The Arkansas advocate., 1830-07-14

i Connecticut s IS iIOIf iiie best of siih, sti:i l is. after all, quite inferior to that oi France and Italy; in these latter coun- tries, sewing silk is manufactured from Imperfect cocoons, or from refuse silk. It appears, also, that unless the silk is properly reeled from the cocoons, it is never afterwards susceptible of use Tn the finer fabrics.
 ltis a gratifying consideration to the committee, that the benefits from the culture oi silk, and the acquisition ol the art of reeling the same, will be common to every part of the United States. The climate of every state in the Union is adapted to the culture of silk, matching the eggs of the silk worm may be accelerated or retarded to suit the putting forth the leaves of the mul- berry. The tree is easily propagated from the seeds of the fruit, and is adapt ed 10 almost any soil.
 The committee regard the general culture of silk as of vast national adyan- tage in many points of view. If zeal- ously undertaken and prosecuted, 1t will, in few years, furnish an article of export of great value; and thus the millions paid by the people of the uni- ted States, for silk stuffs, will be com pensated for by the sale of our raw silk. The importation of silk during the year which ended on 30th September, 1928, amounted to S8,i63,563, of which Sl, 274.46i were exported; but, in the same year, exfosfttasttiioa ae.f bread stuffs from this country amountedto only S5,4l4,665, leaving balance against us of nearly S2,000,000.
 The committee anticipate, that, at a period not remote, when we shall be in possession of the finest material produc- ed in any country, the manufacture of silk stuffs will necessarily be introduced | into the United States.
 The culture of silk promises highly moral benefits, in the employment of poor women and children in q profta- ble business, whilst 1t will detract mo- thing from agricultural or manufactur- ling labor. The culture of silk will greatly benefit those States which have 1abundantsl slave labor, the value of whose principal productions, particularly in the article of cotton, has been depressed by over production. It is well ascer- tained, that although France, produces within herself much silk, she pays an- nually more than s;2o,000,000 fer i'm ported silk. The committee have been unable to ascertain the amount of raw silk purchased from other countries in England, but they are satisfied the amount is large; and that, in these coun- tries alone, a ready market can be found for all the raw silk raised in the United States for many years to come.
 The committee have, through their Chairman, eorresponded with Mir. Du Ponceau, and this report is accompanied with a communication from that most l respectable man and useful citizen, ex- hihltlng his matured views on this in- teresting subject. Mir. D'iFomergue is now in Philadelphia, and unless sufii- cient inducements are offered 10 him to remain in this country, he will very Isoon leave 1t for ever. He possesses, in an eminent degree, all the practical knowledge necessary, as an instructor in the theory and practice of the art oi reeling silk from cocoons, and manufac- lturing the same into the various forms and qualities of raw silk known in the 1silk trade, having, from his infancy, been Instructed in all the various processes. I ltis believed to be almost impossible tc Iproeure from Europe another person SC competent to impart knowledge o
 these arts as Mir. D'iIomergue is. The acquisition of his services and instruc,
 ton is invaluable; and, in the opinior
 of the committee, if he be suffered te leave the United States at this period lit would be a national misfortune. IT the confident belief that Congress will
 unhesitatingly, provide for theappropri
 alton of small and insignificant sum O money, in promoting measure which
 cannot fail to realize to the nation sucf
 rich results, the committe have prepared
 Q bill, which they beg leave to present
 silk.-Mr. Spencer, from the com Imittee to whom the subject of silk in the ttl,e
 United States was referred, reports t
 Congress that eight pounds of cocoon,
 from the American silk worm will pro lduce as much silk as eleven pounds iron
 the French or italian-that every State
 in the Union is adapted to the culture |-that we imported last yearSa millions