Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1842-03-17
LINCOLN TELEGRAPH.
Both, 4fte.
THuHsDAs mosNiNG. mATcn II, Isi2.
Silk Business.

We have perodus very interesting coalrnu-
munication in the Worcester Spy, Of The second
inst. from the pen Of j. r. Barbour of Oxford,
Mess. upon the progress Of this important branch
Of home industry. The narrow minded and er.
roneous views entertained by our political oppo-
nents in regard 10 American interests 50 isr
protective tariff IS concerned, induces to
resent our readers with the following remarks
from the communication above alluded to
81 give you summary of the abstract of Our
State Treasurer account OF bounties paid on silk.
II is published by order oftne Senate, and exhib-
its all the claims presented between Feb. 10, i34l
and Jan. -, lsi2, giving the name and residence
OF each clair ant. together with the quality of the
cocoons, and six reeled by each one, aud the sum
paid To each As these cllims are presented at
any time through the year, as best suits the con-
venience of the claimant, this Abstract embraces
some part Of the crop of lS4C-say all presented
after Feb l0Isdl. On The other hand, such part
Of the crop Of ls4l as may be presented after
this Abstract was made up Dan. ~ le42,) will
90 into the Secretary's report for the next year.
II seems then that the amount of bounty paid
presented is three hundred and eighty.sx and
the whole number engaged in the silk culture
canno' be less than 500. They are scattered over
the State, seventy different towns being given
in the document The quantity of Cocoons re-
turned is ~, 259 lbs. About one third Of this a
mount has been reeled making 1880 lbs. The
amount ased by each one ranges from 10 lbs up
to e6O lbs. This is the highest on the list and
was presented by Tho Whitemarsh, Northamp-
ton a. Holman, Bolton IA lbs L. Montague,
Belcherown, 640 lbs Ziba Bliss, Atllcboro, 500
lbs Joseph Conant Northampton, 503; James
Holland Bechertown, 500 lbs Rufu2 Kendall,
Leomnster, 729 lbs. and so down.
inc amount claimed on the crop OF 1910 was
little over $1,000. The State Treasurer thinks
that when the claims on the crop Of lsil are all
in they will amount to about SGo09-thns show
ing three-fod increase on any preceding year
And this has been about the ratio of increase
throughout the whole country far the facts
III the case have been collected. The Burlington
silk Record estina. the entire crop Of rcelcd
six at 100000 lbs, whereas five years since few
thousand told the whole The crop at - per
lb Che present Philadelphia price, is worth ST.
800, 000-a pretty little item in our ayr cultural
products.
The business is now becoming sctted-is get
ting through the struggles of Infancy, and only
needs a wider diffusion of accurate information n
the community, together with the continued f,s.
lerrng care Of our State legislatures for a short
sine aud protective tariff, IN order 10 GO RAPIDLY
forward and at once constitute isaiiag proai-
aeat part Of agricultural, and manufacturing
industry.
And it ia interesting to know that amid the
present depression and gloom that hangs over the
business prospects of our country, there is now
an awakened inquiry in the community in re-
gard to the SILK Business. Circumstances have
led to this result. The public mind is recover
ing from the rcvnision cf $780, and menar now
seeking information on this interesting subject.
1t has therefore been suggested TO me that might
be doing some service to the public by sending
you from time to time brief articles and facts, re-
lating to the general subject"
In addition to this, the Portland Argus of the
Sd inst contains an article from an anonymous
correspondent upon the same subject, which tends
to show that Maine can become silk growing
state. The writer says iul!ows:
81 have before specimen OF sew ng silk.
manufactured By Capt. John Dillingham; Of Tuner.
Oxford County. The sample consists Of five skeins
Of the colors, back, light blue, green nd and ye-
low. The coors, are good and the thread # n ine
and evea texture, and will compare wei! for beaui.
Of appearance aud strength, with the sewing ks
imported FROM France and Italy. Capt D..
has nursery of mulberry trees about eight lhoas-
aud in number from the foliage of these Ices, hs
has the past season, fed eighty thousand six wornis
From cocoons which The worms have spun, lac has
reeled twenty pounds of silk, " ch he has manu-
featured into sewing silk, with some Eileen yards f
cloth, suitable tor ladies' dresses, nud for gentle
mems vests, together with IolerabIe assortment Of
Hose, Gloves, Suspenders, &c, All this has been
done, and lbs Manufacture perfected in lis Il
varieties in lis own house, and by members Of his
own family. Another year, am It'd, he viii near
ly, OF quite double the amount
This gentleman together with his son, has inven-
ted and put into operation by water power, a ma
chine that reels, twists aud makes the perc thread
from the cocoon at one and tho same operations
Ii is said TO be wonderful and ingenious niece of