The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-01-19
SILK CULTURE IN THE SOUTH.
"A New Industry that Promiscs 10 Devclo,
important Results.

SILK CULTURE IN THE SOUTH.
A New Industry that Promiscs 10 Develop
important Results.
TO the editor Of the New York Tribune.
Sir: The judges in the silk monufiac-
turing department of the Atlanta expo.
sitlon took especial pains TO examine
closely the goods and the products of iIk
on exhibition, especially for this reason
They desire 20 show 70 What extent silk
goods are being manufactured ia this
country and to report on tho quality of
The goods now produced, and they de-
sire especially to call the attention OF the
people in the Southern as we'll as other
portions of the country to the fact that
while silk goods are being largely and
successfully manufactured, the raw ma
teral is, almost all of it, imported. This,
they think, should not be. The success.
full growth of silk has been proven in
nearly every state in the union, and long
before one pound of American provision;
was exported to Europe, exports, large
for that period, of American silk were
made from the southern and middle
states to the mother country. The pop
u!ar error that silk culture was once
tried in this country aud proved fail.
ure should be expelled, rs it is not true
80 tar as any of the experiments in tes-
ting the natural elements were concerned.
The growth of the very bcs: of silk Is
possible, and can he made profitable, as
has been proven by those who have
tried it. 1t is branch Of American in
dustry that commends itself 20 ali who
desire to see the wealth that grows from
it retained in their own country. This
production is one that especially recon.
mends itself to American women as q
means of gaining wealth. The exhibit
made by them in this department does
them great credit, and goes To show what
can be done, rs the report of their OK
hibit will show.
From tho early settlement of the col
onies to the present time the cultivation
OF silk here has been more or less sue.
cessial; much moro so than in France
or Italy when the first attempts were
made to Introduce it in those countries.
AS early as 1923 the cultivation COM
menced in the colony Of Virginia. In
l759 the colony of Georgia exported TO-.
O0o pounds OF raw silk, which sold for
two or :hree shillings higher per pound.
Than that OF any other country. In 177l
tho cultivation was begun in Pennsylva.
ma and in New jersey under thcauspices
OF rankin and other enterprising men.
In Connecticut the cultivation com.
menced about the year 1890, and the
value of raw material and sewing silk
made in three counties in that state in
1910 amounted 70 $28,503. In Texas
and California much has been done
within the past few years to establish its
SUCCESS in those States. These facts are
but few of the many which go TO show
that in nearly every part of this country
silk has been produced. The subject re.
ccivcd the most attention between the
years 1928 and 1887. 1t was Mt this
period the government became so much
interested in it. The committee of apri-
c"iture in the house of representatives
took the matter under special notice.
Commissioners were appointed, informa-
tion collected, and manual was ordered
to be published, giving general informa-
tion as to the mode Of cultivalng and
manufacturing. Acts we're passed giving
all necessary protection, and under the
auspices of the government, the press
and general popular feeling on the
subject, American silk cu lture was going
OH prospcrously.
AT this period raging speculation
was going IN in the country affecting
nearly every branch Of business. The
great number Of persons eh:harking Mt
once in the silk business naturally made
q great demand for mulberry trees for on
this tree the silk worm feeds. The de.
mnnd for the trees aud the advancing
price soon attracted the spectators, and
SO wild did the people become on the
n l,I Al.
| country, well known as the "morus null
ticaulis speculation" Many of the silk
growers lost sight Of their legitimate bus.
iness, and, like others, were involved in
| the ruin that soon followed. II Is here
proper to remark that this tree specula-
ton had nothing whatever to do with the
legitimate business of silk culture, but so
connected have they become, even in the
minds of the intelligent, that the disns.
ters of both arc coiilidered one and the
same thing; but it is now time that an
error so injurious in its consequences
should be disposed Of
The silk business, when il must needed
the fostering hand of government, re-
ceived finishing blow by an act of Con.
gress taking of all protection. This act
is said to have been passed 20 appease
France when the demand for the money
known rs the French indemnity was
made. The evidence OH record up to
this date proves, beyond doubt, that
under fair protective tariff the silk cul.
ture in this country is both practicable
and profitable. know of no branch of
agricultural industry whereby SO much
was produced to profit with the same
amornt Of labor and capital. would at
this time call the especial attention of
my countrymen to the fact that some
suitable branch Of labor must be pro.
vided Tor the respectable class of women.
Since the war there is preponderating
female population, and some suitabls
empl Jinent must be provided for it, and
in no business can women more profta.
bly, and respectfully be employed than in
the production Of silk. The draft upon
our national resources for imported silk
has been one Of great magnitude. If
patriotism and the love of Independence
are the offspring of America, let us
unite our efforts and by the aid of our
legislatures, our Representatives and an
intelligent agricultural! people, at once
encoura -e, protect and foster the produc.
ton Of '.mercan silk.
EDWIN HENRY.
GrecnriNe, Tenn, Jan. 7, 1882.