Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1841-08-28
from The A7basu Cuztipator.

MANUFACTURE OF SILK AT AuBURH-DYessrs
Eda0rs.-1 forward You some memoranda on
Agriculture and other kindred subjects, made
during a recent visit to Auburn.
FIRST, of the manufacture Of silk iii the
States Prison. / am one of those who have
long entertained the opinion that notWithstand-
lng the revenue accruing to the State from the
carr ying on OF the common mechanical trades
in the prison, the principal is radically wrong.
The common objection urged against it, viz.
the injurious competition which it raises a.
gainst our mechanics, though valid as far as
it goes, weighs little in my mind, compared
with it's moral and social influences. Its moral
effect is to scatter pollution into every work.
shop in the state, by means of these dlscharg-
cd convict mechanics, who we lament to say,
though the fact is perfectly notorious, in a
vast majority of instances, go out nnreformed
men. Every parent will judge whether such
are tit and safe associates for their sons who
are a~pprenticed 10 mechanical trades. Its so-
cial effect is to sink down the mechanic in the
scale OF soclety-and form a line of demarca-
ton between his occupation and that of others,
who would deem themselves sullied and dis
graced by the admission of a convict into their
ranks. What would our professional gentle
men say to a class on law or phyaic, educated
by the state, from prison c%onvicts Now, Is
it to be supposed that reputable and 'respecta-
bic men will continue to send their SONS into
occupations where they will be brought into
constant association with felons-viciots and
degraded men-sent there too by the State?
And when such men cease to send their sons
into the workshops of the mechanic, will not
p,a,Iuyion1 4.nlM, a.-1r .u4- I,-.1 .1n
come an occupation only for those not POSSESS
ing the pride or the aspirations of republicans!
But a truce to controversy. | have been bur-
ried into this DEPRESSION by feelings which are
the growth neither of a day Or a year, but have
been entertained from the first day was old
enough to form an opinion on the subject.
1t was to obviate such objections, principal
ly the first, that the experiment of attempting
to manufacture silk was introduced into the
prison. We have no class of mechanics en-
gagged in this occupation. The state is made
to act as a most useful pioneer in introducing
a valuable department Of manufacturing, and
directly encouraging a valuable branch of in
dustry, by furnishing a home market for the
raw material. In these points of view, | deem
the experiment every way a proper and a
worthy one, and it was therefore with much
pleasure | accepted the invitation of the agent
of the prison, to inspect their operations in this
department. 1t is under the supervision of
Mr.. John Morrison, d Scotch gentleman, who
was educated to the business in the silk manu-
factories of Paislcy, and who subsequently
worked in several of the first establishments
in England and Scotland. The state has not
engaged in the production Of c~ocoons, though
the thing is somewhat contemplated, unless
the supply should rapidly increase. They are
purchased at So SO Tossed, or $S3 with the
floss Oh. Convicts are taught to reel the silk,
and put it into skeins after being colore1, and
| hesitate not to say that a most beautiful ar
ticle, possessing fully the evenness and
strength, as well as the softnass and brillian-
cy OF the best foreign sewing silk, is already
manufactured. M. Morrison states the graz
tifying fact, in which he says he cannot be
mistaken, that the cocoons fed in this country
produce d better quality Of six than any Of the
French, Egyptian, Chinese or East India sta
pies, which he was accustomed to sec in the
first British manufactures. In proof of this
he presented me a large hank of his own reel
ing, which he was about to forward as a chal-
lenge to his friends in Europe,-and whichhe
requested me to compare with any foreign ar
ticle which "could be scared up" living
been always rather sceptical as to the success
of the silk culture in this country, especially
since the great morus multicaulls specl!la-
ton, | determined to sift the matter to the
bottom. The following are the facts which |
arrived at, and unless | am greatly mistaken,
Eir. Morrison's constant aim was to fall below
rather than exceed a Just and average esti-
mite. To begin at the beginning. Every
na.f knows what an acre of good land will
This is to be planted with multicaulis
n rows three feet apart one way, to admit a
~,ultiya, IF, and the roots a little more than
1aIf that distance apart the other way. The
slips flor + grows from the slip,) can now be
for a mere trife. They are not suf-
cred to GROW into trees, but are cut down to
he ground ev. ny fall. This makes the leaves
better, more abl 1dant, and more easily obtain
ID for feeding. 1t will also allow the multi
,aulis to be cultiya ted in almost all parts of
our country-in nj ny where the trunk OF
even the harder variea les of the mulberry will
not survive the winters-. One acre Of multi
,aulis properly cultivated, Chat is worked with
! cultiyator, and hoed three or four times in
The season, like Indian corn) Will produce,
after the first season, at least 2O,OoO lbs. OF
Is lbs. of silk has been obtained by
many persons year after year from a ton Of
Ieaves-but to make every allowance for bad
seasons, accidents, &c, suppose the product
Of one acre to be but 100 lbs. of silk, or 100
bushels of cocoons. These at the prison ,,rice
are worth $3.50! An experienced reeler will
reel l ID. of silk per day. 1t now requires tie
labor of two %convicts to reelthat amount. The
silk when reeled is readily sold at s. so per
lib. The actual cost of coloring does not ex-
coed one dollar to the pound, to which add 30
for skeining, and you have sewing silk
worth $40 per lb!! Let us recapitulate the
of a pound
Cost of coccons, So so
*Reeling, 80
Colorlng, w
Skeining, ~
. # T-= dnY an