724 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 12 



As to the prospects of obtaining silk for manu- 

 facture. 



Within the last two or three years tlie planting 

 and raising of mulberry trees, and the production 

 of cocoone, have become objects of much interest 

 in almost every state in the union. In Pennsyl- 

 vania there are now liundrcds of acres planted 

 with mulberry trees, from which cocoons will be 

 obtained in the coming year. These plantations 

 will be increased, when it shall be known that a 

 certain market exists for the cocoons, and for reel- 

 ed silk, at a fair price. Smalllots of cocoons are 

 offtired daily, and the committee entertain the be- 

 lief that in 1837, one-fburth of the supply for a 

 manufactory of a moderate extent, can be obtain- 

 ed from American cocoons. In three or four 

 years, a manufactory, with machinery and build- 

 inirs, requirinij a capital of ig 100,000, may fjc sup- 

 plied with American silk. The favorable situa- 

 tion of hiladelphia, communicating by her inter- 

 nal improvements with vast fertile reirions of the 

 ivost and the south-west, increases the confidence 

 of the committee in these anticipations. The cli- 

 mate of Pennsylvania, and of much of the coun- 

 tries to the west and south of our state, are as 

 well adapted to the culture of silk, as any in the 

 world. 



The quality of silk obtained from cocoons of 

 American production, is equal to that of Italy, and 

 the abundance and low price of lands, assure us 

 that its production will cost no more than in Eu- 

 rope ; and the committee believe it Avill cost much 

 less. At present a largre profit is obtained by the 

 production of silk at .^3 per pound. Hereafter it 

 may become more profitable to purchase the co- 

 coons, or the reeled silk, thus prepared in the fam- 

 ily of the fiu'mer, than to purchase cofoons at 25 

 cents per pound, as they now sell. Three htm- 

 dred and ten good cocoons make one pound, and 

 eight pounds of cocoons will give one pound of 

 reeled silk. At that rate, the reeling being done 

 at the manufiictory, the cost of the silk will be 

 about S3 per poimd. When cocoons are pro- 

 duced in abundance, the committee are disposed 

 to believe that at t\v)eive cents per pound, the rais- 

 ing them will heP'Sfe profitable as growing cotton 

 at nineteen ce-^s per pound. 



For two or ihree years after the establishment 

 of a silk manumctory, it must be in part supplied 

 by foreign raw silk. This can always be readily 

 obtained. Large quantities of raw silk are im- 

 ported into the United States, principally intended 

 to be exported to Mexico, where it is manufac- 

 tured. Any portion of this can be arrested on its 

 way, and used here, and the constant and rapid 

 intercourse with England and Italy, will always 

 secure its import, as it may be required, in a short 

 period of time. 



The present prices of foreign raw silk, are Ben- 

 gal 83,25 to «6,00 per pound. China, .<g5,50 to 

 ^6,00. Italian, ift6,00 to ip7,00 per pound. 



The amount of manufactured silks imported 

 into the United Stales, in the year ending on the 

 80th of September, 1835. was .-^17,497,800. 



Silk is manuiiictured in France principally by 

 nduli labor; but the introduction of machinery in 

 the manufacture of sill<, whic'h is in the ratio of 90 

 per cent, in the hmulred, reduces the cost of maii- 

 facture fl'om 50 to 80 per cent. England, by the 

 use of machinery, has become thesuccessliil rival. 

 of France, in many articles of silk manufiicture 



Let the ingenuity of America be applied to silk 

 machinery, as it has been to the machinery for 

 making cotton and woollen goods, and its success 

 will be the same. The higher cost of adult labor 

 in the United States, v.'ill thus be rendered com- 

 paratively unimportant. 



The cost of a manuflictory, and the amount of 

 capital necesary to conduct it, will depend much 

 upon the extent of the building, the cost of the 

 ground, and the amount of silk to be manufac- 

 tured. The expenses of machinery are not hea- 

 vy, as silk machinery is always light in its con- 

 struction, and requires no great power to keep it 

 in motion. A six horse power steam eno-ine will 

 move the machinery to manulacture two hundred 

 pounds of raw silk per vreek; and a building of 

 30 feet in width, f)y 225 feet in length, 3 stories 

 hiah, will be sufficient for all the purposes of man- 

 ufiicturing, dyeing and packing that quantity of 

 silk within its walls. It is proper also to observe 

 that the expense of machinery will depend much 

 on the kind of work to be done. JXI any articles 

 manufactured from silk, require machinery of but 

 little cost ; and the estimate is made with confi- 

 dence, that an establishment for the manulticture 

 of silk into plain and onlinary articles, will cost no 

 more than about one eighth of a cotton fiiclory, 

 to turn out the same number of dollars worth of 

 work, and with equal if not greater profit. 



While it is claimed that all articles made from 

 silk can be manuiiictured here, it is not considered 

 desirable at present to undertake the making of 

 any but plain staple goods ; such as floss and 

 sewing silks, 1 wist and stuffs for gentlemen's wear, 

 vestings, plain ribbons, and grey silks for printing 

 pocket handkerchiefs. 



Floss and sewing silk made from Bengal silk 

 would cost — 



Raw material, shy ^5,25 



Dyeing, manufacturing and waste 1,50 



Lb. of 14 oz. 6,25 



These articles are now worth, 



Sewing silk, 10 to 11 



Floss, 11 to 12 



INlade fiom American cocoons they would cost 

 •95 per pound. It is estimated that grey plain 

 silks, and white pongees can be made as good as 

 imported from Canton by hand looms of Bengal 

 silk, to a profit at the present prices of the article 

 in the nutrket. When made by power looms, 

 and with American silk, they will yield a profit of 

 not less than 80 per cent. 



A manuliictory established in or near Philadel- 

 phia, may make, when required, any articles which 

 iiishion shall demand, and which will always pay 

 large profits. Such articles cannot be imported 

 from Europe before the season of their demand 

 will pass away. Blue sewings, floss silk, grey 

 twilled and plain goods for printing handkerchiefs, 

 articles for gentlemen's wear, are of permanent 

 demand, and will produce from 20 to 25 per cent, 

 profit. The amount of sewing silk used in the 

 United States is immense. To manuliicture enough 

 of this article to su|)ply the ciemand, almost any 

 amount of capital could be employed, with litile 

 cost of machinery. It has been ascertained that 

 in the town of Hartford, Con. the sales of sewing 

 silk amounted in one year to ,^35,000. 



The committee consider that iSi20.000 will be 

 abundant capital for the first operations of a silk 



