Exhibition Addresses. 189 



For 1860, first vear of treaty • £1 ? 303 , 612 



For 1861, second year of treaty 1 , 919 , 760 



For 1 862, tliii-d year of treaty 3 , 568 , 553 



For 1863, fourth vear of treaty 3, 683,752 



For 1864, fiftli year of treaty 4,493,507 



For 1865, sixth vear of treaty 5,559,090 



For 1866, seventh year of treaty 6 , 694 , 394 



TVe now come to speak of silk and silk manufactures in our own 

 country. 



England always has felt her inability to produce raw silk. As 

 early as the time of James I, the colonists of America were encour- 

 aged by bounties, and forced by penalties, to cultivate the mulberry 

 and raise silk. The mother of George III wore a dress of American 

 silk. Earl Chesterfield and President Stiles of Yale also wore robes 

 of American silk ; but the raising of silk in this country was never 

 a commercial success. 



Great attention was paid to silk-raising in Massachusetts and Con- 

 necticut as well as in Pennsylvania and New Jersey before the revo- 

 lution ; and, stimulated by the " mori multicaulis fever," the product 

 ot raw silk in this country reached, in 1844, 4,000 pounds. And at 

 the. last Paris exposition the finest cocoons exhibited were from Cali- 

 fornia. 



The first silk factories here were engaged in making sewing silk, 

 in which branch we now beat the world, and hold undisputed posses- 

 sion of the home market. 



Notwithstanding the depression which follov/ed the " mori multi- 

 caulis fever," the silk factories which had been established in 

 Northanipton, Mass., Mansfield, Ct., and other places, are now 

 flourishing. 



The machinery of a fiictory at Dedham, Mass., was transferred to 

 Paterson, N. J., whence sprang the Murray mill of that city, from 

 Avhich again sprang the Passaic and other mills in Paterson. The 

 extensive works at Hartford and Manchester show the vitality of the 

 silk industry ; they having lived and grown through all hindrances. 

 To the manufacture of sewing silk were added trimmings, upholstery 

 goods, cords and tassels, neck ties, bindings, braids, ribbons, etc. 



The fortunes of the trade have varied somewhat with the difterent 

 policies of the government until the adoption of the present tarifi' in 

 1862. Since then the trade has prospered, and progressed, a laro-e 

 capital has been invested in it, and it hsfe fuund steady work and 



