New-York tribune., 1902-06-15
SILK IN THIS COUNTRY.
FACTS OF ITS MANUFACTURE INTERESTING
TO wOMEN-CHILD LABOR IN FACTORIES.

FACTS OF ITS MANUFACTURE INTERESTING
TO woMEN-CHILD LABOR IN FACTORIES
With the prominence that is being given in many
quarters subject of child labor 1t is interest
ing that in 1870 according to the last census
aoS per cent all the operatives IL silk mills in
this country children while in 1900 the number
Of vouthfuI workers had diminished to 9.S per cent
The decrease took place between 1870 and 1890 Since
the latter year there has been a slight increase.
New-Jersey shows the greatest falling off OF chill
dren employees having dropped from 81 per cent to
per cent. In contrast to this, the proportion OF
child operatives in Pennsylvania has grown greater
during the entire period.
Women shoppers seldom In these days question
whether the silk they are buying is imported or
domestic long as color, quality and weave
satisfy their tastes and needs, and few know that
bulk of silk sold in this country is Manufactured
here. Net the least interesting Of the revelations
of the Twelfth Census OF the United States are the
facts brought light regarding Americas silk
Industry, which have been gathered together into
pamphlet form by Franklin Allen. expert special
agent the silk manufactures of the Census Of1ce
America il is stated Is second only to France IN
the annual value Of Its silk production In 1900
70 per cent OF the silk used in this country was
manufactured fere-an Increase of 81 per cent since
1880 and Of 10 per cent since 1880. America now
produces So per OF the silk ribbons annually
sold here The goods now principally imported from
Europe are high class novelties, handmade SILK
yelvets and handmade silk laces, Whlch are n0t
viii without doubt, be made in due time Habutai
and kaki silks when by reason @ 9l ei @ roH e gtar
come from Japan In 1850 Ie value q Inc thlpo!ts
Of product Siif maRgIsSasseS so s as was s''''' ~
domestic manufacturers of sewing silk and machine
twist In fact the United States product is univer-
81 e2E ye a s 81 any as oany 5
only the best Japan and CHINA Natures, ayed 4h ha
Paris Exposition Of 1900 the grand pIix dhenneur
the hgh award ar & gyea .s was ST awarded st to an AeF
Connecticut continues in the lead IN the produc-
sOfre ing r1a
tien being AL per cent of the total quantity manu-
being 80 per eent These two states produced III
cent Of the total annual output of this class of
Germany has been most seriously "a AFFECTED @ by the
years Lyons has wen held its own. on account OF
its fabrics styled yeonrs pan snd and G
in fact TO its higher grades of velvet. produced by
qSg eonue 5a o excel 0 and he bulk
the trade in all pile fabrics where the material Is
During the last ten years every weave article
which through alterations machinery smpli.
ication in manufacturing, could be put IN reach Of
few Lyons specialties which for different reasons
are not suitable for mechanical weaving every
style which the silk induStry @ & brings 9 10 tne market
More silk is sold annually in New York than
silk consuming country of Europe AS TO the sell
ing value OF the 2roduet the ned Gbsb M
dominates. without serious competition the world
Partisan specalties representing the supremacy of
Pa aris fashions for women's Many OF these
are made hand looms, the quantities required IN
their production in the United States by power
loom weaving would be profitable.
There are in successful operation in the United
States to-day nearly two and one-half times as
There are in the United States silk manufact-
urers who turn hundred thousand
pieces Of sixty yards each year. more than half
being taffeta weaves. ..-.-
transplanted from Europe. but like many anothef
transnIanted art. it has taken such firm mold on
the business activities of the country that IL mas
III ;oh hlx OrneS "a tpd
The beginning Of the industry on this continent
dates back to the Spanish conquest of Mexico, IN
the sixteenth century. At the beginning of the sew
enteenth century King James of England lent his
royaI favor by bestowing upon the London Com |
pany plenty of silkworms. seed of his own store
being the best and by this com oany the seed
was sent jamestown, Va, one of the |
means of helping the early colonists.
multaneously with this effort Of King James 10 |
develnp silk culture In England and America Henry
of Navarro CIenry " OF France) brought fourteen
thousand mulberry trees from Italy. which were |
eggs were also procured from Italy, and other
measures taken by this patriotic King to en- |
courage the nascent industry in France It is in |
ferestirg now TO note that the Prime Minister of
this enterprise arguing that Luxury should be |
repressed most certainly not encouraged But |
the King had been converted TO the idea by Oliver
de Serres whom the French honor as ''the father |
ments of the minister Suily. referring to this |
matter in his memoirs. 1908 says: II could not /
persrade him Are these the King said to me- |
The good reasons yeu have 70 offer? would much |
battles than All those gentlemen of the robe of the
inkstand and of the city. besides their wives and
daughters. whom you VIII bring down upon me |
with your fantastic regulations