The San Francisco call., 1904-09-10
GOVERNMENT INTERESTS
WOMEN OF THE COUNTRY
IN CULTURE OF SILK

The Government has made it possible
for every woman in the country who
owns a few mulberry trees to keep her
self in pin money, provided she is will
ing to work for it at the rate of six
weeks in the year, telegraphs the
Washington correspondent of the New
York Tribune.
Silkworms the world over feed on the
leaves of the mulberry, and after an
experience of more than two years the
Agricultural Department is justified in
the belief that America in time will be
able to rival the looms of Italy and
France. In order to interest the people
Of the country in this new field of work
the department will send to any appli-
cant silkworms enough to start busi-
ness, with full instructions how to
make the venture a success. When the
crop is gathered the department will
pay for the cocoons on a scale of 81
pound when dry. 1t Is such simple
work and so easily done that women
and even children can engage in it
profitabIy and if conducted intelli
gently there is no reason why silk cul-
ture cannot yield as good results as the
raising of chickens or bees, with far
less trouble. For instance, half-doZen
mulberry trees viii net the culturist
about $50 a year. There will be literally
little or no expense and the care of the
worms means few weeks work in the
springtime, when it is positive pleas
ure to be out of doors.
In a sunshiny room in the Argicul-
tural Department three young women
are kept busy every day reeling silk
from the cocoons that. are being sent
in from nearly every State in the
Union, notably Utah and Alabama
Afterward it is twisted into shining
yellow hanks, ready for the mills of
Paterson, where it will be woven into
native ribbons and silks.
AS the department pays out 81 for
the raw material, to say nothing of the
expense of clerk hire, books of instruc-
tion, machinery and even mulberry
cuttings for those who have no trees,
II will be seen that the additional 81
pound given by the mills does not
begin to cover the cost of the under
taking The Government does not
mind a small thing like that, however
IL the outcome proves successful, and
the department has pledged itself to
buy all cocoons sent In until such time
as the output encourages the erection Of
silk mills throughout the country.
when the market will be general, as in
the case of other staple products.
Commercial silk culture requires a
smaller outlay Of capital than almost
any other industry, and the net gain
the first year may pay for an outfit
which will last for many years One
girl of is made enough money this year
with her cocoons to send herself to COL
lege for the coming scholastic term.
Another, in the same. neighborhood,
failed to get returns enough to pay for
her outft-which serves as an illustra-
ton that silk culture, like everything
else, depends upon the way you go
about 1t.
The University of Edinburgh has con-
ferred the degree of doctor of laws on
Hannis Taylor, the former United
| States Minister to Spain. The same
honor was conferred some time ago
by the University Of Dublin. Mr.. Tay-
lor will receive the degree at Dublin
the last Of June and at Edinburgh ear
| ly in July. His textbooks are used i'll
both universities.
In 1909 there were S5SS persons killed
in this country by the railroads and 6I,-