Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-02-18

in which the most delicate lady in the State may
be proud TO engage; is peculiarly adapted TO the
lohor Of that class of persons. And TO whom Is
this bounty to be paid? no, TO foreigners-not TO
citizens Of other States, but TO our own people,
and that portion Of them, too, Who most need The
fostering care of the State, the industrious wo
men and children within our own borders, and
who, by their iabors, would be aiding some Thing
to increase the Internal wealth of the State.
But, we too poor, II is said the treasury is
empty; we have nothing TO pay With. Why, II
The bounty asked Tor IN that bill was paid out of
the treasury on all the silk now grown IN this
State, it would not amount 10 a cum equal to the
expenses Of this legislature for three hours, and II
Il was increased ten fold, the bounty paid, would
scarcely exceed the expenses Of the Legislature
for one day, and yet spend more time and
money here talking about relief to the people,
without giving II, than would be required to pay
this bounty silk, perhaps for seven years 10
/ come.
This subject is thought Of sufficient importance
to claim the attention Of large number OF the
States of the Union. Thirteen States are now
paying bounty on silk, and some Of them near
double that provided Tor in the bill before the
House; but none that are paying a bounty at all.
are paying less than that now asked Tor. He
said he would submit few facts for the slider
alton OF the House, upon this subject, and leave
II, to dispose OF this bill as IL might think proper
| II appears from official statements, tina. Massa-
chuset,s with population but little larger than
that of Indiana, IN the year 1910 raised l9S. 432
pounds of silk cocoons. ! am Informed, tor
have experience in the matter myself, nor
have any personal interest IN ii wEatever,) by
those who engaged in il, that one person
who perfectly understands the business Of feed
ing silk worms, and is we'll prepared for il, may
attend to number sufficient to produce fifty
pounds Of cocoons in Now suppose
there raised in Indiana mounds fnr
t,co hundred persons in the State, it would pro-
duce III go pounds Of cocoons, these at 81 90
a pound, which believe is the market price ev-
cry where, would be worth S6S5, 900. Ii these
cocoons were manufactured into sewing silk, and
allow one fourth to be wasted in the process 10
manufacturing, (Which allowance,) at
eight dollars a pound, which is the lowest price
for sewing silk, would be worth 1913, 400, and #
manufactured into pocket IN udkerchiets, such as
the one hold in my hand, which weighs OF
an ounce, and is worth one dollar; into silk
velvet vesting, such as you are now examining
which weighs "a ousces they would be worth
81 .697 lbs: yet this amount OF silk cocoons
which it is supposed Indiana at very distan,
period might produce, is less than the product OIL
Massachusetts in this article in the year 1910
almost at the commencement OF this business IN
the country. and tina, too, under the influence of a
climate and soil less pied to the culture Of slh
than own.
IT, then, the State should afford such encour.
agement to this branch Of business would di
rect the attention of the people toward IT, II would
furnish employment to a large portion of conmu
nifty, who canno, be 9th wise probably engaged
} and in the course Of a few years the whole de
} mand within the State, might be supplied by he
, own citizens, and keep within her own limits ant
, in the hands Of her own people, large amour
of money which is now annually drained from
amongst US, to pay foreigners for performing tina
labor for Us, which we can as ell do for ourselves
J He said he had but one other statement TO make
He held letter in his hand, which he had re
D ceived from old gentleman now engaged il
manufacturing silk in this State. The write
says he has followed that business for thirty year
3 in London, and during fifteen years of that time
there was passing through his hands from 800 Il
300 pounds of silk every week. and that consis,
ing Of all the varieties produced by the silk grow
ing countries in Europe, and after having mad
many experiments in this country, he pronounce
the American silk superior to any other he ba
ever handled-super:or in strength and brillianc
of its character. | am acquainted with this gen
tseman, and have doubt that any statemen
i that he would make, may be relied on.