The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1876-06-02
AMERICAN SILKS.
an Important 1ndustFy-More Silk
Made Here Than Imported.

/
Made Here Than Imported
The silk industry Of the United States is
in more prosperous condition than it has
been at any former period. During the
year 1875 moro raw material was consumed
and more labor was employed in this branch
of home industry than are recorded in any
previous reports upon this subject. The
margin of profits are somewhat reduced, it
| is true, when compared with those of other
years, but the reduction is overmatched by
the advance in the volume Of trade in this
line. While other branches of manufactur-
ing industry have fallen below the usual
standard, and mills have been stopped and
hands discharged by the hundreds, the silk
manufacturers have given constant work to
their operatives and steadily augmented
their numbers. In Paterson, New Jersey,
the silk business is particularly fortunate,
and the production Of ribbons, handker-
chiefs, fancy silks for trimmings and ties in
1875 was double that Of the preceding year
The manufacture of broad goods was also
greatly extended during the same period.
AS sure indication of the onward march
of the silk business in this country it may
be stated that the import of raw silk in
1876 to supply our manufactures was 80 per
cent. larger than in 1871, and IS, ,807 pounds
in excess of 1871, which, previous to 1875,
was the heaviest year. The whole amount
of silk imported in 1875 to keep our mills in
motion was ], 1880, 482 pounds. During the
same year there was produced !, ,435, 7s2
pounds of silk of all kinds, which was val
ued at $27, ,15s,O71. The value of ladies'
dress goods manufactured was So, 397, ,237.
The production of plain and fancy broad
silks in this country, especially the finer
qualities Of dress goods, shows steady i'm
provement. The designs are more artistic,
the workmanship of higher degree Of ex-
cellence, and in short time our home man
ufacturers will be able to produce goods of
this class which will rival those of the more
noted manufacturers of Europe. This pc
riod will be forwarded by the arrival in this
country of skilled weavers from France and
England.
These men bring their looms with them,
and are thus able to do precisely the same
work here that they turned out at home.
Besides this, they will instruct our native
weavers, and thus raise the whole trade to
higher level. The silk men of the coun-
try claim that the Centennial Exhibition
"will astonish the country in the display of
home productions in silk goods and also
the quantity of goods, the quality and de-
signs, and the perfection of manufactures
and coloring > and from the facts set forth
in the last annual report of the Silk Associ.
alton of America it is certain that this claim
will be substantiated.
We are now manufacturing more silks
in the country than are imported, and at
the same time the prices of these commo-
dities are low when compared with the
trade lists of other years. The home silk
trade of the United States has now reached
such point as to challenge and command
the attention Of the great foreign commits
sion houses, and they are now asking con-
signments of American silks to fill up their
stocks and complete their assortments. This
will act as fresh spur to our silk manufac-
turers and giua tha,a- e'-~i ~~- a = ----
connection with this subject it would be
well to inquire whether a far greater quan-
tity of raw material cannot be produced in
this country. We have all kinds of soil, all
kinds Of climate, mixed population from
which can be procured persons adapted to
all classes of labor, and all that is needed is
the aggregation and utilization of all these
advantages. The quantity of silk used in
the United States is yearly on the increase,
and it is cheering to note the fact that the
home production of the material is march
ing side by side with demands made for it
in the markets. American cottons are be-
ing sold in the markets of England. The
fact would have been secuted as preposter-
GUS few years ago. May not American
silks, at no distant day, hold their own in
the markets of France? Whether this point
is reached or not, however, the silk indus
| try of the United States is in good condi-
tion at present and has bright outlook for
| the future. ...,..
*Abstract of fourth annual report Of the
| Silk Association of America Nesbitt %
| Co., printers, New York
An Incident.