The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-04-29
GROWTH OF TIE SILK INDUSTRY.

TO the Editor of the Eagle.
The success that has been achieved in
the manufacture of silk in the United
States has fully demonstrated the fact
that this country is capable of making
its own silk During the last census de
cade the products of the silk industry
were more than doubled IN this country.
The census of 1890 shows that the value
of the net finished products of the SILK
made in this country, was s69, l54.o99,
While in 1880 it was only $34 ,5l9, i23;
thus showing an increase of $34, 634 ,SlG
or 100.33 per cent. The prices of silk
goods OF all kinds are now as low as they
were ever known in this country. The
industry is amply protected by the pres
ent tariff laws, and if the duties on for
eicn silks are retained as they now are
in a very few years this country will be
making all the silk that is used here.
The number of factories has increased
from 3S2 in 1880 to 472 in 1890: or %. 56
per cent the capital invested has III
creased from $40, 125. 300 i'll 1880 10 sol,
O07 ,:537 in 1890; or 1866 20 per cent. The
number of hands employed has increased
62.47 per cent: the wages paid has in
creased 1916 per cent; the cost OF
material used has increased 1868; the
gross value of the products has increased
about 112. - per cent; the number OF
spintles has increased from 50S, 1877 10
/ ,254. 19S; or 106.9A per cent; tile number
of looms has increased from S,f'4 to
- 500; or 16e 33 per cent.
An industry which shows such growth
as this should be encouraged by every
means within the control of the govern
ment. An addition of S;4, 634 $40 to the
products in one single industry within a
period of ten years shows that 1t Is OF
immense value to the people of the
United States.
In the year 1850 this country only pro-
duced 10 per cent. of the silk
used; III 1870 it had increased
to 90 per cent; in 1880 to
3s per cent; in 1890 it was 30 pei
cent. This has been long under pro-
tective tariff.
There is a branch Of the silk industry
that has not yet received much attention
| in this country, and that Is the manu-
! facture of the raw silk Nearly all that
is used is imported, although this coun-
/ try is capable of raising its own null
berry trees and producing its own raw
/ silk.
| The value of the raw silk imported
! into this country in 1860 was only
| ST $40. go, while in 1890 1t was $50, 2S5, :
! 009. II we manufactured our own raw
/ silk in this country, 1t would soon be
worth nearly $40 coo, 900 a year to the
producers. This profit would go largely
! into the hands of tie farmers and horti
| culturists. California. Colorado, Utah
Kansas and many other states III thi
country are admirably adapted to thu
raising of mulberry trees and the pro
! duction of raw silk. In Southwestern
Kansas and Indian Territory, the mul
berry tree grows wild in the forests, ana
| its cultivation i'll those regions could un
| doubtedlv be made a success, and where
the mulberry trees will grow, siikworm
will flourish, as lis leaves are thei
! natural food.
While the production of silk goods il
this country has increased during tn
last ten years over 100 per cent. the i'm
portation of silk goods has not increases
to anything like that extent. The i'm
portation OF silk goods IN the fiscal yea
1880 70 1881 was $50. sol, s51; while TIA
OF 1889 and 1890 was only $50, &c, 090; al
increase of only S60Si 200 against an III
crease Of S54, 634 $50 III the home manu-
facture OF these goods. This show
clearly what protection can do for tn
silk industry IN this country. Now. lie
the government also encourage the pro
ductiou OF raw silk until we can pre-
duce all the raw silk that Is consumed i
our factories. and we have an lndustr
that will be worth ret from $50, 900. 900 I
I So. 900, 600 a year 10 the people Of To
United States, DR. l. +. MILLER.