The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-04-23
A New Industry Advocated.

Jay. n pletB Vi DTOcstueu huIlfl, lnt'Dutu us
present to Mrs. GARFIELD was there ex-
hibited at the meeting of the Women's silk
Culture Association. Fifty pounds Of cocoons,
making fourteen pounds OF reel silk, and
contributed from fourteen different States
had been used in the manufacture OF the ma
terial. Tho American silk the members Of
the association declared to be at least equal
to that raised and reeled in Italy, il, indeed,
1t was not superior to tho Italian article.
This display of what has been actually ac-
complshed here in tho way Of silk culture,
to whose encouragement and development
the association named devotes itself, was
very interesting, and may lead to important
results. II silk as good as the Italian can be
profltably raised here in quantities sufficient
to supply raw material for the domestic silk
manufactures, a great addition will be made
to the productive wealth Of the country, and
a new and very important resource viii be
furnished to farmers and gardeners.
We consume in the United States every
year about eighty-five million dollars worth
Of silk goods, importing about thirty-five
millions, and producing at home about fifty
millions. The silk industry has advanced
with rapid strides. Ten or fifteen years ago
II was Of only small proportions Now 1t is
the third great industry Of the textile class,
cotton manufactures amounting toa value OF
$3.50, 000, 900 annually, woollen and woollen
mixed to $500, 00o, 900, and silk goods, as we
have said to about $50, 900 900. We raise the
raw cotton and produce the wool chiefly, but
oil except q very insignificant part Of the raw
silk Is imported. We send abroad annually
| for nearly three million pounds Of reeled
silk, and one million pounds Of spun and
waste silk.
| Before the Revolutionary war, silk was
| raised in this country to a considerable ex-
tent for that period; and the industry was
| kept alive afterward. In 1874 the amount
| produced was large, but the loss and dsap-
pointment which followed the great mulberry
excitement Of forty years ago, when hun
dreds OF people went into the raising Of null
berry trees for the feeding OF the silk worms,
gave blow to the business from which 1t
he's never recovered. At that time there was
wild speculation in the mulberry trees, and
| visions Of fortune rose before those engaged
In 1t. The expected demand, however, did
not come, and instead Of gain there was
widespread loss.
But 1t was proved long before the exbi-
| bition OF the silk made for Mrs. GARFIELD
that our climate Is well adapted for silk
| culture, and the association which has been
meeting at Philadelphia was organized to
! give the industry new start, especially be-
cause 1t would afford o suitable, congenial.
and profitable employment for women. 1t
was charged recently by a newspaper pub
| lished at Paterson, the great seat OF domes-
tic silk manufactures, that our American silk
Is OF an inferior quality, and not fit for the
best woven fabrics. Because Of such criti-
cisms, probably, the dress in tended for Mrs
GARFIELD was exhibited at Philadelphia last
Tuesday, and comparison Of the silk with the
best raised in Italy was invited.
The charge that our home silk is Of an in.
ferior. quality was also combated by Mr.
LoRINa BLoDoEr In paper lately read be.
fore the Franklin Institute. He showed
specimens Of silk raised here, and compared
them with samples Of the best Italian variety
and with the silk in number Of manufac-
lures. He found by the aid of the micro
scope that In many descriptions Of silk goods
sold in this country, chiefly those imported
silk Of a very Inferior fibre had been intro
duced OF tho samples he exhibited, taken
from European and American sources, he de-
clarcd that those reeled at Philadelphia were
the best. All the tests he could apply JUST
fled the assertion, so that he was ready t.
guarantee that when the same number o.
flbres are reeled from the cocoon In the raw
silk reeled here, taking an average Of the
specimens, the fabric ultimately produced
will weigh heavier In dress goods, or in hand
kerchiefs than II made Of the same number
Of cocoon tlbres sent here as Italian"
We have made our great and astonishingly
rapid advances in silk manufacture because
OF the introduction here OF new machines anC
combinations Of machinery much superior II
efficiency to those employed In Europe II
similar branches Of silk manufacture. SINH
lar improvements in the processes OF growing
silk, and Of Keeling and fitting silk from TIN
cocoon, ought to give like stimulus to sill
culture. Ono OF these new devices has al
ready been made.
The Women's Silk Culture Association sew
eral years ago succeeded In getting patterl
Of the reel in use in France and Italy. 1t wa
found to be clumsy affair Of wood. The.
engaged an expert machinist to improv,
upon IT, and In due time he presented to then
light, easy and rapid-running reel, mad
entirely OF metal, compact, and readily port
able. Upon 1t the skilled reeler employed b.
the association Is able to reel more tha
uOuulc luc Quantity VI BLK InHI can DC WOun'
on the old wooden reel. The first step In tn
direction Of improvement has, therefore, bee
taken, and others will follow as matter c
, course as soon as silk culture Ia more widel
. undertaken here.
Mr. BLoDoET contends that silk can
, economically raised at home because farme
, can add its culture TO his other work withou
any considerable investment Of capital, an
without employing outside labor When tn
, trees are grown, tho work can be done by an
one member OF the family OF by as man
more as may choose to engage In II, 1t ca
employ the spare time Of women OF childre
; In the house, and tho price at which silk
/. salable would make the labor profitable, an
: bring In welcome addition TO the resource
\ Of the family
. ] The subject u CLIO which will interest "a