Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-05-29
SILK MANUFACTURES.

We copy the following article upon American
Silk from the Baltimore American, as being int.
resting TO Silk growers in this region.
| MANUFACTURE OF SILK IN TIE U. STATES
| There are twelve States in the Union which en-.
courage the culture of Silk by special boun,ies In
the Legislature Of New York a similar policy ha.
been advocated and has probably before now re
ceived the sanction Of law.
We lind IN Northern paper the following state
ments Of facts relative to American silk:
The Silk OF America is found to contain a fibre
stronger and OF quality superior that Of almost
any other country. Specimens have been examined
by the Chamber Of Commerce at Lyons; and other
intelligent Frenchmen, both he and in that coun.
try, have examined and attcsicd the truth OF this inn
portant Tact. The cause OF this superiority may be
traced either 10 soil, or what is more probable 10
our hne and serene climate during summer.
Not long since specimens of American raw silk
were shown to very intelligent ribbon weaver from
England, and he pronounced them altogether supe-
nor to any European or India Silk he had ever wo.
ven IN his native country. This speaks loudly in
favor OF the quality OF American elk cspecialIv
such as is produced in the Northern attitudes The
cocoons from which this silk was rceled were made
on the cold mountains of Litch6ed county, Conn.
SIX Is also successfully raised ut Penobscoi Maine
IN 10 deg. north lat In further proof of the good
qualities OF American silk. MIR Whiimarsh of North
ampon, Mass, who in 1889 had power looms sui.
heient TO turn off 1000 yards of ribbon daily. be.
SUITS HaChihety iot sewing silks and braids, saws:
VI have used the silks Of France, Italy, Turkey.
China and Bengal in the progress OF manufacturing
and give the American the preference 10y 25 per
cent"
IL Is also an ascertained fact, that from given
quantity OF cocoons, one-third more silk NAV Ice
reeled IN France or Italy; and the loss of worms
mas not been so much in this, in those countries
Iae importation OF silk goods into this country
Tor the year ending September 30th, 1889, amounted
TO S2S ,sOOOOO. IL Is estimated that during the last
ten years the United States have paid more than |
si5oooo,oOO for silk manufactures of foreign pro.
duction.
The attempts ut the culture Of silk in the United |
states have been made chiefly in the Northern |
states Massachusetts paid last year in bountics |
TO the growers of silk nearly three thousand dollars
But II viii occur TO every one that the climate of |
tins latitude and farther South must he better adap
ted to the culture than that of the more northern
portions ofthe country.
The imposition of a twenty per cent duty on |
French silks would he Of great service in promoting
the growth and manufacture of the article in the u |
States In the whole list ct our imports there is no
Item which can with moro proprioty lie made the |
subject OF su"h duty. II would yield handsome |
sum To the revenue; the tax indirectly levied by il
would be drawn chiefly from the wealthy; and the |
farther beneficial result from the import would be to
encourage the culture and manufacture OF silk ut
home.