The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-20
SILKvILLE IS SOLD
Big Ranch of Eccentric French
man Made History.
Started in Early Seventies for
Production of Silk.
OPERATIONS WERE MYSTERY
e. V. BOiSSiere Was Opposed to
Prohibition Laws.
Invited Public to Estate and
Entertained Lavishly.

recent story reporting the sale OF
''Silkville,'' causes many old residents
of Kansas to recall early history and
the adventures of Europeans in this
country.
The story of Silkville, the peculiari-
ties of its promoter, E. V. Boissiere.
was common gossip in Kansas in the
early seventies, but few of the present
residents of the state are familiar with
the facts. The following is story in
the exchanges which relates the par
ticular features of Silkville and the &C.
centricities of the promoter:
In the first place, few people know
what Silkville is. From the name one
would infer it is a town. 1t is not
1t is a tract of $500 acres of land in
one body near Williamsburg, in Frank
lin county.
1t was bought by z. V. Boissiere.
Frenchman, the latter part of 1863 for
the purpose of propagating silk worms:
Charles Sears, an American, had
charge of the place, and While a great
many Frenchmen were brought to SILK
Vile to work the place was always I'M
der Mr. Sears mana cement.
A sandstone fence four feet high,
nicely laid up, was built around the en-
tire place.
The buildings on the farm consisted
of a large three-story stone dwelling
house 40 by so feet, a three-story
cheese and butter factory, very large
one-story stone building in which the
silk worms were kept and fed, and
similar building for blacksmith shop
and workroom, several large barns ana
sheds for stock.
The farm was we'll stocked with the
finest bred cattle and horses, and the
cheese industry was looked closely aft
er and a very fine product was turned
out.
Twenty acres of the choicest land
mt with mulberry trees for
feed for the silk worms Outside OF
this large vineyards and orchards were
put out and farming of all kinds was
engaged in.
Tariff Is Blamed.
To this day not a half-dozen people
know why the silk industry failed, not
withstanding the quality of silk made
there compared with the very best of
Italy's product. The real reason and
the only reason for the failure was on
account of there not being protective
tariff on raw silk and the high price of
labor in this country could not COM
pete with the low paid labor of Europe
This is the reason Mr.. Boissiere gave.
The first cocoons were made in 1872.
Up to the third year very few out
siders were allowed on the place, and
what went on in measure was some
what of a mystery to the people who
lived near.
However, during the early summer
of 1874 Mr. Boissere left his palatial
home in France to come over and see
how Silkville was get ng along. And
it certainly had improved wonderfully,
for there had been no lack of money
to spend on the place and the trees of
all kinds had made great growth and
the crops looked fine and the French |
man was highly pleased.
His grapes had made great growth
and the year befc had made a |
wonderful yield, and the amount of
wine made for his use and barreled |
I'D was something great.
He pronounced the wine very fine !
and as it was in strawberry time and |
the vines were loaded with large red !
berries he concluded it would be a /
good time to let the people visit the |
"'Frenchman's American home,'' as he /
termed it.
Sent Sunday Excursions.
SO notices were printed in the OF |
tawa and Darlington papers that on |
a certain Sunday excursion trains |
would run to Silkville, and every
body was invited to come and see
how silk was made.
Large crowds vent from Ottawa.
Burlington, Waverly,
and all other places along the line, !
and at IL o'clock on the morning of |
that day there was a great assem-
blage.
urged to drink all they wanted. Chill
dren as well as grown people were
asked to help themselves.
There were strawberries, ice cream
and most anything one cared for
However, you had to pay for what you
ate.
In those days prohibition did not
cut as much figure as it does now and