The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-28

and some of the tropical fruits, of the
earth. The mulberry tree can be made
to flourish in all it's branches with as lit
tie or less labor than in any otner coun-
try of the world.
The c,imauc conditions of Southern
California are beyond com parison. The
frostlesS belt of this secti N OF tho state
comprising about 1901 square miles.
On these tracts the mulberry may be kept
in green leaf for at least ten months OF
the year and ven where there are slight
early and late frosts the silk industry
may be politically carried on for eight
months OF the year continuously.
The continuous production OF silk Will
yet prove of valuable advantage to our
region. This Will most readily appear
from glance at other countries, Italy and
France Tor example. The annual aggre-
gate value uf the cocoons (sold in the
state) iu't IS made by the silkw orm eata
pillar. without any winding or rreling,
or any other preparation raise In Italy
and France, is from ab nut five millions
to SIX and one-half millions of pounds
sterling, GO 000 600 to ;5,6OO. 0O0l for
each of these countries. This affords an
average 'eturn to each individual rearer
of about 60 or 9l0 in Fra ace, AMI ten or
eleven pounds in italy, while in regions
Dor iering on the Mediterranean SEA, tne
average reward to each reafer appears to
be from ten to twelve pounds. In every
case the Whole time occupied Is tho same,
namely about six or seven weeks per an
mum. (Taken from report to the depart
ment of agriculture of Sydney, New
South Wales, 1894.
These figures seem very small to the
! skilled mechanic who can earn So to 50
DAY, but to the women who wear out
their lives in miserable garrety, making
garments for wholesale houses, shirts at
20 cents per day for example, tho silk
industry would open a perfect paradise.
Taking the essential figures of estimat-
ed figures of the European iaborer we
find hat each laborer has from S36 to $40
for six or seven weeks work. In our
sunny land they have season five times
as long in which TO work and no silk
worm disease. by which they. always
count IN losing 20 per cent in those
countries to contend with. Now let us
! suppose five acre lot and family of
five grown and half-grown persons eacn
acre would make from $3.50 to $3.50 annu:
ally which would give an ag regate OF
5000 to $3.50 from the ii se acres per wear.
Another advantage the family could all
be at home and work Together and i'm
prove and enlarge their operations every
year. Then too. when the cocOons are
soil, then it is that they open up many
other avenues OF labor in the cities and
towns. giving employing ant to the highest
| grades OF III echanical labur and inventive
| genius.
Thousands of women, girls and boys
| would find employment the entire year in
| silk factories and instead of sen ling out
of the country $35, 900, 900 to $40. 700. 600 for
| reeled silk. large portion II not all these
millions could be kept in this country If
the people of Southern California would
| arouse themselves to the development OF
| our great possibilities.
| For the last twenty years many persons
in Northern and Middle California have
attempted the work of raising silk worms
and manufacturing six. Most of tn ese
efforts ere ali too soon abandoned. Not
| because the silk worm did not grow and
| thrive and the mulberry trees flourish.
| Oh iehy because the market for cocoOns
closed suddenly leaving the product OF
labor on the hands of those wn, produce
ed them. This sudden misfortune came
further state aid to help establish the
silk industry. About the same time con-
| gress refused national assistance tn silk
culture which they had nourished and
cherished for some years, having been
asked to appropriate $3.50, 900. Thcas
| ing influence on my who might cher sh
the hope of making silk production a
staple industry.
| Another causA which has hao its in
fuence against the industry is the fact
that eastern silk manufacturers are OPP
posed to the production OF silk in the
| United States.
There is no wider or better field in
which 10 operate with private capital
than in the production Of silk in South
ern California We have tho essentials
for it's fullest development in unlimiteC
degree as to soil and climate. Millionl
of acres of unoccupied land and nlmos
everlasting sunshine. We have intell
gent people, room for thousands of colo
MES that might be induce to settle in oul
state If capitalists could be induced to
full confidence in this industry may just
become source of wealth and wealth is
the strength of every nation.
| MRS. CARRIE WILL JAMS,
San Diego. Cal.