tion the expediency of forming an Association of Cotton Manufacturers, for mutual action in Patent Cases, submitted the following report: General PALFREY said that manufacturers might and should have as clear title to the royalties which they purchase as to a piece of real estate. An Association, he thought, might be formed which would increase the ease and cheapness of making investigations. Introducers of patents were always met with a certain amount of incredulity; and if a decision can be obtained by the Association proposed to be formed, as to the validity of a patent, at the outset, it would operate both to the advantage of the seller and the buyer. The principal guide for the formation of the Association is that of the Railroad Association before referred to. The mem. bers of that Association have received great benefit from it; and that it has been conducted upon just and honorable principles, is evident from the fact that a majority of the cases that have come before it for consideration, have been decided against itself. These considerations have led your Committee unanimously to report as follows: 1. That, after careful consideration, they are of opinion that such an Association would be of use to Manufacturers, in protecting their interests and improving their relations with patentees, if so managed as not to discourage inventors or others in the introduc tion of actual improvements. 2. That, in view of the extensive scope of the project, they recommend its full discussion by the N. E. C. M. Association. 3. That, as the constitution and management of such an Association must be established by its members, it is desirable that those wishing to combine for this object, should make themselves known to each other by signing their names at the Secretary's desk, or by such other means as may be best; and if the number justifies it, that they should arrange for further action. Respectfully submitted, JOHN C. PALFREY. R. GARSED. The CHAIRMAN said that the report embodied some very important ideas, but it was a subject to which he had himself given very little attention. Manufacturers were all more or less annoyed by the multiplicity of inventions which are brought forward; but there are two sides to the question: inventive talent should be encouraged, and those who do not possess a great amount of inventive skill themselves should be protected against pretended inventions, those that have been tested, and thrown aside as useless. EDWARD ATKINSON, Esq., of Boston, Mass., suggested that, if the matter was of sufficient consequence to cover the cost of postage and stationery, it might be well to have the report of the committee printed, and a copy of the same sent to every member of the Association, with a request that each member notify the Secretary whether or not he desires to join an Association like the one proposed. If such an Association could be formed and put into successful operation, it would work to the advantage of all parties. GEORGE DRAPER, Esq., of Hopedale, Mass., said that he stood in a peculiar relation to the question under consideration. Nineteentwentieths of the members of the Association would probably consider him on one side of the question, and themselves on the other side. He had spent twenty years of his life in making and intro. ducing improvements among cotton manufacturers, and had dealings with nearly every member of the Association during that period of time. No doubt, some individuals had at some time considered him a bore, who a few years afterward had changed their minds and come to the conclusion that he was a necessary evil, if an evil at all, when he had given them some improvement which was better than anything they had ever had before. The speaker expressed great doubt as to the expediency of forming an Association like the one proposed; thought it would be a cumbersome affair and very difficult to manage; it would be the creature, not of one corporation only, but of a great number of corporations. The agents of manufacturing corporations, who were the purchasers of improvements made in cotton machinery, are, with but few exceptions, sharp, shrewd business men, and perfectly competent to look after their own interests. As for him self, he had always been willing and desirous of placing the inven tions he had for sale upon their own merits, - had always been willing to apply them at his own expense, and leave them for trial; so that manufacturers could see for themselves whether or not they were of any use, before purchasing. He had distributed over $225,000 in cash among inventors. This amount had been paid mainly to overseers and others, who were men of moderate circumstances. Many of the important improvements originate in small, out of the way mills. For instance, the Dutcher Temple, and the Parallel Shuttle motion, the latter dispensing with pickers and picker rods, were invented by Mr. Dutcher, at North Bennington, Vt. The use of both of these has become almost universal. The expansion catch to prevent thin places in cloth woven on positive moion looms, was invented by Trueman Estes of the same place. It has been adopted by all builders of looms. Not only has this large amount of money been paid to inventors, but probably quite as large a sum had been expended in making experiments. The only way to test an invention is to put it into different hands, and to try it on different kinds of goods; and though it may not be perfect at the outset, out