Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1842-02-08
DOMESTIC SILK

berry trees, ota cust OF about 800. That seoson
fed a few. say ten thousand worms. by way Of er.
pertinent. and was snocvssfal. Let tao rs,ls fr,m
mulIicaulis stand oui during the winter. aid ,bcv
were generally killed 10y the fto-t Ia April ami
May. 1890. purchased and planted twelve hundred
muliiyhulis. and two ih"usand Florence. a, a cost M
$500. These Trees increased Ten fold. AT the same
time ! contracted with John Fox. senior. and three
of his family. all experienced mach,nist, and s;lk
manufacturers rum London, for one wear. a a c,.,
of s720. ond during the sane year. they. with other
as isiancp. constructed a number uf lo,ms. harness
aud other machinery. and manufactured ab.,ut al
OOO worth OF SILK velveis, hat plush. &c. from CO.
ooons Of nv raising. aud purchases made FUN this
state and Pennsylvania. I had but partial success
rnising cocOous that season. ow ing 10 the loss oCtno
hundred thousand fine, healthy warns. aner their
ioorih monlting. cansed by tho neglect Of n pers,,n
TO properly ventilaie the roOun and feed them dur.
ing aiew days Of my absence. ~ November. 1889,
] purchased twelve thousand two hundred m,l.
heauiis trees. nj a cost Of about $500, waking. in
all. nj that time, f'riy two thousand SIX hundred
Trees. which Gust S2.260; from which | sold four
thousand ser hundred Er 81 .460. leaving un hanI
thiry-eight thousand trees. at a Gust of $500; and bv
September. lSfl. they had multiplied to about one
hundred and city thousand in number. rnd covered
thirty acres OF ground. During 1889, 40. and al.
1 constructed three cocOOneties worth 81 200. and
a factory three stores high. forty by sixty feet worth
SLIGO. Cash value Of engine and machincrv. Sen
temher l. 1871, $4,000.
Since then. I have added much additional mn.
chiney. During the past year I was completely
successful in my feeding operations, and produce,I
eighty bushels OF good cocOons, and had foliagr and
sufficient 10 have prHlueed dmbie ,b,I
quantity. bot could not procure silk worm egrs.-
During the past two years operations in tho silk
we have made thiny-ive pieces of yelyels:
length inom ten To twenty four yards each; value
IRON 81 10 SO per yard. Ten pieces Of plush. lr,m
which We made twcniy-G,ur dozen silk hats, worth
$40 per duzeS. One hundred pieces dress silks.
lowered vesiings. &c, Varying ia length frum ten
10 ih'riy yards each, and worth from 81 10 50 per
yard. a 10 sixty dozen cravais and pocket hand.
kerehiefs. worth from 81 to SIS. each; and for all
OF which I have found ready sale.
since September last, We have 90 hands REGULAR
" employed m The factpry, who, with the machinery
! now have. manufacture daily frum tn, cocuous n.
bout $50 worth Of goods. ! have about 6 months
stock OF cocoOns on hands. which have obtained
from this State, New York and Penn.
sylvania' where a bounty is given to encourage
their Production; and il was The bounty given in
THIS State that has simulated their production with.
IN the last year.
My establishment has been sufficiently compIete
and successful 10 repay the outlay for stock aud
labor IN manufacture, and yielding o small proft on
capital invested. The more I become acquainted
with the business, the more sanguine do feel of
success. had many Obstacles so contend with such
as my own inexperience, the oppusiiisns of friends
AMI spcculalcrs, and The imposition in machinery.
'rees' anu eggs, want Of proper workmen aud
inalerlals TO construct machinery, and every 9TH
or difficulty attending a new and complicated cnier.
prise.
! have succeeded in establishing the frs, recul-
arly o ganized silk factory ever pot in operation in
ihis state or the United States, that purchases all
tho cocoons and reeled silks. from whatever mari of
the U. 5. IL may come. snd manufactures the same
INTO dress goods. | have Practically demonstrated
10 the citizens Of Ohio and the United States, that
TINS country can manufacture silks. as well as uru.
duce the raw material: and | believe this business
viii soon he more lucrative TO onr pmdncers ami
manufactures, than either the production and manu-
Iaelure OF wOol and COLON. | most cordially unite
WIN your petitioners, nnd would say, thar This i'm
pOrtant branch of business demands legislative On.
couragemeni, by giving a bounty on cucoons and
reeied silk; aud IN my opinion. IL would be wisdom
TO increase The bounties equal TO that paid in Penn
Tennessee, New York and some Of The
o'her SlaIes. | have not ayailed myself Of the
bounty heretofore allowed ~ This Safe. the depen.
ded entirely upon my own resources and persrve,-
ance Tor success. YeI, ! would observe, thai n
bounty given Is a powerful slimulant To those that
nave heen aud are preparing Ia feed worms and
reel SIR. All persons on emburking on any new
business are.
Firstly, at great additional expense with but mar.
tal success but ~hen a branch OF business il lnlrlv
and many Of our citizens understand il
pracically' then the great mss will profit by their
Tolls and experiments. without mourning their ex-
Pehses. This Is one strong argument in favor ofa
bounty.
Secondly. In Oery many Instances those engaging
IN THIS business are in moderate circumstances
with a numerous family Ofchildren 10 supp,ri: hut
TO whom when once established, this business will
afford a profitable employment. when. wiIhour IL.
Ihey would remain among our unurudnctive but
consuming class.
Thirdly. A elk crop is as certain ms a wheat.
or any other CROP as easily raised, aud much less
FoUnhIy. II can he raised to a bette, nro6, Than
wool. from the fact that there pounds Of silk can be
produced from the same land that would pmJnce
only one pound Of wool.
Flith. The labor TO raise a crop Of silk u COM
pleied in Fix weeks, while the labor Of iakins care
OF sheep. and providing them with food, lasts an the
year. and a pound ofsilk is worth five dollars, which
VIII cost no more TO transport 10 market That a pound
OF wool worth but forty cents, or a pound Of -four,
tobacco. or pork worth but four or five cents.
sixth. Our climate and soil is ne well, ifnot bet
ter adapted 10 The growth Of the mulberry, and the
production Of silk, than any part Of Europe; and
considerable quantities can be raised by every far
mer' without diminishing The products of his farm,
and there is scarcely a possibility Of producing
more man will supply the home and foreign con-
sumption.
Seventh. The mulberry is easier uised than
any other tree. and is equal 10 the locust lr dura-
biliy.
The above nre a few OF the many reasons in n.
vor OF a bounty. A bounty granted for ten years,
will IA my opinion, 10y a foundation TO make us n
great silk growing and manufacturing slate. and
ihai' from the now unprOduciive class. viz. aged
and inhTm persons, females and children, and with
OUT at The sans time, with drawing many of our
elective operative from their present employment
we will ilicn be able TO manufacture nl the silks
consumed in the state, aad whirh requires n large
portion Of Onr present productions TO pay for but
that we would. within ten years thereafter. export
silks 10 the full value ofour present imporaiions
Gentlemen, graHt this bounty Tor The time petition.
cd for, and ! venture TO predict. that The present
SIR opemiOns. compared with the operations Of
lobO' will be as The impression 0fthe spade IN The
earth, 10 the entire completion -four now finished
canals; equaliziug, and pouring wealth into the
pockets Of our citizens. and enriching and pupu,a-
ing our Stale. Gentlemen, in conclusion, I would
observe, that have a variety Of pieces Of my manu-
iaclured silk gOOis with me, consisting. in pau. Of
FelVfta, silk hats. ladies' ulnin anil N.-.ns.I Ir.--