156 



Much gimp is here manufactured, and used in the 

 structure of bonnets. A thread having been prepared 

 by being wound around and completely covered with 

 silk, a coarse cotton cord twenty yards in length is next 

 attached to a swivel, and the other end to a spindle. 

 This cord is made to revolve with astonishing speed, and 

 the fine prepared cord, which a workman carries at a 

 good walk, is speedily wound round it as a covering, 

 the whole having the appearance of silk. This thread 

 or finer cord is first wound round with the silk in the 

 same manner. The simplicity of this machinery, the 

 wonderful rapidity of its execution, are calculated to 

 strike the beholder with surprise and admiration. 



Here also is a ribbon loom, which weaves a dozen 

 ribbons at a time. This is furnished with a dozen 

 spring shuttles, which are put in motion by a single 

 hand at the same instant of time. 



Here is also another loom for galloon, which weaves 

 twenty pieces at a time, moving twenty shuttles at once, 

 by a single hand. 



The quantity of silk which is consumed in this es- 

 tablishment, is from thirty to fifty pounds in a week. A 

 part of this silk is imported direct from China ; and a 

 part is bought in England at the London docks, and 

 before it becomes liable to a duty at that place. It is 

 imported into London by the ships from India and 

 China. But some of the finest silk which is used in this 

 establishment has been imported from France, as I am 

 informed, at a cost of $11 per pound. There is also in 

 this establishment a throwing mill for making organzine 

 and tram. 



Other establishments for manufacturing are also 

 arising in various sections of the country, but the great 

 and all-important work which is now in successful pro- 

 gress throughout the 1 country, is the preliminary enter- 

 prise of raising the silk. 



