Page:The history of silk, cotton, linen, wool, and other fibrous substances 2.djvu/253



the culture of silk, he writes as follows:
 * ary institutions, under date of June, 1844. Discoursing about

"'If this earnest waking up to a scientific and practical consideration of the subject be not soon crowned with signal success, it will not be for want of enterprize or skill in our countrymen, but merely from the high price of labor here, compared with the scanty wages given in other silk-growing countries. Even this consideration, though it may retard for a while the complete success of this department of productive industry, will not prevent its ultimate triumph.'

"Another gentleman, under date of August, 1844, writes from the far West, 'that the soil and climate of the Western and South-western States are admirably suited to the growth of the mulberry and raising silk-worms,' and that 'eventually the two great staples of the Western and South-western States will be silk and wool.' It is the opinion of competent skilful silk manufacturers, who have made critical experiments upon the Pongee-silk (so called) of foreign make, by tests which they consider satisfactory and decisive, that it is only a vegetable production, and that the material was never operated upon by the silk-worm(?). There can be no reasonable doubt about the ultimate success of silk-culture in some future years; but to accelerate that desirable event, which may constitute an important American staple for revenue (which might not only enrich the Government, but reward the labor of personal enterprize), a bounty is deemed necessary to stimulate and encourage that portion of the agricultural population whose circumstances or health disqualifies them for the more laborious exercises of the fields, to commence operations upon a new and untried crop. Our extensive imports of raw and manufactured silks are encouraged by us as consumers, instead of being producers. We now contribute to support foreign enterprize and industry, to produce the article of silk, which we might, with proper encouragement, raise ourselves, not only for our own consumption, but for exportation."

Very respectfully, yours, &c. .

Henry L. Ellsworth, Esq., Commissioner of Patents.