Smyrna times., 1941-07-24

experimental basis. have been
used in the spun silk industry for
making apparel fabrics. National
defense has brought about new
uses. Powder bags and cartridge
cloths are both made of spun silk,
as it burns completely-leaving
no residue. Parachute seams are
also of spun silk. Since Japan
controls the Chinese market from
which we are dependent for CO.
coons, this country finds itself in
a position where something had
better be done about it.
This development can be car
ried out in two stages. American
agriculture can make the raising
of silk worms second poultry in
dustry -. part-time occupation
as part of the farm operation
that will bring excellent cash re-
turn. AT the same time it will
provide the entire spun silk in
dustry with raw material. :.
A second opportunity will bene-
fit the business man in small
communities. The silk hosiery in
dustry is the big user of reeled
silk. Keeling machinery will
therefore be necessary. Farmers
will take their silk to town where
reeling machinery will be avail
able. After this is accomplished,
the reeled silk can be sent to the
mills for fashioning into silk
hosiery.
- A successful development will
mean a new farm product, new
Industry for small towns, new
machinery manufacture and re-
liable source of supply for the silk
industry.
On May IL, 1926, the House of
Representatives authorized the
Secretary of the Treasury to make
an investigation of the possibili-
ties of the silk industry in the
United States. The report was
rendered in 1928, whereupon 5000
copies were printed for distribu-
ton. The report was an excellent
one, still worth reading. 1t brings
out one very important point-and
that is, that the mulberry tree
which supplies food for the silk
worm can be grown in practically
every part of the United States.
K. M. Hazarabedian of Selma,
Calf, has done much to prove
the feasibility of the silkworm
culture as farm operation. He
claims that a net of about two
dollars per pound is realized by
the silk raised. If this is accurate,
and there is every indication that
it is a sound estimate, it means
that with approximately 100000
600 pounds of silk being imported,
there is Sl40,000,000 industry
awaiting the efforts of the Amer
ican farmer.
The fruit of the mulberry tree
is by-product of the silk indus
try, which is not to be overlooked.
There has been an old argument
which has been a stumbling block
in the development of the indus
try =. the argument that wages
in China and Japan were so low,
we could not compete. This argu-
ment does not have the merit it
once had; for new methods, de-
velopment in this country, indi-
cate the possibility of overcoming
this objection.
Suppose we must subsidize this
infant industry for few years.
That would be better than sub
sidy Of surplus crops with no hope
of ever being relieved of the bur-
den it entails. What we Ameri-
cans need more than ever before
is re-awakening to the fact that
America was made by men and
women who had the courage to
tackle long-range endeavors that
took years before attaining sue
cess. The stamina required for
such endeavors made great ma
ton. The silk industry is chal-
lenge to American agriculture. 1t
is big undertaking but promises
a big profit.