Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-03-05

Answer. I ca mot say il is, from my obser-
vstion. The companies with large capitals, IN
many respects, have advantages over the smau
staLlshments, and are generally able to @ ~
to the market, and do better.
Question. Do the Massachusetts, manufac-
! turers Of coarse cloths and csssimefes feel tho
effect of competition?
Answer. They do so, as far as they are near
| ly able to supply the market; and II . small
amount oftne foreign article 10 thrown into tho
market, making a surplus, the whole price 10
depressed, and our manufacturers lose large ly,
while the foreign manufacturer loses but lit
tie.
| Question. Do purchasers generally prefer
English goods, Of the same quality and prices.
| to the American manufacture!
Answer. They do. l consider the prejudi-
ces more than 25 per cent. against the domestic
article.
Question. What is the reason given by them
for that preference? Do they not complain or
the inferiority Of your dyes, compared with the
English colors?
Answer. No complaint is now made against
our dyes, other than against the blues, by good
judges. Our other dyes are as good. or better,
than the English
Question. Was the depression in the price
| Of woollens, in the years 1875 and 1926, in any
great degree occasioned by excessive importa-
tious Of the merchants, in anticipation Of tho
expected increase Of price in cloths, from tho
provisions of the tariff passed in 1924, but 60
ing into effect in 1885?
Answer. / cannot say that the depression
arose from the cause suggested in the ques-
ton?
Question. OF an equal quality Of wool, at
present prices, in England and the United
States, can the English manufacturer make
cheaper fabric than can be made in the United
States? Ifso, how much cheaper?
Answer. The difference in the price Of the
fabric would be the difference Of the price Of
wool, in nv opinion, as think we can manu-
facture it as cheap as they can.
Question. Are you acquainted with Josiah
Pomeroy, Of Pittsfeld Massachusetts, Does
he manufacture woollen goods; and where does
he sell them!
Answer. l am acquainted with Josish Poms-
roy Of Pttsfeld, Massa chusetts, and know thst
he does manufacture woollen goods. The NIT
jority of his goods. as am informed. is sold -
West Point as clothing for the cadets al the
military school. understand that the amount
he sells there is about 5000 dollars, annually,
which he sells at dollars 25 or 4 dollars SO
per yard. The same quality Of goods worth, at
New York or Boston, about s 2 IS per yard.
Question. In what sections of the country
are your woollens generally consumed:
Answer. should think that three-fourths
of all the goods manufacture are bought by
the merchants and merchant tailors Of Boston,
and sold in that neighborhood. We sell few
in Philadelphia, and also few in New York.
Question. Is the ad valorem duty on wool
len goods evaded and in what way?
Answer. ] cannot answer.
NQuestion. Will Cloths well finished, and we'll
baled or boxed, on arriving in New York or
Boston, require to be brushed or finished over TO
give them better appearance?
Answer. TRsy do not require any brushing
over. They will retain all their finish and often
are supposed by the voyage to assume . softer
and finer feeling.
Question. Can you state the amount ofyour
losses from the lst January, 1926, 10 the time
Of your stopping business? and what part Of
that loss. If any, Is to be attributed to the clos
ing Of your business at that time!
Answer. We lost between those periods, or
rather from lst January to the present time,
| s. 10000. None of that loss is TO be attributed
| to the closing of our business. ] know ofma-
ny others who bave sustained as great, and
even greater losses; but I do not know Of any
person in the ~Oollen manufacture who has
made any thing within the same period. The
cause Of these losses ] assign to be the low
price Of our cloths in the markct. Five hum
dred dollars would cover all our bad debts
| Question. You say that you began to man
facture in the year 1909. Have you been en-
gagged in any other business, and what was il,
during that time?
| Answer. My whole time has been devoted
| to the manufacturing business, and to keeping
my flocks Of sheep.
Question. What proportion does your pres
ent property bear to what you were worth when
you began business in 1909?
! Answer. have gained in property during
| hat h,,f I hov oAa IF in hv
the rise in the value of real estate had bought,
and by my sheep. 1 believe that am now
worth double what was when l began manu-
featuring; but have made more from lands and
sheep than from manufacturing, during the
whole time. l sold share Of my stock to my
present partners, in 1925, at its par value. when.
short time afterward, it would not have sold
for near much.
Question. What is the relative weight be-
tween the secured wool as delivered for manu-
facture, and the product when finished in cloth
Answer. To make broadcloth Of thick felt,
Of the usual width Of IA, give out eighty
POUNDS of secured wool; this yields forty-four
yards Of finished cloth, which weighs fifty
pounds, with its listing The cloth Of thin felt
requires seventy-fve pounds Of wool, which
makes forty -four yards Of cloth, and weighs
from forty-four to forty six pounds when finish-
ed. One hundred pounds Of unwashed merino
wool, as shorn unwashed from the sheep, usu-
ally loses, in the processes Of washing and
securing, about fifty pounds When washed
on the sleeps back, it loses about twenty-five
pounds in the securing.
Question. What other materials, except wool
do you use in manufa cturing, and in what quan-
titles?
Answer. In the manufacture Of 6,0s4 yards
Of broadcloth we made use Of the following
articles, viz.