Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1902-04-26
SILK CULTURE HERE:
SP1ans to Introduce the Industry
In the United States.
FOREIGN EXPERT LABOR NEEDED

ern States and Settled by Northern
Italians, who Are Very Proficient
In sertcuIture-Piedmont Section
Considered Ideal Place to BEGIN. -
Louis B. Magid, banker, of New
York, who has been travelling through
the south, investigating the country
for the Introduction Of silk culture,
was in Washington recently. Being in
terested in the silk business, he has
given special study for many years to
the possibility of producing raw silk in
the United States.
'"The United States is today using
more than one-fourth of the worlds
production of raw silk, and it produces
none" said he to a reporter of the
Washington Post. There is no reason
why this state Of affairs should contin-
ue, since we have the climate and soil,
as we'll as cheap labor in the southern
states, which is now untitled and adj
mtrably adapted for the purpose. Be-
sides the silk culture is one that is easy
and lasts only two months Of the year
at the outside, and the unproductive
labor could easily give attention to it.
Il will not speak OF Japan and China,
countries not OF the highest civiliza-
ton. but take France and Italy, more
advanced countries, whose govern
ments are today encouraging sericul-
ture and have encouraged it since it's
earliest days They now receive one of
their largest incomes from silk crops.
I'll" United States is purchasing from
them annually this product and annu-
ally sends $5OOOO,00O to $7O,O00,O0O
abroad for the raw material.
''Of course many experiments have
been made in the United States to
raise silk, but always in such crude
way that success could not be expected
An the undertaking. Usually some wo-
man reads a pamphlet on the subject,
then attempts the raising of silk. Of
course such a person deserves credit
for having the courage and ambition to
make the experiment, but the industry
is one Of far greater Importance and
demands the cooperation Of men with
knowledge Of sericulture and of fnan-
cial institutions as well as of the ma
h1onal and state governments in it's es-
Establishment
II have incorporated a stock compa- |
ny with some Of my associates on a |
business basis. Our plan is practically |
TO establish one or more colonies to be |
1gettled by northern Italians who are
experts or, better said. Unborn with the
knowledge of silk culture and silk |
By doing that we shall |
Anake an object lesson to the natives of |
the southern states white and black !
and to unwind the cocOOns, making out
tOf them a marketable product.
IA great obstacle which is in the way
at the present time is that we have not
expert labor to do the work. Now, by
colonizlng several districts with Ital-
ians we will remove this obstacle.
These Italians will teach the natives to
raise the silk, and the natives will also
have a chance to learn the unwinding
Or reeling of the cocoons,
= 1.-The object Of the company in bring
ing these Italians is purely for that
purpose, as it is not necessary on &C.
count Of labo, to bring in Italians, for
we have throughout the south much
cheaper labor than is Obtainable in any
part Of Europe. The southern laborers
can take up silk culture and yet be in
position to continue producing their
cotton crops and other agricultural
products, because, as stated before, the
silk raising lasts only two months Of
the year and could be conducted by
women or children above six years of
age during the months of May and
June.
1.-The climate Of the Piedmont Sec
fion, which l call that between Wash.
9ngton, Atlanta and Columbus, is the
ideal place to begin, but there is no
reason why the native farmers of ev-
cry state in the Union should not en-
gage in the silk culture, and my COM
pany offers to give them any and all
information in connection with the
matter. as we want every farmer to
produce silk, and we shall create a
market for the cocoOns by our plan Of
AAi11AS' At1O al AALS1F1SW
with Secretary Wilson based on a long
correspondence, and he assured me
that as far as was in his power he
would assist the establishing Of silk
culture in the United States, as he has
dong been Of the opinion that silk cul-
ture could be introduced in the United
States and now has a bill before con-
gress asking for $4,000, with which,
believe, he is going to distribute null
berry trees and eggs to all who will ask
for them