Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-09
/. iContinned frora frst page.l

card, without necessitsiiag the forwarding OF
the adjoining piece. The question has often
been asked whether the Americans can suffi.
GENTLY supply the demands of their markets.
Yes, they can; We are driven out of the
American market, / herein exclude, how.
ever, complicated watches. in which we are
now, and | hope we shall always remain,
masters.
"In 1860 the American Companies produced
only $1,000 watches; in 1868, 100000. To-
day they produce 100000, and this figure can
be easily doubled in case the crisis, which so
severely prevails there as well as here, should
come to an end. For we must not forget
that, if several factories have been closed dur
ing the crisis, the tools as well as the work.
men are still there, all ready to resume work
again. Nor must we leave out of sight the
exhorbitant customs duties and freight, which
amount TO about % or 30 per cent, which
take away from us every possibility Of being
able to stand the fight. And now that we
know the figures OF production in the United
States, we can easily, with the aid Of official
reports, give an account of what is that conn
try's consumption Of watches. We have sent
to the United States during the past twelve
years, viz. 1864 to 1875 inclusive, ? $40, 900
watches, being an average of 236, 1913 per an
mum.
IN iCtu We sldil DdtSly sSHu tlSit i0io'V
watches, or, since 1872, deficit OF 800, 900
watches. What a loss for Switzerland, and
particularly for Neuchatel! For this deficit
concerns principally our canton, and it is very
easy TO convince ones self of the fact. 10
1875, Chsux- de. Fond. turned out 100, 0O0
watches or movements. In preceding years
she turned out double that amount. The de-
felt, therefore, amounts for la ChauX-de-
Fonds alone to 400 coo francs; for Locle
Neuchstel, &c, it reaches the same figure 10
proportion.
1--WE have stated that the shipment OF our
goods has largely decreased. Shall we at
tribute its cause to the crisis? Certainly in
many respects we may do so it cannot be
denied. But the American competition con-
tributes still more largely to it.
1.-THE Americans have already commenced
TO send their manufacture to Europe. In
Eogland they sell annually from 10000 to
30 600 watches. The American watch COM
mences to drive from the English market the
Swiss and even the English watch The
Americans commenced BY creating demand
for their goods in the Indies and in Australia;
and then-thanks to some powerful exporting
house-they invaded England. At Moscow
and st. Petersburg they have already estab-
lished important branch offices. They do not
keep il secret, but loudly advertise it; their
aim 10 to drive US first out of their own coun-
try, and then TO compete with us on our own
soil, if our sluggishness and our blind con-
fdence leave the field free to them. sim
cerely confess that personally have doubted
that competition. But now | have seen-l
have felt it-and am terrified by the danger
to which our industry is exposed. Besides,
/ am not the only one TO think so the "Societe
Intercsntonsle" have sent a delegate to make
inquiries, and his report perfectly agrees with
pline. Up to this very day We have believed
America to be dependent upon Europe. We
have been mistaken. The Americans will
send US their products since we cannot send
them our own. We ask ourselves whether
the Americans can maintain their pricess
answer, yes, they can, for if they obtain a
good profit on their superior quality goods
they can afford to be satisfied with smaller
profit on the lower grade of watches. In
America everything is made by machinery !;
here We make everything by hand. We
count in Switzerland about forty thousand
workmen, making on an average each per
annum 40 watches. In the United States the
average is $50 watches. Therefore the ma.
chine produces three and half to four times
more than the workmen. 1t remains for us
to solve the situation. But how can we get
out of the corner into which we have been
drivenf To-day, even without machines, we
cannot dispose of the GOO, 900 watches which
our people can manufacture. How will it be
if we establish machines which will thrice in
crease our production? We must either d.
minish the number of our hands aud make
machines, or else cling to our system and be
resigned to see our industry decline.
Gentlemen, do not pretend to point out
the remedy. / simply call your attention to
the evil-that is all. 1t remains for you to
find the cure. However, believe that it will be
good to do for our mechanicians what we have
done for our acknowledgements is, to create
schools. You must not despair; you must
not desert the field we must, on the contrary,
organize for resistance, and to re conquer the
Lost ground. AT America closes her gates to
US by customs duties and exorbitant freights.
we are, at least left the resource Of energet-
cally fighting against her in European mar
kets.
"Had the Philadelphia Exhibition token
place five years later, we should have been
totally annihilated without knowing whence
or how we received the terrible blow. We
have believed ourselves masters Of the situa-
ton, when we really have been on volcano.
And to-day we must actually struggle if we
do not want to encounter in all the markets
that rival manufacture. Did we not sheer at
Deeancou ~ tne outset! ana now BesancOn
suffices for France, and besides, she exports
her surplus of manufacture. We ask our
selves If, in reducing the price of watches we
can increase their sale in the same proportion?
And if the sales do not increase, what will
become OF usl We shall have an enormous
stock of goods and permenent stagnation.
The customs duties, you know, amount to 20
per cent For a long time hopes have been
entertained that they might be reduced. We
cannot count on it. America needs all her
resources, especially in the present situation
and, whether democrats or republicans be in
power, we cannot hope for deduction in i'm.
port duties. We must therefore make IN our
minds to lose the American market,
1t has been said, and it has been compla-
Gently repeated, that the Americans do not
make the entire watch, and that they are de-
pendent upon Switzerland for several parts
OF the watch. This is a mistake. The Wal
than Company make the entire watch--from
the hrst screw to the case and dial. 1t would
even be difficult for them to use our products
90 great is the regularity, so minute the pre
cision with which their machines work
They arrive at the regulation Of the watch
80 70 ssy-without having seen it. When
the watch Is given to the adJuster, the fore
man delivers to him the corresponding hair
spring and the watch is regulated. (Sensa-
ton among the audience Here is what I
have seen opuflampnf asl,ad TO-.