Saturday, December 15, 2012

288. Benjamin Franklin and Silk


Americans have loved silk. By the 20th century the United States became the leading customer for raw silk, and New York had become the leading international silk center. According to the Silk Association of America’s report, the United States had imported about 60% of the total trade internationally. Benjamin Franklin would be very happy by the following fashion headlines as the marriage of Alice Roosevelt in a wedding gown of American silk, or the selection of a new range of silk colors for the inaugural gown of Mrs. Woodrow Wilson and her three daughters, sent the silk manufactures into ecstasy. In history, Benjamin Franklin worked tirelessly and consistently to promote the sericulture, or silk production, in North America.

As early as 1729; at the age of 23, Franklin found the value of silk production to the economic and social progress of the colonies. He told his fellow colonists that if they thought that “raising Wheat proves dull, more may (if there is Money to support and carry on new Manufactures) proceed to the raising and manufacturing of silk.

He told the colonists: “If it is asked, what can such farmers raise, wherewith to pay for the manufactures they may want from us? I answer, that the inland parts of America in question are well-known to be fitted for the production of hemp, flax, potash, and above all silk.” (Benjamin Franklin, The Interest of Great Britain Considered, With Regard to her Colonies, And the Acquisitions of Canada and Guadaloupe. To which are added, Observations concerning the Increase of Mankind, Peopling of Countries, &c. London: Printed for T. Becket, at Tully’s Head, near Surry-Street in the Strand. MDCCLX. (Yale University Library); draft (five scattered pages only): American Philosophical Society.)

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very good info. Lucky me I ran across your site by accident (stumbleupon).
I have book-marked it for later!
Feel free to visit my blog ... trojan horses viruses & internet phishing and pharmin...

Anonymous said...

Thanks for finally talking about > "288. Benjamin Franklin and Silk" < Loved it!
Check out my blog continued here

Anonymous said...

I leave a leave a response when I like a post on a blog or if I have something to contribute to the conversation.
Usually it is a result of the sincerness communicated in the post I browsed.
And on this post "288. Benjamin Franklin and Silk".
I was excited enough to drop a thought :-) I do have a few questions for
you if it's allright. Could it be simply me or do a few of these responses appear like left by brain dead individuals? :-P And, if you are posting on other places, I would like to keep up with anything new you have to post. Could you list the complete urls of your shared sites like your Facebook page, twitter feed, or linkedin profile?
Also see my website :: geld im internet verdienen kostenlos

Anonymous said...

This is really interesting, You are an overly
professional blogger. I have joined your rss feed and look ahead to looking for more of
your great post. Also, I've shared your website in my social networks
My web page :: affiliate Marketing blog

Anonymous said...

I every time used to study paragraph in news papers but now as I am a user of web therefore from now I am using net for articles,
thanks to web.
My homepage : work From Your home

Anonymous said...

Admiring the time and energy you put into your website and detailed information you provide.
It's great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn't the same
old rehashed material. Excellent read! I've bookmarked your site and I'm including
your RSS feeds to my Google account.
Also visit my web-site : online casino

Anonymous said...

I do consider all of the concepts you've introduced in your post. They are very convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are very short for newbies. May just you please lengthen them a little from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.
Feel free to visit my blog : the easy way to quit smoking

Anonymous said...

Hello, I enjoy reading all of your post. I wanted to
write a little comment to support you.
My web site free casino card games online - just click the next post

Anonymous said...

It's a pity you don't have a donate button! I'd definitely donate to this excellent blog! I guess for now i'll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my
Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will talk about
this blog with my Facebook group. Talk soon!
My page ; usa online gambling

Anonymous said...

Excellent write-up. I definitely appreciate this website.
Keep writing!
My web blog download free casino slot games click through the up coming document

Anonymous said...

Hi there colleagues, good article and pleasant
urging commented at this place, I am actually enjoying by these.
stop smoking timelineyour
connectstop smoking timelineVisit your Web sitestop smoking timelinePlease click herehow to stop smoking
My web-site easy way to stop smoking

Anonymous said...

Everyone loves it whenever people get together and share ideas.
Great website, keep it up!
Here is my website - Virtual Stock Trading

Anonymous said...

I used to be able to find good advice from your articles.
Here is my webpage : free online casino No deposit - additional reading

Anonymous said...

Awesome post.

My webpage: dishwasher detergent

Anonymous said...

Generally I don't read article on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very pressured me to take a look at and do so! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thank you, quite nice article.

Look at my website :: medical assistant

Anonymous said...

This article is actually a pleasant one it helps new the web people, who
are wishing for blogging.

Take a look at my blog :: dishwasher detergents

Anonymous said...

I am actually grateful to the holder of this web site who has shared
this wonderful paragraph at at this place.

Here is my web page; extreme coupon shopping

Anonymous said...

I don't even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I don't know who
you are but definitely you are going to a famous blogger if you aren't already ;) Cheers!

Feel free to surf to my blog post :: top paid survey jewelery stores