MEMORIAL. To the Honorable the Senate and Assembly of the State of California : The undersigned, Joseph Neumann, pioneer silk manufacturer of the Pacific Coast, and practical worker in that especial branch of business, memorializes the Legislature in favor of silk manufacturing in this State, and begs leave, most respectfully, to submit for your careful consideration the following facts and suggestions: I have been a resident of the State of California for upwards of ten years, resided in San Francisco the greater part of the time; and as it is a well known fact that when mechanics leave their home to emigrate to other countries, that they do not do so for the sake of seeking fortunes, but simply to improve, if possible, their situation in life, when I first arrived in California I commenced to study on this point so as to establish a silk manufactory in this State. But after a careful examination of the facilities of the land, and the probability of my obtaining machinery, tools, raw material, etc., and the tariff being so low at that time, it was a proof to me that I could not compete with foreign manufacture, and therefore I was compelled to abandon the idea, and had to turn my mind to other things so as to earn a livelihood for myself and family. I followed the business of cigar and tobacco vendor, in which business I remained for over six years, and met with some success and some misfortunes. I wish now to draw your attention to some of the facilities this State, at the present time, affords for the encouragement of silk culture and manufacture. They are as follows: 1. The Government of the United States having within the last few years raised the tariff on all imported goods, thereby giving to the mechanic a chance to display his skill and knowledge, so that the United States can be made independent of other countries. 2. From my personal observation, I believe that this State must. become the greatest silk producing country in the civilized world, if properly cared for, as the climate is unsurpassable and the people energetic. 3. That since steam communication has been established between this State and China and Japan, it has opened a new field for obtaining the raw material in quantities to suit. It is a well known fact that the European manufacturers obtained the greater part of the raw material from China and Japan. Before the establishment of a line of steamers between this State and China and Japan, the Eastern manufacturers obtained their raw materials for manufacturing purposes from London, England; but since the establishment of this line of steam communication between China and Japan they now receive all their supplies through San Francisco. 4. The spinning department can be worked successfully with children, from thirteen years of age and upwards, of which we have a great number. 5. It will be seen by these statements that silk can be manufactured to a greater advantage in this State than in any other part of the United States. At the meeting of the last Legislature of this State, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-six, there was a bill introduced into the Senate by the Rev. Dr. Benton, for the purpose of encouraging silk culture and manufacture in this State. The bill was referred to a Committee on Agriculture, and also to a Special Committee on Silk appointed for the purpose of investigating that matter. I was sent for to attend those committees, to give such information as would be of service to them, the committees, knowing that I was practically informed in regard to such matters. I attended and gave all the information that was required of me. The Rev. Mr. Benton's bill was referred back to the Senate, and was not again noticed during the session. In consequence of this, the former Legislatures have failed to pass an Act for the encouragement of silk manufacture in the State. In spite of all this, with a full knowledge of the profitableness of this branch of industry, and in the belief that if a little start be made in order that the public may be convinced of its vast importance, I left on the tenth of April, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, for the Eastern States, with the intention of proceeding to Europe for the purpose of purchasing machinery and necessary tools for the establishment of a silk manufactory in this State. I found, on my arrival in New York and other places in the Eastern States, to my surprise, that the silk. manufacturing business had been fairly established there. Thus, for instance, that Paterson, New Jersey, had at least six silk manufactories, and gives employment to from six to eight thousand hands. Also, in the City of New York, there are several manufactories; in Philadelphia, and some other places. On visiting the above named places and inspecting the manufactories, I found it no easy matter to gain admittance to these factories. I found that they were filled up with all the modern improvements of the day in machinery, etc., so that I was enabled to purchase all I required without extending my visit to Europe. I returned to California in the latter part of August, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, with a complete set of machinery for the purpose of manufacturing sewing silks, embroidery silks, and all other kinds of silks. For the purpose of a weaving and trimming manufactory, I also bought a set of looms, in all about fifteen. On my arrival in San Francisco, I ascertained that the State Fair was |