" The small manufacturers
generally dispose of their cloth in the rough state.
The progress of machinery has called into existence a great number of
factories, especially in worsted and mixed stuffs, has given value to many
descriptions of wool formerly valueless, and, coupled with the repeal of the
duty, brought into the market many kinds unknown a few years ago. "Properties
once prized," Mr. Southey remarks in his Essay on Wools, "have given way to
some other property upon which machinery can better operate, and yield more
desirable results. Spanish wool, once deemed indispensable, is now little
sought after. It is supplanted by our colonial wool, which is steadily
advancing in quality and quantity, while angora goat, and alpaca wools are
forcing their way into and enhancing the value of our stuff trade." . . .
"Machinery has marshalled before its tremendous power the wool of every
country, selected and adopted the special qualities of each. Nothing, in
fact, is now rejected. Even the burr, existing in myriads in South America
and some other descriptions of wool, at one time so perplexing to our
manufacturers, can now, through the aid of machinery, be extracted, without
very material injury to the fibre.
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