REPORT OF MR. KNIGHT.

77

REPORT ON TEXTILE FABRICS, RAW MATERIALS, AND MACHINERY.

By HORATIO G. KNIGHT.

His Excellency the governor, in his address to the two branches of the legislature, expressed a doubt whether the representation of the Commonwealth at the Vienna Exhibi­tion would result in the great benefit that was predicted by many.

He alluded to the chief causes of failure, and gave the Massachusetts Commission credit for having labored faithfully and intelligently to secure the best attainable results.

It may well be questioned whether it was expedient for an V State to send out a paid commission, charged with duties that should have been well performed by United States com­missioners.

The Massachusetts Commissioner on behalf of industrial interests, explains the hindrances to his own success, points °ut many defects in the arrangement and organization of the Exhibition, and makes suggestions in his report which may be of much value to the State in its preparation for future e xhibitions.

It is therefore more than possible that such advantages will accrue to the Commonwealth, from its representation at ) idma, as to justify the appropriation that was made for the industrial, as well as for the educational branch of the Com­mission.

. ^ a new impulse shall be given to any one of our great industrial interests, or if our people shall be more impressed ^ith the importance of industrial and scientific education, the

Dors °f the Commission will not have been in vain.

The undersigned would gladly have given more time to his aties as an Associate, but for the reasons that are stated in

[ enna while the Exhibition was in a state of disorder.

^ le Commissioner’s report it seemed to be useless to go to