Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-01-02

did productions OF California. Ihls IN
dustry is now a paramount necessity TO
this State. 1t should be the aim of oul
, people to establish such an industry wher
its success is sure. Our geographical posi-
tion and material resources for this, as wei
as our other pursuits, are equal to thos'
which made Greece SO grand in the day
of her glory. We have an ocean-bount
shore, varied climate, soil capable o
producing the grains, fruits and staples O
every zone; with gold, silver, quicksilver
iron, cinnabar, lead, coal, granite, marble
sulphur, asphaltum, porcelain earth, petro
leum, everything, IN fact, in the industrial
arts. The soil and climate of Californis
are so gifted that it can furnish for ages tt
come all the demands of modern civilized
life. The time has come when home silk
culture should be zealously prosecuted.
IF WISELY BEGUN
And patiently continued, our people will be
able in short time torealize from it alargei
profit than from one-half of ali our other
agricultural productions. With little labor
prolific crops of mulberry leaves can be
produced in almost any part of the State.
In all the world there is not better land,
or better temperature for silk culture A
| species OF the silk-worm is indigenous in
our valleys, and thrives almost anywhere.
In few years this industry might rank, if
not first, certainly among the first of our
most profitable pursuits. Such abundant
natural gifts as we possess impose great
responsibilities. 1t depends upon the seri-
GUS determination of those who know the
capabilities of the State whether or not it
! shall become one of the most prosperous
on the globe. The real prosperity Of any
country, in its length and breadth, is
founded on labor with honest pay. Keen
attention should. therefore, be given by all
who wish well for the future of the people
of such State as California, to the intro
duction of any new BETTING industry that
| viii insure that pay. One Of the first con-
! siderations with those who would benefit
the human race by the introduction and
| encouragement of new industries, is profit.
able employment Tor the greatest number,
| Silk culture gives such employment
whether it be to the small farmer of few
acres or the large planter. 1t secures
almost incalculable wealth to those who
| prosecute it as chief industry. 1t is
different from wheat-raising and mining
operations, which require large outlay of
capital But any one who owns, or rents,
only single acre, can grow the mulberry
and raise cocoons, and the value of the
reeled silk is nearly as great in the forests
Of Mendocino, or the gorges of San Diego,
as in San Francisco. The freight is as
nothing in comparison with the cost of
Transporting other productions.
SILK MANUFACTURES IN CALIFORNIA.
California should begin the work of silk
manufacture In real earnest. In small
way the enterprise has been prosecuted for
several years. For reasons well known and
satisfactorily explained, some who started
in manufacturing have failed. 1t was not
the fault of the business but the methods
of conducting it, which largely over.
whelmed the projectors. Others have sue
ceeded. There are now two hourishing
silk factories in operation in this State
one at South San Francisco, Mr.. Meyers,
employing 100 girls, and one in Santa
Clara county, Oh. G. Hermanns. 1t is
believed that the manufacture of silk from
pierced cocoons could be carried on equally
well, if not more successfully, in California
as in Connecticut, owing to the nearer
proximity to the source of supply. The
success of our two pioneer silk factories is
% QCulpnobAdStOu titdS ttiouSdDAO Gin
featuring in this State is no longer a de-
batable question. The source of supply
is at our doors, and when silk culture is
well begun, the grower and the manufacs-
urer will dwell side by side. Even now
our manufacturers make satisfactory profits
in working on raw imported material. But
think of their expenses They pay more
than double for freight, insurance, ex-
change, interest and duties on the imported
articles what they would have to pay for
the same raised at home. Though the cost
of labor is higher in California than in
Europe or the East, still the difference is
not so great as to destroy the balance in
our favor.
SILK AND COMMERCE.
The silk business of the world is i'm
mense As an article of commerce it has
never lost its power since silk first passed
beyond the confines of China. Its value is
real. 1t is not more a luxury than neces.
sity as an article of clothing and the ma.
tions therefore which produce and fit it for
human wants have the world for their GUS
toners. The annual production of the raw
material is, in China to-day, valued at one
hundred million dollars; in France, at
twenty-five millions in Japan, at seven
teen millions. The United States in 1876
imported, in addition to the raw material,
twenty million dollars worth of manufact-
ured silks. These millions ought to be
added to the wealth of our own country,
and not subtracted from 1t. While we con-
tinue to buy from others what we could
just as well produce and make at home, we
are foolishly squandering portion of our
rich inheritance.
SILK CULTURE AND HOME LIFE.
But aside from the pecuniary benefits Of
silk culture there is a reason for its intro
duction infinitely more important-it is
the elevation of the people in their home
life. 1t is an alarming truth that the
youth of California are not the equals of
the young people in Eastern States in pa
tient and honest industry. The reason may
be traced partly to their surroundings. We
are just emerging from the nomadic, half
barbarous life of the frontier mining camp.
Suddenly we find ourselves dwelling in a
land that is wondrously prolific and great
in its natural resources and possibilities. 1t
is not without peril to any people that they
are blessed with such spontaneous abund-
auce In their soil There is a tendency to
/ luQoleuCe III SICu COQnbFy, OHlJ ny SODSr
thought, exertion and Jealous industry can
we overcome the danger of social dissi-
patton and personal poverty. Nature helps
us here so bountifully that we are in dan.
ger of forgetting the lesson of the ages,
| that IF man will not work neither
shall he eat. Then, too, we are sur
rounded on all sides by the Influences
of the pernicious and decaying Spanish
civilization. Only one element more would
seem TO be needed to complete the list of
dangers so unfavorable to our better CIV
ilization, and this is furnished in the char
acter of our immigration. 1t has come
from all parts of the world it brings with
it every variety of religious conviction
social training and national prejudice. It
has but one common feeling. and that is a
feeling pregnant with eVil-the desire
for sudden wealth, TO become rich without
labor. This ia our inheritance It's won.
derful, therefore, if California society con.
tains many of the evils and few of the bet
ter influences which, in other communi.
ties, make healthy, happy and permanent
| homes. There is, in fact, an almost total
absence of home life in this State.
0bseryant critics say There are no
homes in California. Must this always
be so? Homes there must be if we would
be prosperous. In order to make homes,