352 [Assembly 



******* "I have, for six years, been superintending the 

 Silk factory of Mr. Gill, of this place, (Wheeling,) and feel pleased 

 to report our progress in the trade, notwithstanding the difficulties 

 at tendanton every new enterprise; especially one so nearly connec- 

 ted with the Fine Arts. We have eight looms in operation, which 

 are employed in making Mantua goods, nap, plain, and striped satins, 

 plain and fancy velvets of all kinds; one Jackquard loom for weav- 

 ing tissue and brocade silks; one loom for gentleraens' black and fancy 

 cravats from 35 to 45 inches in width; one gauze loom, one for ladies 

 cravats, and 1 ribbon loom, which weaves 20 pieces at one time,be ides, 

 3 power looms in constant operation for weaving plain and twilled 

 pocket handkerchiefs, some of which we sell plain, some we print. 

 I have sent you a specimen of my work, made in one of our power 

 looms; it is of silk grown this year, and 80 yards in length, for ex- 

 hibition, and to be put in competition at the 20th annual fair of the 

 American Institute for the Van Schaick premium. 



After considerable trouble, we have so adapted the gearing and 

 motion of the power loom, that it exactly suits the nature of silk, 

 and weaves it as well as it can be done by hand, as the specimen 

 sent I think will prove. We hope at some future time, to put ten 

 looms in profitable operation. Mr. Gill, as the principal owner of 

 this establishment, deserves his'country's best thanks for the untiring 

 zeal, trouble and expense in this as yet infant cause which, one 

 day, is destined to save our country millions of dollars. We have 

 difficulties to contend with, but amidst them all, I am satisfied the 

 Silk business has a solid foundation. There are two serious difficul- 

 ties among the many, which I will state: 1st, the imperfect way in 

 which some silk-growers kill the chrysalis and cure the cocoons, 

 many of which are left to heat, instead of spreading them out to dry, 

 after the chrysalis is killed; thereby rendering the cocoon doubly 

 hard to reel; and this error causes the reeler to return less per bushel 

 and less per day. The second difficulty is that many silk-growers, 

 after raising a good crop, keep their cocoons till January, February, 

 or March, when, their farm work being partly suspended by frost, 

 they think this is the time to bring the cocoons to market, forgetting 

 that cocoons never reel so well as in the first month they are produ- 

 ced. Mr. Gill, however, in his zeal for the cause, has sent none 

 away, however old or badly cured, till within the last year; prior to' 

 ■which, he advertised, constantly, for several months, that he would 

 buy none in future after the 1st of November in each year. 



Could we get the cocoons raised in the Ohio valley, and put our 

 six reels into operation in July, August, September, and finish in 



