Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-22
CULTURE
STARTED IN
GEORGIA
COMPANY ORGANIZED WITH A
LARGE CAPITAL TO REVOLT
TONNE CULTURE AND MAN
UFACTURE OF SILK.


Seri-Culture and Manufacturing compa-
ny. with a capital stock Of quarter of
a million dollars and the prospects OF an
increase to a million dollars in the near
future was recently filed in the Of
flee of the clerk of the superior court.
The company proposes 10 introduce and
foster the cultivation of raw silk in this
country and to manufacture the raw ma
teriaI into the finished products. The
home office of the concern is to be in
Atlanta and branch plants and colonies
are to be established in any county in
the state and later in other states
throughout the south. The first, located
at Tallulah Falls. is now under way,
80 OOO mulberry trees having already been
planted.
The incorporators named in the charter
are: Louis B. Magid, of Habersham coun-
ty, Georgia, and w. r. Sweet, of Rabun
county. Brown & Randolph, the attorneys
filing the application for the charter, are
also interested in the company. Other At
lantians are to take an interest in it in
the near future though the bulk of the
capital of the company has been put up
by eastern capitalists.
Louis b. Magid. who now makes his
home at Iallulah Falls, is to be the pres
ident of the company, and is the guild
ing spirit in it's organization. Mr.. Magid
is a German by birth. He has studied
the silk industry abroad for years and is
a recognized authority. The company
proposes an industrial revolution in the
United States, especially in the south,
which is well adapted for the silk Gull
ture.
At Tallulah Falls, the company already
owns 2.5O0 acres of land. On this $4,000
mulberry trees have already been planted.
In a year or two, the trees will be ready
to support the silk worms. More land is
to be bought in the near future and it is
all to be divided into 25-acre farms. On
each of these five acres are to be planted
an trees at once. Soon foreigners, French
and Italians, masters of the industry, are
to he brought over and put on the farms.
Every inducement is to be offered to the
farmers In the vicinity to set out trees
also
.wo water powers on the place are to
be developed for the generation of cleo
tricity to be used in the plant that is to
be erected for the unwinding of the
cocoons. A book is now being published
by ar. Mag.d for d. -tribution among the
farmers of the south, treating Of silk
culture and the possibilities for 1t here.
Everything possible is to be done to urge
the cultivation of the silk worm.
The right for every possible. business
in connection with the silk industry is
sought in the charter filed today. The
company starts with its land near Tall
lulah Falls, on the Tallulah Falls
railroad. An Office will be later
opened here in Atlanta and when sew
eral colonies have been successfully es-
tablished a central manufacturing plant
is to be erected here in Atlanta.
The raising of the silk worm in the
United States is an entirely new Industry
now, though years ago it was quite an
occupation in the south. To foreign coun-
ties. $75.O00.OO0 is every year sent from
the United States for the raw silk to be
manufactured into the finished product
here. 1t is the purpose of the company
TO awaken the country to the sact that
this can be raised here.
Mr.. Magid is very much in earnest about
the matter and has already appealed to
the federal authorities. Last year. the
government appropriated $4,000 for the
purchase of mulberry trees in foreign
countries TO be brought here for distri-
button. This was owing to Mr.. Magid's
efforts. But, as he put IL, the govern
ment can never establish the silk indus
try. The silk industry will have TO be es-
tablished by private people and then
these people may establish a silk de-
partment of government.
In a recent lecture on the subject Mr.
Magid gave the following instance of the
possibilities of silk culture in Georgia.
There are more than 224,CO0 farms in
of the farmers would take up silk cul-
ture based on scientific methods, they
could easily produce more than they today
get from their cotton crops. For example,
suppose that each family in the smaller
half of Georgia's farmers would enter
into silk culture, and only produce $50
worth. 1t would be a play or avocation
for children, as the WORK is pleasant and
il is interesting to watch the little worms
eat the mulberry and later imprison them
selves in their own builded cocoons; and
in that way If only 10000 farmers would
produce the silk, it would add to the
states yearly income 100000 and If the
cocoons should be unreeled in the state
II would nearly double the value"
The United States is said to be using
more than one-half of the worlds pro-
duction. The company expects in time
to revolutionize the silk business of the
world. 1t will at once build up a wonder
full industry in Georgia and the south.