Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-02-16

single town of Mansfield alone. In the
year 1910, the value of the sewing silk,
made in the three counties of New London,
Windham and Toland, was estimated by
the United States Marshal at s23,5O3; but
the value of the domestic fabrics made
from the refuse silk; which may fairly be
estimated at half that sum. was not taken
into consideration. In 1895, the value OF
the silk and of the domestic fabrics manu-
factured in the county Of Windham had
doubled. During all this time, the only
machines for making the sewing silk, were
the common domestic large and small
wheels; with better machinery, sewing silk
of superior quality would have been
made, and at less expense. Three fourths
of the families in Mansfield were engaged
in raising silk, and made annually from 5
to 10, 20, and SO pounds in family, and
one or two, each 100 lbs. in season. In
1882, four or five tons of raw silk were
grown there, worth $4,000; when manu-
factured into sewing silk this would be
worth about 100000. Four or five of the
adjacent towns each produced about as
much as that town. About the same time,
the quantity of silk raised in Windharn aud
Tolland counties, was sufficient to give con-
slant employment to so looms wesvingfive,
yards each per day or in oil about 7o'ooo
yards per year. In our own state the SUD-
iect has not, until recently, received much
attention; during the late war however, one
;nd;v;d,,aI tho late Samuel Chidscy, of Cay
uga county, sold sewing silk of his own
manufacture to the amount of 600 dollars q
year, raised from trees Of the white mulber-
ry introduced by himself at the first settle
tiement of the country. a few years ago,
at one establishment in Pennsylvania, (Ecd-
nomv,) one hundred silk handketchiefs, and
an equal number Of vest patterns, OF supe.
rior quality to foreign articles, were made
annually. In Massachusetts, Jonathan II.
Cobb, of Denham, commenced the culture
of silk in 1926, and has since that time ex-
tended his operations so much as to be in
the habit Of bringing into the Boston mar.
ket, American silk manufactured to the
amount of one hundred dollars per week
the year round. His spinning machine
propelled by water power, is capable Of
preparing annually, 1000 lbs. of silk fol
the loom. In the same town there are
number Of silk looms, as well as in severa
neighboring towns, which arc worked by
hand, and in most instances by persons ii
their own abodes.
We have deemed it proper to exhibit TIN:
view of what has been done already, in or
der that those who are deferred from entering
upon the business on account Of supposed
difficulticsmay see that they have been sur
surmounted by others, with case. Tho
subject has indeed been supposed te
be involved in much mystery, and {
great deal has been written upon it,.
Many persons on reading the elaborate ar.
ticles which have been published, desert.
bing so minutely ly every process, are led tc
suppose the business intricate and difficult,
To the inexperienced it must indeed be
new, because it is different from most other
pursuits, and has none similar to it to serve
as guide; but when once understood, il
becomes quite simple, and is as easy
as raising pigs and poultry. 1t is only nc.
cessary, during the short period Of the ex.
istence ofthe worms, to supply their wants
and protect them from injury, to shelter
them from the storms, cold, and wind, and
70 feed them with proper food when hungry,
and there can be little danger Of success.
Many indeed have been entirely successful
who have never had the advantage of see.
ing a single silk establishment; and nearly
all in this country have been mostly guild.
ed by their own experience. Yet in many
respects, American articles thus produced
have been found fully equal, and often s!l.
perior to foreign ones. In Economy, Pa.
it has been several years since large quan:
titles of silk have been manufactured into
vestings, handkcrchieis, and other broad
articles; which have been rceled, dyed, spun
woven and finished at that place; and in
Dayton, Ohio, domestic silk handkerchicfs
have been made of most excellent quality,
the product Of the native mulberry, where
the process of winding, reeling, doubling,
twisting, &c. were performed by machine
ry, principally Of the. invention Of the pro-
prietor OF the establishment. Sewing silk
Of all colors, is very common article OF
manufacture in all parts Of the country.
The following calculation Of the labor
attending ard connected with the culture Of
silk, in Connecticut, s by John Fitch, Esq.
of Mansfield, in this state.
One acre offull grown trees, set ono and
half rods apart, will produce forty pounds
Of silk.
The labor may be estimated as fol.
lows
For the three first weeks after the worms
arc hatchcd, one woman, who is acquaint-
cd with the business, or children who would
be equal to such person.