and hemp, in the United States, he is of opinion ought not, at that time, to be estimated higher than between 5,000,000 and 6,000,000 dollars.

By a joint resolution of Congress, agents are to be appointed, to reside in Kentucky and Missouri, for the purpose of purchasing water-rotted hemp; and the said agents are restricted, by the resolution, in their operations, so far as regards price and quality, that the article is not to cost government any more than the same quality may be bought for in seaport towns. "The quantity," says Lyford's Commercial Journal, "will probably depend upon the wants of government, expressed in

the form of requisitions at irregular periods, in the shape of proposals to supply the demand required at named points."

The ability of the western states to furnish hemp, may be inferred from the fact that, in 1840, according to the report of the marshals appointed to take the census, Kentucky returned 9992 tons of hemp and flax, and Missouri 18,010 tons. The manufactures in the former, from flax, are put down in valuation at 7519 dollars; and of cordage, at 1,292,276 dollars. In the latter, there are no manufactures from flax, but of cordage, to the amount of 98,490 dollars-total value of cordage (which, we presume, means principally bale rope), 1,390,760 dollars. A small portion, only, of flax could have been included in the return of Kentucky, from the proportion the manufactures appear to bear towards that of hemp.

It appears that there were grown, in Kentucky, in 1842, 14,000 tons, equal to 28,000,000 lbs. of hemp. From this amount, it is estimated there was manufactured, in 1843, 6,500,000 yards of bagging, and 7,000,000 lbs. of bale rope. Of the bagging, 2,000,000 yards were made by steam factories, and the remaining 4,500,000 yards by hand looms, there being about 300 of the latter in the state, each of which to be woven 15,000 yards. The counties which produced hemp, are

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The 300 looms are distributed-Woodford county, sixty; Fayette county, eighty; Franklin county, thirty; Scott county, thirty; Jessamine county, thirty; Mason county, twenty; all other counties, fifty.

The St. Louis Chamber of Commerce reports that hemp is fast becoming a leading article of trade in that city. "There are already two large manufactories of bagging and bale rope here, and several rope-walks, and there are a number of establishments in various parts of the state. The quantity of hemp manufactured and exported, in 1842 amounted to 1460 tons, and the quantity grown in this state was 1500 or 1600 tons, of which 380 tons were shipped to Kentucky, twenty tons to New Orleans, and the balance manufactured in this state." Cables and cordage are extensively manufactured for the use of shipping and river craft.-(See tabular statement of manufactures.)

STATEMENT exhibiting the Value and Manufactures of Hemp and Cordage; embracing Sail Duck, Sheeting, Brown and White, Ticklenburgs, Osnaburgs, and Burlaps, Cotton Bagging, cloth, &c., annually, from 1821 to 1844.

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STATEMENT exhibiting the Value of Linens, and other Manufactures of Flax, Imported into the United States annually, from 1821 to 1844.

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LEATHER AND LEATHER MANUFACTURES.

This branch is of great extent and importance, especially in the states of New England, New York, and Pennsylvania. Mr. Pitkin, in his statistics, brought down to 1834, says:

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"The business of making shoes, boots, saddlery, harness, and trunks, is carried on in almost every village and town throughout the United States. The inhabitants of some towns are almost exclusively employed in making shoes alone. In the town of Lynn, in Massachusetts, the number of shoes made in 1832, was 1,675,781, valued at 942,191 dollars; giving employment to 1741 males, and 1775 females. Many of the fishermen at Marblehead, not finding a market for their fish, have lately turned shoemakers.

"The manufacture of leather is carried on to a great extent in the states of New York and Pennsylvania. From fifty-three tanneries, in the former state, there was sent to the city of New York, in 1831, sole leather to the value of 1,578,900 dollars; when to this was added, the sole leather of other tanneries, and also the upper leather, calf skins, goat and sheep skins, from the other principal tanneries, the value was estimated at 3,458,650 dollars."

"The improvement," says Mr. Ellsworth, "in the manufacture and making up this article, has also greatly reduced the price of shoes. By further inventions to render leather water-proof, likewise, much has been done to protect the health, and promote economy. Those who have not turned their attention to this subject, may be surprised to learn that leather, made water-proof in the best manner, will last at least one-third longer than other kinds.' Allowing, therefore, three dollars per head for each person in the United States for shoes, the cost of the whole article in the country would be 50,000,000 dollars, one-third of which, sold, would be over 16,000,000 dollars."

In the New York manufactory of shoes by machinery, it is stated, that—

"The sole-leather is first pressed between wooden rollers, which makes it extremely firm and compact; much more so than hammering can do. It is then placed under a cutting machine, which, at one operation, cuts it into the proper shape. Meantime, another machine is busy making steel wire into screws of about three feet in length, all of which is done with surprising celerity. A fourth machine punches the soles with holes, inserts the screw, and cuts it off at the proper length. All that is then necessary, is to rivet the screws by a few blows with a hammer, on an anvil. The soles manufactured in this way are superior to the Napoleon, inasmuch as the rivets adhere better, and the leather is rendered more compact. They are produced with infinitely less labour, and can be afforded about fifty per cent cheaper."

