Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-10-12
SEhICULTURE IN AMERICA.
How 1t is Viewed by the silk-Producing
Countries of Europe.

Countries of Europe.
from the Journal of Commerce, Milan, Italy.
Translated for the RECoRD-UNIoN by Mrs.
Louise Reinzi, of the California Sericultural
Board.l
The surprising development which seri-
culture has taken in the United States has
already made it a national industry, SO
much so that it would not be surprising il
| that fortunate country in a few years was
| able to export large quantities of cocoons
| and to found filature for reeling silk,
which would emancipate the United States
from importing raw silk. The reeling OF
silk in the United States, as is well known,
Is in its infancy, but taking into consider
alton what has been done in a short space
| OF time, we believe, to not exaggerate. in
toreSeelng that the United States, with that
powerful spirit of initiating every industry
| IN It's country, and with the noble capital
at Its disposal, will obtain for sericulture
that grand, vast development which it OBJ
tanned a hundred years ago for the cotton
industry. Notwithstanding the day may
be far of which presents the probability of
tire United States competing with Europe
in the silk industry, We must confess it is
necessary 10 prepare ourselves against 4
possible eventuality.
Ii we look at the statistics we shall see
that for the silk manufactured in the United
States, from thirty TO forty millions of kilo-
grammes OF raw silk is imported into that
country from Europe and Asia and it gives
a production in the several qualities of ma
terialS manufactured of about $50, 600 600 in
value. furnishing employment for from thir-
ty-tive to forty thousand operators. Before
1929 there was only a small trace of sericul-
ture in America while to-day we can count
many culdyatorS of the silk-wOrm. and
many societies deeply interested in devel-
Oping the silk industry, especially in Cali
fornia at Philadelphia, in Texas, South
Carolina, and at New Orleans
We have attempted to give an idea of the
always increasing movements which the
silk industry manitests in America so as to
show how important it is to hold the first
place in rearing the silk-worm, and to
study and put into practical use every
means OF economy and every rational
method which will put US in the grade OF
producing the best qualities of cocoons.
The attention OF the readers of the JoRr-
nat Of Commerce is called TO an article re-
Gently published in the Abei2le de Ia N0u-
Uclie OrieHi,S, which says: THE progress
of the silk industry in the United States is
without an example in the world. In 1850
there were in ali the Union twenty-nine
establishments which used raw silk These
establishments combined q capital of $434,-
COO employing about S57 operators. What
a difference in 1885, when these 3S3 estab-
lishments with capital of more than 800
100000, and $1,000 operators. The wages
paid these operators amounts to about So
100000 annually. In 1850, almost all the
silk material used in the United States was
of European manufacture. To-day more
than one-third is manufactured in the Uni
ted States. Every year we count new pIog-
ress. Since 1873 the manufacturing of silk
in the United States has more than
doubled
The silk industry is among all industries
that which demands the greatest ability
and intelligence. Much is due to the in
genuity of the industrious Americans that
the silk industry has made such prog
ress. There is splendid future for
the United States, and perhaps q
quarter of a century will not pass
until that country will have the sat
isfaction of providing all the raw silk
necessary for home use, and to be able to
compete with European producers. In the
two worlds the Lyonese industry will not
be without a rival. What is it which forms
| the grandeur and assures the prosperity of
the silk industry in Lyons? 1t is not alone
| the perfection of the machinery, the ability
Of the operators, or the superiority of the
| process OF fabrication. Certainly not but
ii is to the country OF the south of France
| where the mulberry tree is cultivated
where the silkworm is reared, where they
| continually improve the race of silkwornl
and reel the product of the same, and
where the population are mutually pro,
| tected in their industry. 1t was for these
| same reasons that it only took thirty years
| OF constant activity and rapid progress fol-
| the United States to cause confusion and
| tumult in Great Britain in regard to the
cotton industry notwithstanding the cot
| ton manufactures in Great Britain were
| solidly founded and perfected. But Eng
land did not have the material at first
hand. She was completely dependent upon
America. England well knows that she is
| losing the industry and that America is
gaining the supremacy, and unless Eng
lahd increases to vast scale the cultiva-
ton of cotton in her possessions in India,
she will be completely dependent on Amer
lea for her cotton.
The condition existing in France should
verify itself in the United States, which
country possesses in a great degree all the
conditions necessary for the success of the
silk industry. Under this aspect, there is
no longer any reason to doubt that Amer
lea will become the first factor in the world
i'll producing raw silk. The proofs are evi-
dent and the facts potent. All the vast re-
gion of the South, from Florida to the last
corner of California, offers eminent ad-
yantages to the culture of silk. From ali
parts of California we have received
samples of silk. Upon letting these
samples, the results were fine
beyond the highest expectation
These results are such that we foresee
that these regions possess the climate and
the soil most favorable for the silk indus
try, and we prophesy that America will
become, very soon, the first market for raw
silk in the whole world.
We are not the only ones who make this
prophesy, but practical, intelligent persons
OF America, Italy and France are uuani-
nous IN proclaiming that the silk products
OF America rival those of Japan, Italy, and
also Cevenne. France and Italy, as well as
other nations of the old world, have much
to learn III the method OF propagating in
dustries from the happy and prosperous
confederation Of the United States of
America