Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1885-03-21
san csiinr, Feasible.

for a disinterested person To say how great
Some two years ago paid visit to these
islands, aud on that occasion remarked to
several friends, what grand place it would
I've to raise silk, and am glad to find that on
this my second visit, the subject Of silk grow.
ing seems to have awakened the aid OF your
local press in It's behalf have watched for
several years with considerable anxiety the
numerous attempts which have been made in
California to create an interest in this cnor.
nous industry; hut unfortunately the over
sanguine expectations Of every one who has
embarked in it have proved disastrous TO its
taking any decidedly profitable shape. So
long ago as 1870 the question Of silk raising in
California was settled without doubt and
remember very we'll, while at the siv> sales in
London in 1870, ofhearing that alaree flag made
Of California silk was on exhibition at the
Philadelphia exposition. Rumon were then
rife that we would soon be able to supply silk
from California instead Of from China; bu,
alas for the silk industry of California the san.
gune producer had gone too far, and to the
disappointment Of every one who watched with
increasing interest his enterprise, he was al.
mos, ruincd-no, because silk could not be
raised, but because he had attempted too much.
Like in every other industry, reasonable
amount OF capital is required in order 10 make
il 4 success; but the very instant that over san
quine results are expected and not realized,
,,.I II. Ii, 4,
alone.
Another attempt was made at San Francisco
some years ago by a party who managed to
form company TO spin and weave silk. Some
two hundred thousand dollars were sunk with
no results other than loss all around, while the
factory stands to-day monument to the fail.
ute Of the silk industry Of California. The
Ladies Silk Association of California is doing
seriously afraid is going too far. Now to cx-
plain what | mean by going foo far: SILK cul-
ture and manufacture is probably one Of those
industries requiring more patience in it,
manipulation than any other. Its given
amount of results for given amour; o
labor is certainly less than any other staple
article, hence its apparently high price. Take
the Chinese who have been accustomed
from childhood to the handling OF cocoons
"Their sisters and their cousins and theii
aunts" have each had hand at it and around
their little squaid homes they tend theil
worms, and reel their silk; and by and by have
gotten few pounds together which is sold tc
sort OF small dealer, who, having collected ir
this way fair quantity, takes il tS another
merchant who sortsand grades it, and having
marked i, with dancing bear" "blue elc
phant, or golden lion" we have a market
able raw silk valued at from s.. to $50 pei
pound. Now right here is where the difficult,
confronts the California silk grower, and as
shall presently show will affect the Hawaiian
silk grower.
1, will be many years before the class o
labor necessary for reeling silk will exist eithe
in California or in the Hawaiian Islands be
cause no one will pay IS. a pound for wha, h,
can buy for SIS; that this great difference il
sure to exist is sufficiently explained by m,
remark as to how the Chinese work.
Now as to the chances of growing silk il
these islands, it is positively beyond all ques
ton. That the mulberry will grow is indis
putable; therefore there is nothing in the wa!
of an enormously paying industry being fos,eret
here. The advantages Of climate are inhnitel,
better than those Of either France, Italy o
China.
France produces the finest silk in the world
but such is their difficulty as to climate that il
1876 particularly, more than half their crol
was destroyed in one nighf by frost Again
these two countries can only produce one crol
a year because they have only one summer
while here on these beautiful islands you hav
perpetual summer, so to speak, and therefor
at least two crops may be realized every year
At this point a very natural question arises
and that is, what will we do with this silk il
the face Of Chinese competition ! have show
tha, to GO beyond certain limit is to make
loss while up to this limit is gain. To begi
at the very foundation Of silk culture, null
berry trees are required and these will easil
grow in any part e Oahu where there is fai
rainfall proper districts would have to be SC
lee,ed on the other islands. Next are require
eggs which on exposure to warmth will 500
hatch then the business Of feeding begin:
This mus, be regularly attended to twice ever
day. as, like everything else, the silk worr
needs fresh nutritious food and cleanliness a
tn, time. After passing through its min
stages n life me worm begins 10 spis himse
into his cocoon and becomes fhyyyaii5. Tn
is the end OF the process so far as any aetu'
profit can be made under the present exis,in
circumstances on ihese islands. Unless III
chrysalis is killed il will saon eat its wa
through the cocoon in the shape af moth
the female will, after a few days, eom,s-nc
laying an enormous number Of eggs worth frol
S. so to S. so an ounce. The cocoons the
have eaten ou, Of are worth about 80 TO !
cents per pound while. on the other han'
the coeoons wherein the chrysalis has bee
killed are worth as high as $3.50 per pouu
and even higher, may safely say beyor
fear Of contradiction that market can
found for every pound that can possibly
, produced not only in America but in Englans
France, Germany, and Switzerland. As tin
goes on the business Of silk reeling nigh,
INDUCED in, lut am speaking as to the poi
at which II woald be a source Of enorno
revenue without any possible shadow Of dout
! There are many other points Of discussion
this truly beautiful and interesting industry III
/ | nigh, enlarge upon but fear TO uesPass Il
. much on your space shall however be haPI
! to talk with any member Of the government
I, Others oi your readers and ! will gladly gi
!, them such information on this important so
!. ject as may possess.
|, yours obligingly. W. =. REysoLps.
4 Honolulu, March 40. 1854.