On the subject of the leather manufactures, Hunt's Merchants' Magazine, for 1844, affords the following information:

"It is within the last twenty years that the manufacture of leather, sole-leather more particularly, has risen to high character and importance in the state of New York.

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Previous to this period the tanning of leather had been carried on chiefly in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware, and in the eastern states, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and 4 N

VOL. 11.

Vermont, the former tanning exclusively with oak bark, and the latter chiefly with hemlock.* Indeed, it may be truly asserted that the New York market was supplied almost entirely with leather from these different sections of our country; and behold the change; the state of New York has become now the tanning region, the city of New York the great leather market of the union, and there are more foreign hides imported into the city of New York than in any other city in the world.

"The first effort of consequence made to establish large tanneries in this state was by an association of gentlemen, under act of incorporation, styled the New York Tannery.'

"The company located their tannery in the town of Hunter, Greene county, twenty miles west of the North river; and, after prosecuting the business for a period of five years unsuccessfully, were compelled, finally, to close up their affairs, sell their lands and buildings, and abandon to individual enterprise the task of rearing up and firmly establishing this business in the new region.

"The spur, however, had been given, the impulse felt, and long before the company had ceased its operations, many extensive tanneries, capable of competing successfully with those of other states, and rivalling the great incorporated pioneer, had started into existence. Indeed, when we recur to that early period in the history of tanning in this state, and then dwell on the present, we are struck with wonder at the rapid progress and stirring enterprise everywhere exhibited. In every hemlock forest, on every falling stream, and accompanying the interior settlements in every direction, may be seen tanneries of the largest structure, giving employment to the wood-cutter, the bark-peeler, the teamster, and the wheelwright; and under the consuming fires of their never-glutted 'leeches,' the forests of hemlock are rapidly giving place for the plough of the husbandman; villages and mills arising as by the bidding of an enchanter's wand, where before was the inaccessible waterfall; and macadamized roads and turnpikes, traversing mountains heretofore deemed impassable.

"In the region of the Catskill mountains, the great sole leather tanning district, and in an extent embraced within the limits of the counties of Greene, Delaware, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster, there were,in the year 1820, but three tanneries of any considerable size, and the amount of leather manufactured in them of trifling importance-in the aggregate, perhaps, 40,000 sides; value, some 100,000 dollars. There are now in the same district, without enumerating many small ones, fifty-six tanneries of capacity sufficient to manufacture annually 328,000 hides, equal to 656,000 sides, or 9,840,000 lbs. of sole leather, and in value 1,672,800 dollars!!

"The tannery at Prattsville, in the state of New York, is described as to have existed and thriven by Colonel Pratt commencing the world with that sometimes useful companion, Poverty, and, after struggling through the early period of his life with the difficulties and embarrassments incidental to such a connexion, he resolved to seek his fortune farther west.' With this determination, he penetrated what at that period (1824) was deemed almost a wilderness, the interior of the Catskill mountains. A situation on the banks of the Schohariekill presenting to his mind great natural advantages he resolved to establish himself there. In the incredibly short space of ninety days (we have the fact from himself), he had his taunery erected, and ready to commence operations.

"He then procured a stock of hides in the city of New York, which he transported over the mountains to his factory, by the most difficult and unbroken roads, In a new country, inconveniences and difficulties presented themselves in every shape-new machinery to be tried, altered, or thrown away, unskilful workmen and labourers to be trained and broken in,' bark to be peeled, and dragged from the mountains. In addition, the stock of leather, injured by negligence or want of skill on the part of his workmen, was returned to a low and glutted market, and forced off at ruinous prices. All these adverse circumstances were enough to discourage him, but did not; they only served to awaken still further his energies, and stimulate him to renewed exertions. He is now, after the lapse of sixteen years, the proprietor of the largest tannery in America, perhaps in the world, the purchases and sales for which have amounted during that period to the immense sum of two millions and a half of dollars, in the centre of a beautiful village numbering in population some thousand inhabitants, containing an academy erected at his own personal cost, and which he now offers to endow with 5000 dollars, conditioned that a like amount be raised by the inhabitants; two handsome churches which he aided liberally in building, and still continues

"It is observable that in this country, wherever the hemlock forests terminate in regions too warm for its production, there the oak forests commence;' consequently, the oak is used in the middle and southern states, almost exclusively, while in the latitudes north of the city of New York the same remark may be applied to hemlock."

+ Colonel Pratt connected his tanning operations with the house of Gideon Lee and Co., in the city of New York, with whom he continued it for a period of fifteen years, until the senior members of that house retired from active business.

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