Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-02-26

SILK BUSINESS.

al to the Legislature OF ONO. from John ". 6lll
Esq # MountpIeasani, Jefferson county 10 iha'
state praying that a bounty equal 10 that allowed
il Pennsylvania, aud in some other states,nay be
allowed to Silk Growers 10 Ohio.
The Memorial gives an interesting exhibition
Of Mr.. GilI's experiments IN the Six growing
and manutdcture, and prove conciusivtly that
this country Is well adapted TO the growth, and
that a little perseverance will enable Us IL over
come all the difficulties in the manutacturo Of
silk.
Mr.. Gill deserves the lasting gratitude Of eve.
~ friend to home industry Tor his persevering
efforts to introduce the silk business, and we
trust his labOrs VIII he crowned with abuudant
success, and aif5rd him n handsome competence.
Its a matter Of graduation that Pennsylvania
has 50 molly encouraged this business BY a liberal
bounty, and we hope If our farmers and others
engaged in agricultural persuIts. will itnnedIate-
ly pay some attention to the planting of trees and
feeding Of worms. They can sell their c,coons
for at least the cost of production, aud have the
bounty as a cIear profit-cheofed at The same
time, by the patriotic sentiment, hat they are
doing their country service.
The following Is the extract from Mr.. GiiI's
memorial, which he presented 10 the I4agista tGre
while in Columbus, with samples OF silk goods
manufactured ky himself.
sin May 1888, /! purchased md planted one
thousand multicaulis, and three thousand Italian
muIburcy trees, at a cost OF about St0o-Ihpt
season fed a few, say ten thousand worms, hy way
o! experiment. and was very successful Lex the
roots from muliicauIis stand out during the vim
ter, and they were generally killed BY the frost
In April and May, 1889, purchased AID planted
twelve hundred muilicauiis. and two thousand
Florence, at a cost of $500. These trees in
creased ten-foid. At the same time | contracted
for the production Of ono acre more. which pre-
dCcGd three thousand two hundred maIticauii,' al
& cost OF Si60. At the Same tune | contracted
with John COX, senior, ind ,hreo of his family,
all experienced machinis:s and six manufanctur-
ers from London, for one year, at u cost Of $50.
and during the same year, they, with other assIs-
lance, constructed c nuIsber OF looms, harness.
and other machinery, and manufactured about
81 600 worth Of silk v~elvets, hat plush, &c, from
cocoons of my own raising, and purchases made
from this state, and Pennsylvania. had but
partial success in raising coQoons that season,
owing 10 the loss of two Thousand fine, healthy
worms, after their fourth inoitinc. caused by the
neglect OF a person to properly ventllato the
room, and feed them during Il f. days absence.
In November. 1880, ! purchased galYc thousand
two hundred muGlcauils trees, III a cost OF about
$500, making IN all at the time, fortv-two thou
sand six hundred trees, which cost $3.50; from
which | sold four thousand SIX hundred for 81,
160 leaving on hand thirty-eigh, thousand trees,
at a cos, of $500; and by September, ISL.
they had multiplied TO about one hundred and
fifty thousand in number. and covered thirty
acres of ground. During 1889, 10, and II, !
constructed three cOc0OneTleS worth , I,-uD, ana
a factory three stories high, forty by sixty feet,
worth 81 100. Cash value of engine and macain-
cry, September L; 1911. So, 200.
Since then. ! have added much additional MAJ
chinery. Daring the past year was completely
successful in my feeding operations, and produced
eighty bushels of good cocoons, and had foliage
and rooms sufficient TO have produced double that
quantity, but could not procure silk worm eggs
During Tho past two years operations IN the sIk
factory, wa have made thirty-i.e pieces OF vel
vets; length from ten to twenty-tonr yards each;
value from 8 10 s. per yard. Ten pieces Of
plush, from which we made twenty four dozen
silk hats, worth sis per dozen. One hunIred
pieces dress silks. lowered VestiBgs, &c, vary
ing in length from ten TO thirty yards each, and
worth from 81 to 81 per yard. Also sixty dozen
cravats and pocket handkerchiefs. worth from 81
to - -, each and fer a.. Of which | have
found ready sale.
Since September last. We have 20 hands regu-
laSly employed IN the factory, VINO with the ma
chIneEy ! now have, manufacture daily from the
cocoons about $50 worth of goods. have about
Is uonth's stock of cocoous on hands, which |
have obtained principally from this state, New
York and Pennsylvania. where a bounty IS given
TO encourage the production: and 1t was the boun-
" given in this State thai has stimulated their
production within the last year.
NV establishment has been sufficiently com
plete and successful to repay the outlay for stock
and labor in manufacture, and yielding a small
prof, on capital invested. The more | become
acquainted with the business, the more sangeine
DO | feel Of success: | had many obstacles 10
contend with, such as my own iuexperience, the
oppositions of friends and spectators, and the
imposition in machinery, trees. and eggs, want OF
proper workmen and materials TO construct ma
chinery, and every other difficulty attending q
new and complicated enterprise.
have succeeded IN establishing the first regu-
larly organized silk factory ever put IN operation
in this state or the United States. that purehas-
es all The cocoons and reoIed silks, whatever part
OF the L. s. it may come. and manufactures the
same into dress COOS. | have practically de-
monstrated TO the citizens Of OHIO and the Uni
ted States, that this country can manufacture silks
as well as produce the raw material: and | be-
lieve this business will soon be more lucrative TO
our producers and manufactures. than either the