of these different trials and experiments will grow a thing of use. In the matter of lawsuits, the speaker had never sued any one, or been sued. Having got along so well for twenty years, he thought if anything must be done, the best plan would be to offer rewards for inventions in certain lines, and not do anything that would tend in any way to discourage inventors. His own experience had shown that it was a difficult matter to introduce improvements, from the fact that manufacturers were disposed to wait until a thing was proved to be a success, before they were willing to try it. A. G. CUMNOCK, Esq., of Lowell, said the subject under consideration is a very important one, and in trying to avoid one evil, we should be careful not to run into anothor. Our mechanics and overseers are mostly poor men, and most of the inventions of any value have come from them. An Association such as is proposed to be formed might have a tendency to discourage the class of men who originated the greater part of the improvements made. The speaker moved that the report of the committce be printed and laid over until the next meeting of the Association. General PALFREY said the subject had already been under consideration for six months. He did not think it possible for the Cotton Manufacturers' Association to form a combination for the purpose suggested; but it would be well for such individuals as are favorable to the formation of the Association, to make themselves known to each other, and if they can agree upon any principles upon which they can combine, to go on. He thought it best that the report of the committee should be printed separately from the proceedings of the meeting, and sent to each member, with the request that they signify to the Secretary whether or not they desire to join such an Association. The CHAIRMAN said that he understood from General PALFREY that this matter came before the Association simply that the members might express their individual opinions; and it was not expected that any direct action would be taken upon it. It was finally Voted, That the report of the committee be accepted, and printed, with the proceedings of this meeting; also, that the report be printed separately, and a copy of the same be sent to each member of the Association, with a request from the Secretary that they signify to him whether or not they desire to join such an Association. Mr. LOCKWOOD assumed the duties of the Chair. The next subject before the meeting was, The best Method of Preparing Cotton for the Card. DANIEL HUSSEY, Esq., of Lowell, said he had been invited to prepare a paper on the subject, but had been so much occupied that he had not had time to do so. The cotton is received in such different conditions, and of so many grades,-some of it very clean, and some very dirty, that it is impossible to give any specific rules for preparing cotton for the card. The one thing most needed is good judgment. He knew of no better process of opening cotton than by the beater. A good, sharp beater in an opener, and the draft well arranged, seemed to answer the purpose quite as well as anything that had yet been invented. Mr. ATKINSON said that he understood that beaters were formerly made of brass or compound metal. They are now made mostly of iron or steel, and very frequently strike fire when they come in contact with hard substances in the cotton, which is the cause of a large proportion of the fires that occur in cotton mills. He would inquire why the change was made. He stated that there were considerable quantities of cotton known as the "city crops," being the gatherings of the presses and yards in which were mixed oyster shells and pebbles, but which, notwithstanding, are eagerly bought by English buyers, at very low prices; and he supposed there must be a method of cleaning such cotton without danger. Mr. HUSSEY replied that it was probably because the compound metal of which the beaters were formerly made did not prove hard enough to stand the wear to which they were subjected; while if made harder, they would prove too brittle. Mr. ATKINSON inquired if any attempt was ever made to cover the beaters with hide, or some similar substance. The CHAIRMAN said he had known raw hide to be used for beat ing purposes, but not for beating cotton. One idea suggested by Mr. HUSSEY is of great force to all who are familiar with the subject; that is, the difficulty of laying down any specific rule for preparing cotton for the card, from the fact that there are so many grades of cotton, each grade requiring a different system of preparation. Low middling, and all higher grades, require but very little picking; whilst, on the other hand, the Surat and some other foreign cottons require a large amount of handling, and more preparation of machinery, to fit them for the card; hence, it becomes a difficult question to answer what opener or what par ticular machine is best adapted to accomplish the purpose. Dur ing the war, many manufacturers were forced to use very low grades of cotton, and very many foreign grades were used. The attention of manufacturers was then called to the most thorough process of cleaning cotton; and hence was largely introduced the Crighton opener and a variety of others, which had special reference to taking out the dirt. In addition to that, they fell into the habit of picking more after passing through the opener, feeling the necessity of having a great deal of machinery for cleaning |