Wichita eagle., 1889-04-11
ghs ethia nai1y astc ghursaay orno sprfl IT, 1883.

tity of raw silk three times as great as is
grown in France, and which is admitted
free of duty in the interest Of manufac-
| turers. Can she continue this practice in
the double weakness of sending the money
out of the country and depressing the
| value of the home product?
'.Pll face the land, to Fastening ills a prey.
Where wealth accommodates and men de-
cay"
1t is Tor the promotion of the general
welfare of the people OF the country that
| the industry is urged. Increasing and
diversfyng the product of labor and find
| ing a market for it." Mrs. John Lucas,
president of the Women's Silk Culture As
ISOLATION of the United States, takes the
| hopeful and reasonable view OF the case
| and says: Notwithstanding difficulties,
| with steady and persistent effort there are
| liberal and patriotic men who will rise
above their prejudice and the future Will
witness the looms OF American silk mills,
| filled with American raw silk
| Dispatches of March % say that at
P terson, \. j., the greatest center
OF the silk industry In America,
! by the principal manufacturers IN Amer
lea, and representing millions OF dollars,
| to establish and endow a school in Amer
| lea where designing, weaving, dying and
| Furnishing are taught as in the technical
schools of Europe, and where Americans
| are rarely admitted. Negotiations have
already been made with the best qualified
teachers from abroad to assume charge
over the various departments. The aim is
to broaden the scope, enlarge the field and
have market abroad for the goods manu-
| featured at home.
The woman's association have reel
superior to any invented or used in any
/ 1raI hxyC IF
adelphia's skilled mechanics. assisted by
one of the associations scientific scholars.
| / he reel bears the same relation to SILK
culture as the cotton gin does TO cotton
culture. The reeling is the first process
in preparing the cocoon for the loom.
| The association teaches the art OF reellng
| silk to young persons Of both sex free OF
charge.
The well directed efforts of the educated
labor of one person may yet accomplish as
much as the efforts of several heather
| Chinese, who with ways that are dark
manage to adulterate their product largely,
and eternal vigilance, plus some four dol
! lars per pound, Is the price OF pure artl-
| Gle of Chinese raw silk.
Under King James | the industry was
introduced into the colonies under
a system of bounties and fines. 1t Vlr-
GINA fifty pounds of tobacco was given
for every pound of reeled silk produced
and twenty pounds was made the penalty
| for neglect. From the colonies it spread
throughout the states with varying sue
cess and interesting history.
At the centennial the exhibit of cocoons
and raw silk from Kansas obtained the
surprised approval of the japanese judge,
but with blowing, and sowing, and reap
ing to do. added to the other
labors and cares incidental to a
new state Kansas has not kept
pace in ser-culture with her
older sisters. Ohio led last year in the
praduct But if Kansas is true and loyal
to her possibilities she will proceed upon
an intelligent basis for future operations
in this line and change the record u her
favor
A time honored recipe for rabbit pie
reads thus: First catch your rabbit As
the rabbit is to the pie, SO is the Usage
orange and mulberry leaf to the silk dress,
since it takes seventy-hve pounds OF leaves,
fed to $500 silk worms for thirty-days to
bring them to the spinning point, the pro
duct of which spinning is one pound OF
raw silk after the cocoons have been reeled.
If you have the food supply ready you
are prepared to begin Seri culture. The
| worms from an ounce Of eggs, which are
about 10000, will need ABOUT 1e4 square
feet of space for their homes, which must
be secured against ants as they are devour-
ers of silk worms. If you are would be
ply. plant trees, and while you are waiting
read up' and look around. 1t has always
seen considered as becoming the honor OF
a loyal citizen to be educated in the
art and science of war, and at his
oountry's call to arms, march
forth to victory or death, but above this,
is it becoming him to be educating and ed
ucated in the art and science Of industry
and when opportunity offers or demands
serve his country, state or locality, with a
strong arm, good brain and large heart.
Note.-The author of the above indebted
to an article in Harpers Magazine fol
July, 1885 and the annual reports of the
Women's Silk Culture association OF the
United States, for facts.
Mrs. Mary Z. Davidson, silk culturist
of junction City, and who has written d
great deal on the question, read the fol-
lowing:
The great silk manufacturing industries
were first conferred in the eastern states
Massachusetts, began the production OF
laces at Ipswiche in 1870. Sewing silk was
also manufactured in Boston. Silk was
raised and manufactured by families into
sewing silk in Connecticut as early as 1910
The silk manufactured in families VI:
used as part of the circulating medium
The manufacture OF coach !aces aud
tassels was commenced in Philadelphia
Pennsylvania in 1888 and in 1915 was en-.
larged to include trimmings OF all kinds
This firm is vet in existence, conducted by
} the grand children of ". II. Hartman. the
pioneer in the industry. Pennsylvania /:
now one of the great manufacturing
centers. numbering her mills by the score
Prior to 1860 spool silk was unknown. i
was invented after the advent OF the sewing
machine silk previously was made by TIVE
strands Mr. Singer Is said to have con
ceived the idea Of putting three strands to-
gether by peculiar twist which could bs
used with great facility on the machine
, He ordered five pounds made for his newly
invented machine, but was so poor at tbs
time that he could not take the entire or
: der and had it delivered one or two pounds
at time So vast Is the production at thi
present time that the Belding company
| have shipped from one OF their mills forty
tons in one day. The manufacture O
spun silk, which includes every variety o
silk goods, was begun by Cheney Bros. II
: South Manchester, Conn, in 1875. Thi
) beautiful New England village has pop
ulauion of some 5000 people, all directly o.
indirectly dependent upon the silk mlII
for support.
Patterson is the great center of silk man
ufacture in New Jersey and Is aptl!
called the Lyons OF America.
1t gives employment to thou
sands of men. women and children anC
produces some of the finest grades of dres
goods and ribons known to the trade
From very small beginnings these beroi'
J manufacturers have arisen TO their presen
status. Too much credit cannot be giveI
them, but it would make this paper to-
long 10 dwell further upon II. Enough ha
been said TO show the advantages TO b
! gained by this ever growing industry Oh
free soil
The march of enterprise is westward
The Richardson Silk company have erect
ed a large mill at Bedding. Michigan. Thi