Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-09-15

& Il IN by Want Of sunaclent Money
In recent appeal to the women Of the
country the Women's Silk Culture asso-
citation outlines what has been done by
enthusiastic women for the culture OF
silk within few years. During the
last few years the first movement of the
Women's Silk Culture association was
simply philanthropic one to add an
other industry in the homes of the agri-
culturists all over the country. Its rapid
progress and the enthusiasm with which
1t was received was the best evidence OF
its necessity. Every state in the Union,
except those of the extreme north, be-
came to greater or less degree expert
mentalists. But the conviction grad
ually developed itself that, to make this
money returning scheme, better sup
plies of food for the silk worm must be
found, and the mulberry trees must be
Systematically planted. Fully alive to
this fact, the association made applica-
ton to congress in 1885 for the fostering
care of this industry. This application
brought $4,000 to the agricultural de-
partment, which allowed this association
$500 to advance their work.
Through a more liberal support the
following year of 5000 direct to this
association, we started the really neces-
sary demand of supplying trees to those
interested in the industry. Time only
in the slow process of nature can de-
velop the growth of these trees to a state
of perfection admitting of full leaf pick
ing. 1t will therefore be seen that this
industry in its quiet progress toward
maturity has been nipped in the bud by
the failure of the Fifty-first congress to
appropriate money for its support. Dur
ing the early years of the association the
support for general purposes came from
private contributions, but looking upon
this as natural effort for the good Of
the whole people, after government
money came to the aid Of the association
it was deemed advisable not to ask for
private subscriptions, and now the asso-
citation finds itself unable to pursue its
work.
This work is represented by four diff
ferent centers-the agricultural depart
ment at Washington, the Kansas State
association, the California State associa-
ton and the Women's Silk Culture asso-
citation of the United States, at Phila-
delphia. Referring to the work done by
the station in Philadelphia, we have had
since organizing upward of co. 900 cor
respondents; at present we receive about
1900 letters Of inquiry annually; we
have purchased from those cultivating
silk $4,000 pounds of cocoons; have sold
1,700 pounds of reeled or commercial
raw silk; have manufactured 1000 yards
of silk goods; have made forty silk
United States flags; have made large
quantities of silk fringe and ribbons;
have sent cabinet exhibitions of the vari-
GUS products of the silk industry to
every state agricultural society in the
Union; have sent exhibits of our work
with reel and reeler to nearly every large
exposition held within the last decade;
have exhibited our work and reeling in
England and Scotland.
We have numerous demands from in
dustrial and high schools from all parts
of the country for cabinet exhibits of
the work as object lessons for their
pupils; have sent out thousands of circu-
lars and instructive books, and within
the last three years have distributed no.
600 mulberry trees throughout the coun-
try, thereby laying the foundation for
the coming silk culture; we have in
structed American girls in the art Of
reeling, and have thus become a school
of instruction in the art of silk culture.
This association, with much regret,
will be obliged to instruct the people all
over the Union of their inability to fur
Their receive their product, and of ces-
sation of the work as far as any center
for the purchase of their cocoons is con-
cerned, owing to a lack of the filature in
the United States. Cocoons are of no
use to the manufacturer until they have
passed through this process of reeling,
and as the reeling filature is not in ex-
istence, except at the experimental sta
tions, and there is no fund to continue
these stations, the silk culturists find no
outlet for their crop.
As this juncture the number of silk
growers has increased above that of any
other season, and this makes the situa-
ton most unfortunate, as it shows an
increase IN the interest and failure to
meet this.