Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-04
SILK CULTURE IN GEORGIA
OFFERS GREAT POSSIBILITIES

ern scientific methods to raise silk and in
turn through your good offices diffuse
the knowledge to the farmers in the rural
districts And there is no reason in the
world why the United States should not
only produce enough raw silk for our own
use but eventually supply those parts Of
the world which are not so fortunate as
the United States in having climatic and
other conditions that go to make a silk
crop.
The honorable secretary of agriculture
at Washington city James Wilson, in
recent interview told me, and later wrote
me. stating that we have in America, es-
pecially In the southern states, as cheap
labor as can be found anywhere in the
world. l believe. he is quite right in his
statement from the investigation l have
personally made, comparing labor con-
ditions. especially in agricultural lines,
between Italy, Southern France and sew
eral Of the southern states OF the united
States; but the question of labor does
not come in at all in silk culture. 1t is an
established fact that we produce and sell
agricultural products to other nations.
Coming from the state of Georgia, and
having located in the county OF Haper-
sham to demonstrate silk culture IN
practical way to the natives, ii is very IN
teresting TO note that the county in which
am making experiments is named after
James Habersham, who was appointed
silk commissioner in the early days or
the Georgia colony by General OBle-
thorpe; and while speaking about the
state Of Georgia I will take her as an ex-
ample to demonstrate what can be done
nv the farmers in the raising of silk.
There are more than 224,CO0 farms in
the state of Georgia, and If only one-halI
Of the farmers of Georgia would take up
silk culture based on modern scientific
methods, they could easily produce more
than they today get from their cotton
crops For example, suppose that each
family I'm the smaller half OF Georgia
farmers would enter into silk culture, and
only produce $50 worth, it would be play
or a vocation for the children, as the work
is pleasant and interesting TO watch the
little worms eat the mulberry, and later
imprison themselves In their own bullded
cocoons; and in that way If only lOO,VJO
farmers would produce the silk it would
add to the states yearly income 100000,
and if the cocoons should be unreeled In
the state 1t would nearly double the value.
Half civilized nations are producing SILK.
China, having a history of 1900 years In
silk culture, is now selling more than $780,
900 900 Of silk annually, and what they con-
sumo is perhaps a larger amount, and I'M
known, as they do not keep statistics in
China. japan also produces yearly from
forty to fifty million; Italy gets an equal
amount; and the great United States,
while it uses one-half of the worlds pro-
duction gets credit for producing none
whatever.
The silk manufacturing business in the
United States, while 1t dates back to 1915,
the general introduction of silk manufac-
ture really did not begin until after the
civil war. I will compare here few fig
ures:
The manufacturers of the United States
in 1860 only imported 10000 pounds of raw
silk, against II, zoo, 900 at the present time
Under great difficulties it has builded up
the enormous industry of silk manufac-
ture with it's 4S3 establishments employ
ing 5000 workmen, and ii is worth while
to note here that only per cent are chill
dren under Is years of age, while in 1870
the silk industry employed 20 per cent of
children under is years of age. The pres
ent annual wages and salaries amount to
$27, 0O0. 600.
II the United States could build up in
period of 50 years such an enormous in
dustry in the northern states, where labor
is much more in demand and higher than
In the southern states, there is no reason
why silk culture, If properly taken up in
the southern states. where labor is in
abundance, in fact tputilized, the climatic
conditions equal If not better than in any
other silk growing countries, with the
ever increasing American spirit to do
things properly and well when once en-
tered into, there is no reason, and I say
a dozen times no reason why in a short
time we should not have silk culture, not
only enough for home supplies, but to
supply a good many other nations, as
we supply and lead today in other agri-
cultural and industrial products.
The highest award for silk manufacture
at the Paris exposition in 1900 was award
ed to a Michigan silk manufacturer, his
exhibit being side by side with those Of
France, now the leading silk manufac-
turing nation.
In 1870 ii took an American engineer
now living in Paris. but until recently a
resident of the state of New York, to
invent a Keeling machine for the unwind
ing of cocoons. This all goes to show
that if we Americans take up something
we are bound to win; but we must enter
into the subject honestly, with good faith,
and with continued efforts until we do
win. Depending largely, gentlemen, on
your good offices, with the combined CO.
operation of the national government in
Washington, which has always assisted
Industries and especially silk culture. is
one that invites assistance owing to its in
fancy
TEST NOIIP EWES AT HOME