The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-11-27
SPIDERS SILK WEAVERS.
A NEW INDUSTRY TO BE INTRO
pUcED INTO PARIS.


From English Manufacturers-TheW wen
Spun Into Fine Silk.
A scientific discovery of great inter-
est to the world, according to the New
York Herald, is that silk OF an ex-
ceptionally fine quality can be made
from the web of an ordinary spider.
For wears science has looked with
longing eyes at the fine silky web that
seemed to have no other use in the
domestic economy than to enmesh any
unfortunate fly that happened to come
within trapping distance OF the SPIDER
lurking place. 1t was known that the
web had a silky texture and might
serve some useful purpose In manu-
featuring industries, but how, first OF
all. to get the spider to give 1t up IN
sufficient quantities to make it worth
while, and how, secondly, to wind SO
fine a thread without breaking or
hopelessly entangling it, were the
problems that scientists despalred OF
ever being able to solve.
There was a strong incentive for
some one to solve it, however, for the
manufacturers of Great Britain had
dubbed together to offer standing
reward of $4,000 to the man who
could invent some way OF turning
spiders web to profitable manufactur,
ing account. In spite of the reward
and the prospective fortune from the
solution of the puzzle no one could
make anything of it, until a French
man named M. Cachot, who had for
many years been studying upon the
question, hit upon way by means OF
which both difficulties could be over
come. Now spiders web silk is an as
sured fact, and the industry will prob
ably be thriving one in the near flu
ture. provided the spiders do not take
to the woods under this new form OF
brigandage.
M. Cachot discovered that the only
thing necessary to make the spider
assist in the robbery of its own
web was to get the thread prop
erly started in the right direc-
ton. The spider will always good
naturally unwind himself as long as
the pulling power that draws the web
from him keeps up the strain. M.
Cachot designed machine containing
the diminutive bobbins, kept constant
ly revolving by delicate running
gear. By means Of this machine ne
solved the great problem of how to
wind the thread. All former efforts to
wind the web had been made after the
spider had spun it, in the way they
had wound the silk Of the silk worm.
But the spiders web being much finer
than that of the silk worm, every at
tempt to wind it had resulted only in
a hopeless tangle, the breaking of the
thread, and finally in exhausting the
patience of the experimenter. NJ. Ca.
chot proposed to let the spider do the
winding.
He caught the end of the web while
it was still attached to the body of the
spider, and fastened it firmly to the
bobbin. Then the machine was gently
put in motion. The spider finding his
web Keeling away from him, apparent
ly of its own volition, naturally pulled
in the opposite direction to get away
This was the crucial point of the ex
pertinent. If the spider pulled will
sufficient force to break the thread thu
experiment would, of course, be fail
ure. To M. Cachot's great delight h
found that the spider seemed to EMO.
the process, and did not pull harde
than was necessary to keep the wei
moving. The tiny thread continued
to wind off on the bobbin until tn
spider had been completely deprived
of its web. Then another spider, ant
still another were treated in the sam
way, until enough thread had BEEF
wound off to fill the bobbin, when
new one was put on the machine AM
! the process repeated. When suffi
, Gent quantity of the web had beef
. collected to make thorough test Q
; its fitness for manufacturing purpose
: the thread was woven into fabric.
; was found to be the finest quality G
silk, and experts to whom it was SUI
!, mitted declared it to possess parti(
= ularly high market value.
M. Cachot claimed and received til
reward from the British manufactul
:. ers, and has exhibited the new fabri
!. in many of the large manufacturin
!. cities of England and the Continen
= where it has excited the liveliest IL
4 terest.
M. Cachot has arranged to begin th
4 manufacture of spiders web silk on
n large scale, and has taken factory
5. Paris for the purpose. Here he wi
u keep his spiders and will work the
:. at regular hours. When spider
used up he will be fed and petted bat
to condition again, while another wi
take his place on the bobbin. An e
!: pert who knows all about the habits
: !: the insect will be placed in charge
y the spider department of the factor
: and it will be his business to see tn
y !, they are properly cared for, fed al
u !, housed and provided with everythil
:, that puts spider in good humor wi
~ himself and all the world.
y THE SULTAN'S SUBJECTS.