Connecticut western news., 1877-02-02
without necessitating the forwarding of the ad-

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 The question has often been asked, can the Americans sufficiently supply the demand of their markets Yes they can we are driven out of the American market. In 1860 the American Companies produced only 15,000 watches. To-day, they produce 25O, ,0OO, which can be easily doubled. We sent to the United States, in iS72 366, ,000 watches. In 1876 we shall barely send them 75,000 watches. TLe Americans have already begun to send their manufacture to Europe. In England they sell annually from 10000 to 30,O00 watches. The American watch commences to drive rom the English market the Swiss watch and even the English watch. The Americans begun by ere ating demand for their goods in the Indies and in Australia, and then-thanks to some powerful importing houses-they invaded Eng land. At Moscow and St. Petersburg they have already established important branch offices. Their aim is to drive us first out of their own country, and then to compete with us on our own soil. I sincerely confess that personally have doubted that competition. But now have seen-I have felt lt-and l am terrified by the danger to which our industry Is exposed. Besides, I am not the only one to think so the Societe Intercantonale have sent delegate to make inquiries, and hls report perfectly agrees with mine. Up to thls very day we have believed America to be dependent upon Europe We have been mistaken. The Americans will send us their products slnce we cannot send them our own. Their importation is not confined to watches alone. Already America has commenced to send cotton goods to England which hitherto monopohzed that article in the markets of the world.
 Can the Americans maintain then prlces Yes, they can, for if they obtain good proht on their superior quality goods, they can afford to be satisfied with a smaller pront on the lower grades of watches. In America, everything IS made by machinery; here we make everything by hand. In Switzerland about 4O,OOO work men make, on an average, each forty watches per annum. In the United States, the average is about 150 watches. Therefore the machinery produces three and half to four times more than the workmen
 Had the Philadelphia Exhibition taken place five years later, we should have been totally annihilated without knowing whence nor how we received the terrible blow. We have believed ourselves masters of the situation when we really have been on a volcano. And, to-day, we must actually struggle if we do not want to encounter in all the markets, that rival manll- facture. For a long time we have hoped that the customs duties, amounting to 25 per cent, might be reduced. We cannot count upon It. America needs all her resources, and whether Democrats or Republicans be in poWer we can not hope for reduction of import duties We must therefore, make up our mind to lose the American market It has been complacently said that the Americans do not make the en- tire watch, but are dependent upon Switzerland for several parts of the watch. This Is a mlS- take. The Waltham Company makes the entne watch from the first screw to the case and dial. It would even be difficult for them to use our products, so great is the regularity, so minute the precision with which their machines work.
 They arrive at the regulation of the watches 80 to say-without having seen 1t. When the watch is given to the adjuster, the foreman de flyers to him the corresponding halr-sprlng, and the watch is regulated. [Sensation among the audience.l Here is what have seen, gen tlemen I asked from the director of the Waltham Company watch of the fifth grade. A large safe was opened before me at random took watch out of it and fastened 1t to my chain. The director having asked me to let him have the watch for two or three days, so as to observe it's motion, answered.: "On the contrary, persist in wearing it just as it is to obtain an exact idea of your manufacture" At Paris, l set my watch by regulator on the Boulevard, and on the sixth day observed that it had varied 32 seconds And this watch is of the fifth American grade it cost 75 francs (movement without easel. On my arrival at Locle l showed the watch to one of our first adjusters, who asked permission to take it down-that is, to take it to pieces. l, however, wished first to observe it, and here is the result which noted: Hanging, daily variation one and one-half seconds variation in different po- sitions from four to eight seconds in the heat cd rooms the variation was very slight. Hav- ing thus observed it, I handed the watch over to the adjuster, who took it down. After few days he came to me, and said word for word : on, completely overwhelmed the result IS i1- credible one 1oOttld not find one such oCdtcb 11lo1ag .ttfty Htousdnd of our ndnlCfdcto,'e !' This watch, gentlemen, I repeat to you, took at hazard-out of heap, as we say. You un- derstand from this examp'e e.that the American watch may be preferred to the Swiss. l have finished, gent emen, and I have told you of things such as I have seen them. It remains for us to profit from this sad experience, and to improve our manufacture.