WOMEN WERE BUSY Silkworms, Mulberry Trees Tried in Early Pioneer Days By BOB AGEE One of the odd agricultural industries in nearly Ogden was the production of silk. Brigham Young, head of the LDS Church, imported mulber¬ry tree seeds and silk worms from Italy and France in 1855. About 30 acres of trees were planted in the Salt Lake area in 1855. In 1869 the Ogden Relief So¬ciety members were told by Bishop Chauncy W. West to set aside land for silk culture. On April 15, 1875, Eliza R. Snow visited Ogden and talked to the Mormon women. He said, "I am proud of the course the sisters of Ogden have taken in leading out in this direction. I understand that many have cultivated the mul¬berry. We have silk weavers. Hunt up those that can make lace. A man in Salt Lake is weaving lace collars." A later report said, "Sister Mariana Combe Beus, an Italian lady, has an acre of mulberry trees, keeps worms, has knit silk stockings and has nearly enough silk to weave two dresses." On July 19, 1877, Brigham Young visited Ogden and talked to the Mormon women. He said, "There is a sister before me with a silk dress on. She raised the silk and made it herself." Then he had the lady rise so that the congregation could see the dress. The industry thrived for a time. Mulberry trees were planted along the streets and on city lots. Many of them were planted on Madison from 21st to 23rd. In 1878 the church announced that the territorial legislature had appropriated money for silk machinery. During the following years the women were busy with the silk business. FROM FRANCE The first silkworm eggs were imported from France by Mary Harris. In 1876 she sent cocoons to the centennial exposition in Philadelphia and won a prize. Mrs. Louise Harris told of the troubles in raising silk¬worms. At one time she had 11,000 silkworms. "We hardly had rooms to sleep in and very little time for sleep as they had ravenous appetites, eating continuously for the whole six weeks of their existence. They were fed the last thing at night, which would be at midnight, and at daylight. The mulberry trees were almost stripped of leaves and small branches by the time they were ready to spin." SHOWN AT FAIR Mrs. Harris produced enough silk to have six white handkerchiefs woven with the design of the Salt Lake Temple, the bee- hive and other designs. She raised enough silk to make a dress. In 1893 it was displayed at the World's Fair in Chicago. The silkworm industry faded out in Ogden and other parts of the state because of lack of capital, want of skilled labor, lack of proper homes for worms and general ignorance of the methods of procedure. The venture was unsuccess¬ful financially. However, it remains an interesting facet of the determination of the Mor¬mon pioneers to be self-sufficient.