THE SALZBUBGER8 137 



There was one apparenl exception to this decay and 

 unprofitableness of the silk industry, and this was 

 among the Salzbnrgers, a settlement of German Prot- 

 estants, who came to Georgia in 17:;4. and settled 

 twenty-five miles above Savannah, at Ebenezer. 

 Under tin- ••an- of their pastor, John Martin Bolzius, 

 tin- silk cnltnre of the settiemenl attained to much 

 prominence. "In IT.'Ki." writes Rev. I'. A. Strobel, 

 historian of the Salzbnrgers, "mulberry trees were 

 planted at Ebenezer under the direction of Mr. 

 Bolzius, and the Salzbnrgers were among the first 

 and most successful in carrying nut the wishes of 

 the trustees in this particular. In 1742, five hundred 

 trees were sent to Ebenezer, and a machine was 

 erected for preparing the silk. In 174.") and 1746, 

 specimens were sent to England, and in 174s, four 

 hundred and sixty-four pounds were produced. In 

 1749, the trustees authorized Mr. Bolzius to erect ten 

 Bheds and ten machines for reeling, and other means 



wary to carry on the manufacture. In 1750, 

 nearly all the colonists had abandoned tin- experiment 

 of silk-raising, excepl the Salzbnrgers. They perse- 

 vered, and every year became mora skilled in the 

 business, and in 1751, they sent over to England a 

 thousand pounds of cocoons ami Beventy-four pounds 

 two ounces of raw silk, yielding the handsome Bum 



one hundred and ten pounds sterling, or upward- 



five hundred dollars, the price being at that time 

 thirtj shillings per pound. Many 



mulberry -trees are still [1855] standing at Ebeu< 

 which no doubt have sprung from the original Btock; 

 and many of the descendants of tin- Salzbnrgers con- 

 tinue to raise silk, which thej manufacture into fish- 



