53 
of ladies’ dress trimmings. Vermont has 1 manufactory of machine- 
twist, with $14,200 capital and 8 hands, yielding $15,000. One firm in 
Missouri manufactures ladies’ dress trimmings and upholstery trim- 
mings to the exteht of $15,000, with $10,500 capital and 13 hands. 
Finally, one establishment in Kansas weaves $7,500 worth of ribbons, 
with a capital of $10,000 and 6 hands. 
The weekly wages of male employés range about as follows: mill men 
and boys, from $5.75 @ $8 in New Jersey, to $6 @ $12 in Connecticut; 
cleaners, from $1.80 in California to $5 in Connecticut ; weavers, $12 to 
18, (the highest rate only in Connecticut;) dyers from $12 @ $15 in New 
Jersey and Pennsylvania, to $16 @ $25 in New York, (California $24 
in gold;) stringers, from $12 to $18, (highest rate only in California ;) 
laborers, from $8 @ $10 in Pennsylvania, to $10 @ $12 in New York; 
lace-machine men, (only employed in New York,) $12 to $30. Female 
wages range as follows: danters, from $5.50,@ $6.50 in Pennsylvania, 
to $9 in California; winders and doublers, $4.50 to $10; cleaners, $1.80 
to $5; reelers and quill-fillers, $4 to $7; spoolers, $6.50 to $8; weav- 
ers, $7 to $12; tassel-makers, $4 to $7.50. The hours of labor are 60 
per week. In many instances operatives of special skill will make much 
more than the above, especially soft-silk winders, warpers, and weavers | 
who work by the piece or pound; such frequently earn $12 to $15 per 
week, while male weavers often reach $20, and passementerie-workers 
$30; the best silk-finishers reach $36. 
The reports of the Bureau of Statistics of the Treasury show the fol- 
lowing imports of raw silk by fiscal years: 1870-71, 1,100,281 pounds, 
worth $5,739,592 ; 187172, 1,063,809 pounds, worth $5,625,620; 187273, 
1,159,420 pounds, worth $6,460,621 ; 1873~74, 794,837 pounds, worth 
$3,854,008 ; 1874~75, 1,101,681 pounds, worth $4,504,306. The imports 
of the calendar year of 1874 were 806,774 pounds, valued at $3,826,905, 
against 831,728 pounds, worth $4,267,243, imported in 1873. Over 99 
per cent. of these goods were entered at New York and San Francisco. 
The report of the Silk Association embracesa paper showing that the raw 
silk-trade of 1874 was marked by full crops, low prices, and large con- 
sumption by manufacturers. In the face of a decreasing import this 
can be explained only on the supposition of an increased home-produc- 
tion. China, now happily freed from her devastating rebellion, has in- 
creased her annual product and export. ‘The report, however, publishes 
facts showing that the Chinese article has suffered a continued adultera- 
tion and deterioration. In response to the demands of foreign consuls 
the Chinese government issued a proclamation calling upon the officials 
of the ‘ silk-district” to see that due care be exercised in the selection 
of fiber for export, and that energetic measures be taken for its improve- 
ment. In Japan, of late years, the raw-silk trade has been nearly 
undermined and demoralized by the extraordinary foreign demand for 
silk-worms’ eggs. This caused the increase of worms beyond the power 
of the rearers to properly care for them. A great degeneracy of the 
next generation was the natural consequence, involving a similar degen- 
eracy inthe cocoons. But these results have produced a reaction in the 
'' business, and now more attention is given to the breeding of sound, 
healthy worms. Machinery is also superseding hand-work in reeling, 
producing more even and stronger fiber with fewer breaks. The entire 
Japanese product of raw silk in 1874 was about 3,000,000 pounds. The 
silk produced in spring is stronger and less liable to break, but that of 
summer is of brighter color; a little inferior silk is produeed in the fall. 
From facts presented by the Japanese vice-consul at New York, it is ex- 
pected that the Japanese silk will become as good as that of any other 
