Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-12-04

From the Free Pfess.
Mount P'eusaH: o., Sept. 20, lS4l.

From the Free Press.
Mount Pleasant O., Sept. 20, 1871.
Mr.. D. PEELoR:
Dear Sir-In your last, Of August
l5lh, you requested me for your satisfaction
as well as others IN your section of country, to
give you my real unvarnished sentiments on the
silk business. With the greatest pleasure com
BY wan yeqF tsaq8s S az Rfffessa a iha
~ remove the deep rooted pre- Idice latent in the
minds OF thousands, originating chiefly for the
want of reflection and observation; and 5 there
Is nothing like occnar demous ira ton, | have in
closed a few patterns IN our factory from
the SILK we have raised this season; but | want
thing that viii prove more eectual still, |
wish you would bring 800, more, had liked TO
have SAID, unbelIevIng Je vs to witness estab-
h5hmeni. am confident they would return home
proseiyted TO the silk faith
But, as you wish a more minute detail, will
commence from = wears back-about that time |
engaged with G. Rapp, Esq. of Economy, Pa;
and there wove the first piece OF Silk Velvet
er manufactured in this countryside with Hat
Plush, &c. When | first visited them they only
had one loom, now 7. Three wears back my ell
dest son arrived here from London. He engaged
with Mr.. Rapp and 1 Moon. Pleasant.
During his stay with them he, with he assistance
OF some OF their ingenious and patriotic society
built a French Ribbon loom, a a cost of $1,000.
with other looms for lowered silks. They can
now compete with France of England in point of
excelleucy and elegance of fabric. Miss Rapp
received a premium OF upwards of $500 last year
from your State Legislature for the elk raised
that season. Now, SIR if the silk trade IS hum
bug let US have more of il.
When | came to Mt Pleasant under The patro.
mage of j. w. Gill, Esq In April 80, there was
not the vestage of any thing apper,alnlng to a
silk factory. felt discouraged, but | and my
youngest son went hard to work, and by January
LIST, 1SIO, built looms with all the necessary
tnnl fnr -. n 1
velvet, hat plush, ladies' plush & figured velvet
all from these trItlIng pieces of sticks called Mu
HcaulIs cuttings. Now sir feel very proud in be-
ing member of the humbug ana silk mania soc-
ETY.. Since then we have made safe but slow ad
vances owing TO the many difficulties we had 10
encounter, IN reeling, winding, twisting. training
and dying IN order to bring silk for weav
ing equal 10 European spiendor. These difficult
Ties are all Olivia ed and We are now going head.
From April 80 TO the above date we have manu-.
featured 200 yards of silk velvet plain, A. yards
OF figured velvet, 10 wards of hat plush, 100
yards OF PLAIN lustrng, 20 yards of Ohio cord for
vestIng, ZOO yards OF lowered silk vesiing, II
doz. blk. silk handkerchiefs for cravats, II doz I
baudanna handkerchiefs making IN The whole a
bout ~ yards IN two years and half, and al!
from such discouragng beginning. The whole
OF the machinery, looms excepted, ls propelled by
steam power; we employ about 20 persons In the
factory, and in feeding tine s. including my son
and Mr.. VIM Gill. ]. Watson. Esq. MagIsira
OF THIS town has weighed off 704 pounds of Co
coons raised by them this season, believe few
will beat thus. Yet, sir good. but mistaken
VIII say, All. its all hurnbug.
Permit me, sir, to make few remarks upon
the futile objections of our opponents, which will
endeavor 10 DO with humility and pIainness, as
challenge the whole union TO controver'. success
fully. what have may advance--Let Us re-
vert 10 the year 80, when John Fitch, Esq. Of
Mansfield, Conn, first started the silk weaving
business IN that region of country-When l visi-
ted him he had silk wove from silk OF
his own raising; he was gentleman omewhat a.
bove the medocrity of liz teect, being a counsel
lor at law, and if you have had any business with