302 [Senatu 



ampton Association has in consequence resolved never to purchase 

 American raw silk, except under very peculiar circumstances, but 

 only cocoons, and tho^e of a good quality, for which they will always 

 be ready to give a fair and reasonable price. 



I have now only to add that a large proportion of the silk grown 

 by the Northampton Association during the past season, and carried 

 through every process, from the hatching of the eggs to its entire 

 completion in the manufactured state, will be presented for exhibi- 

 tion at the Sixteenth Annual Fair of the American Institute. 



RiXFORD & DiMocKj Mausfield Centre Ct. — We send you the fol- 

 lowing statement: 



(1.) We commenced manufacturing silk in 1839, and have been 

 engaged in it ever since, being about four years. 



(2.) We have manufactured sewing silk and cord, chiefly sewings. 



(3.) The quantity of raw material used by us would average twen- 

 ty-five pounds per week, and the cost would average $4.50 per lb. 



(4.) Amount of capital invested in the business would not exceed 

 four thousand dollars. 



(5.) We have employed about nine hands to turn out this amount 

 of silk per week. 



(6.) We have manufactured about all kinds of raw silk, and we 

 find that American silk, reeled as it ought to be, exceeds any other 

 for strength and durability. 



(7.) It is our opinion that silk made from the white mulberry ex- 

 ceeds any other kind. We have manufactured silk made from the Al- 

 pine, and from the multicaulis, and if we could get such as we have 

 manufactured from the Alpine, we would be satisfied. 



Our views with regard to the silk business in this country are, most 

 clearly, that it will succeed. The time is not far distant when we, as a 

 country, shall raise our own silk, and manufacture it ; and ultimately 

 compete with foreign nations. 



Moses R. King, Newark^ N. J. — From an investigation of those 

 manufactories similar to my own, in this city, it is believed that the 

 amount of silk consumed annually, will not vary far from 500 lbs. This 

 is used in making coach lace, fringe, tassels, and gimps, and is com- 

 posed of those kinds of silk known as tram and organzine. In these 

 manufactures we use other materials besides silk. 



My opinion as regards the quality of American silk is that, if well 

 reeled, it is equal, if not superior to the foreign article. The American 

 gewing.-J, we consider far more desirable for our business than the import- 

 ed. As a consequence, we have for the last two years purchased that, 

 when we could find it in the market. The tram and organzine, com- 

 monly called floss silk, we have found more difficult to get, of such qua- 

 lity as to meet our wants. This has no doubt been caused by the in- 



