The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1831-01-22


Amounting in the aggregate to the enor-
nous sum of $50, i56, ,566, making an sv-
erage annual Importation Of S7,l65 ,223
worth Of silks. But Of this amount, was
re-exportcd SI2,898,8 1853, leaving for the
home market S37, ,262, $50; and showing
an average annual consumption OF silks Of
| So, 1913, ga. But this statement is far
from exhibiting TO the apprehension ofthis
country, the true amount Of these import
atoms. This is the amount fthe invoice
prices, the prices ofthe goods at the place
whence imported: the prices not to cell by
but to pay duties by the price to the for
eign manufacture, perhaps not to the A
merican consumer. The retail market val
ue which ist price the purchaser pays in
labor, in produce or in dollars and cents,
must include, first, the duty from twenty
to twenty five per cent; second, tho chare-
es and profits Of importation, at least ten
per cent more; and third, the ordinary re-
tail profit twenty five per cent on the whole
sale cost This per centage swells the
value of the importation of silks, for the
last seven years, TO the formidable amount
of $84, ,764 ,205: averaging annually $l2,-
lO9,l72 by the same standard of value,
the value at which they have been sold
and purchased, the amount actually con-
sumed in the country for the last 7years,
is $62, ,88O,819; showing an annual con-
sumption of$s 9s2 974. To purchase these
silks ould require 8,982 ,974 bushels of
wheat at dollar per bushel; to produce
them and manufacture them, would en-
rich the farmers and manufacturers Of the
nation just as much as the production and
sale in foreign market, of so much wheat
or cotton, corn or rice. The home con-
sumption, which requires so much silk to
supply it, furnish just as valuable mar
ket for the agriculture of the countyr, ,as a
foreign market for so much wheat or cot
ton; which is in fact, more than double the
value the foreign market for all the
-four and wheat we export, and the domes-
tic supply of the former would not dimin-
sh by one bushel our export in the latter"
So much for our home market But this
is not all, it may be made an article of ex-
port. Millions Of dollars worth of raw
silk are imported into France and Eng
land every year. Could permanent
market for an additional million of bush
els of flour, (more than the present annu-
al export of the article) be suddenly open
ed to the merchants of the u. S. with
what eagerness would they seek it, and
how speedily would they supply i'll
Should it be unlawfully obstructed, with
what importantly would Government be
urged to remove the embarrassments--
The army and navy of the Union would
be put in rcqusition to defend it from ag-
gression, and its treasure would be freely
and literally expended, to keep clear the
channel Of so important a branch Of its
commerce. And this would be national
Justice and sound policy. /. would be in
aid Of agriculture as well as Of commerce.
But need the American farmer be remind
ed that hundred dollars worth of silks is
as valuable as the same amount of -four
or wheat' And if he can produce this
value Of silk with vastly less labor, from
less space, and with much less risk Of ac-
cident or failure, with what avidity should
he engage in its production. Here isa
domestic market fer silks of nearly double
the value Of all the foreign markets for all
MS pICuu Stuiis, tHpoSCu W HO HteTTupt-
ion, liable to no accident, constantly in
creasing with the growth ofthe nation and
perfectly within his power. He has but
to will and suit his action to his volitlon,
to insure both its possession and supply.
One acre Of full grown mulberry trees it
is estimated, will produce two hundred
dollars worth ofsilk; but il would require
ten acres ofthe first rate land to produce
he same value CT wheat; neither is there
my comparison in the quantity and quail
~ Of the labor required. The bone and
muscle ofthe most athletic and robust are
Indispensable to the production Of wheat,
While the feeble powers Of women and
hildren ore competent to the business of
Producing silk. 1t is well known fact
hat the value Of our exports of bread stufis
ave greatly diminished Of lats---conse-
uently the agricultural interest il depress
d, the value Of land is diminished; and
hall we 90 on still to lessen its value by
importing $l2, 900, 900 worth of silk an
ually when the same may be raised on
ur own soil and will produce a rich re-
ard for oar own Industry -
Congress has repeatedly called the at