Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-03-17

commencement, is sC62 days. The value Of the
silk manufactured, with the materials on hand at
low rate, marke, price, is Si27G3 20
Expense of manufacturing exclusive Of
labor, 0,76G 81
Leaving the sum of $3.50 IS
for the avails of the labor and interest on the cap-
tal-equal to "a cents and 6 mills per day. for the
labor of each convict This is c,ual to the value Of
the labor per day Of those convics who ale cngag-
ed in the mechanical departments
1t is stated in the repor, that the sewing silk pro-
duced is superior to the imported article in strength
and sof)ness of texture, and equal n smooihncss
and in color, and is preferred wherever both have
been fairly compared.
The operation begun merely as an expert
ment; neither the agent or the operatives had any
practical knowledge Of the business. The machine
ry was invented mostly, and made at Auburn and
there must of necessity have been many hindrarces,
delays, expenses and losses, which could not cccur
in business conducted with the advantage ofskill
and experience.
II is the opinion Of the Agent, "thot the business
may be conveniently enlarged during the present
year, TO increase the force employed 10 an
hundred men with an increase of profits exceedinr
fifty per cent, and that il may be extended asu-
timutely to employ all the convict labor which couA
be assigned to il consistently with proper conduit
and management of the prison"
The silk business has had lis day of extrayapar,
calculations; it has heretofore done good business
IN making imaginary fortunes. The '.Mltcaua
fever, properly so called, is over, and people cai
now look at The subject in the light of sober trul
We rejoice at the that has thus far ATTENDED
the experiment at the Auburn Prison, and that IN
most useful and interesting department of industry
can be rendered at least profitable as other modes
of employing the convic,s We doubt not thernan
ufacure Of silk might with equal success be intro
duced into all penitentiaries and prisons through
out the country.
1t is established, that the silk culture may be
made source of profit in this country but we can
not all get rich in a IIoment by embarIing in it,
and we have found il out. Those, however, who
have continued in the business through its ups and
iowns-or rather, those who were not discouraged
BY the very low price that Hniticduiis cuttings brot
N market at time, but have attended regularly
% the business, are making it profitable. The pro-
iuclion Of silk is increasing, in the New England |
daies, in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky
md Tennessee. One establishment in Ohio pays
81 per bushels for cocoons, aud proitably manuiac
ures silk 10 the amount of $1,000 per month One
'erson in that State will next year feed 2O00O 600
worms. Very great improvements in the business
AVE been made within the last year.
We every year pay immense sum of money to
oregn countries, for silk, and how much better
would it be if that money could remain in the coun-
ry. The production Of our own silk fabrics would
i've employment TO thousands who nre now idle
= at least receive much less recompense for their
lbor, than might easily be afforded, were they 10
ngage in the culture of silk We trust this sub.
,ct will receive the attention il demands u,r