The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-14
SILK AND IT'S CULTURE.
The Progress Made in One of the Finest of
the Fine Industries.
Written for the INDIANAPOLIS Journal

wedding-robe of the fair bride, or the thick,
rustling folds of darker hue enveloping the
form of the matron, command our admira-
ton for the beauty of the texture and delicacy
of finish, apart from the artistic touches OF
the fashionable modiste. Yet one seldom
gives a thought to the origin of the tiny
threads forming the material, and to the pa
thence, care, and labor bestowed upon the
little worm from whence they came.
The whole history of silk-culture is tenn
ing with interest, from the beginning of it,
away back in the misty ages of the past, in the
Celestial Empire, the introduction from
thence into Europe by two Persian monks
(who concealed the eggs in hollow camel
and the subsequent introduction of it
into this country, down to the pres
ent time. Much has been written
upon the subject, and it is an
industry destined to assume far greater i'm
portance in this country than it has hereto
fore done. The Census Bureau has published
report upon the subject OF culture and
manufacture of silks-compiled by Mr. w.
G. Wycof-which traces the history of it in
this country very infinitely, and the pam
phlet is so interspersed with interesting facts
and anecdotes one finds it very readable
work.
James l is credited with having introduced
the eggs into America and to having urged
upon the colonies the importance of cult
waiting them. Connecticut, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia and South
Carolina undertook the work and made con-
siderable progress in it prior to the revolu-
ton, but the trying times of that period put
stop to all efforts for some years. Connec-
ticut and South Carolina seem to have been
more successful at first in the Gull
ture of silks than the other States
were, and in the last named State it
is SAID that Mrs. Pinckney who
is also famous as the introducer of the indigo
plant into South Carolina, took with her to
England in the year 1855 some silk she had
raised and spun near Charleston. Three
complete dresses were made from it; one
was presented to the princess dowager OF
Wales, one to Lord Chesterfield, and one re-
NAMED an elegant heirloom in possession of
the family for more than fifty years.
In Connecticut large quantities were raised
and manufactured into sewing silk, and at
one time small skeins of this article formed
circulating medium and were given in
change, just as small cakes of soap have been
used as change in the country of Mexico.
The size of these skeins was regulated by
acts of the Assembly. Other States were
quite successful in the rearing of worms and
manufacture of various articles from the raw
material, but it was not until the year 1925
that the subject was brought before Congress,
nd to Nv IF Ill.
the honor of having presented it to the
House of Representatives This was in De
cember, 1925. During the month of May fol-
lowing, Mr. Van Rensselaer, chairman of the
committee on agriculture made an able and
interesting report upon the subject, and in
February, 1928, the Secretary of the Treasury
transmitted to the House manual, or treat
Use, on the growth and manufacture of silk
The following year Mr.. Duponceau, who had
become very much interested in the culture
and manufacture of it in the State
of Pennsylvania, sent a silk flag of
domestic manufacture to the House
of Representatives, by which it was
received with great enthusiasm and
ordered TO be displayed in the hall over the
portrait of Lafayette.
This flag is described in the reports of the
Twenty-frst Congress as being twelve and
one-haIf feet long, six feet wide, and woven
all in one piece without a seam. The flag
staff, including the eagle, measured fifteen
feet.
In 1888, or about the time of the morus
multicaulis craze, the committee on Agri-
culture devoted considerable attention to the
subject of silk-culture, and in their report said
while they were averse to discussing formally
at that time any disputed question of con-
Stitutional law or political economy respect
ing it, they held that when soil, climate
and other circumstances will enable the peo-
pie of this country to produce by their own
labor, on their own soil, any article which is
extensively consumed amongst u.s.
it is the duty of the government as
far as may be deemed constitutional to facil-
itate by all reasonable encouragement the
production of that article This course has
ever been pursued alike by our nation and
by every enlightened nation on the globe
So far was the policy carried at an early day
in Great Britain that even the winding sheet
Of the dead was required to be made of wool
by act of Parliament"
When it is remembered that the value of
importations Of silken articles for the last
year is estimated at more than $38, 900, QUO,
and the manufactures of such articles in this
country amounted to more than $50, 900, 900.
1T might be said that silk is pretty extensive
ly used i'll this country; and as the domestic
manufacturers are obliged to depend almost
entirely upon foreign countries for the raw
material, which comes in free of duty,
there is apparently wide field opened to the
unemployed, especially to women and chill
dren, wherein they might gain, not only a
livelihood, but comfortable competence
The care of the worm and securing the CO.
coon is, of course of first Importance, and
only requires little experience to be entirely
successful. After that comes various me-
chanical operations, upon the faithful per-
Torrance of which the strength, beauty and
finish of the silk depend. Yankee ingenuity,
however, has been wide awake in improving
and increasing the appliances for Keeling and
handling the thread, and each year they are
more nearly perfected.
The most important operation is that of
Keeling. The worm, in spinning its thread,
does not wind it regularly round
and round but it is often
passed back and forth so that many yards
may be unwound without turning the ball.
Tho Ehars q arnaadi r,srl.r A.,