The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-01-19
In AMERICA.

TESTIMONY OF THE Swiss .CoMMIssIoNKR.--AMsRI-
CAN SUPERIOR 10 FoRxreN WATCHES.
Mr.. Edouard Eavre Ferret, Swiss Commits
sioner to the Centennial Exhibition, and
member of the International Jury on watches,
has given the results Of his observations on
American watch making in q public address
at. Chaux de Ponds, Locle and Neuchatel.
Being himself q large watch manufacturer,
his statement made q profound impression
in Switzerland, and will be read with the
liveliest interest in this country. After
sketching the growth of Matchmaking In
B~esanqon, by which the French market for
watches was lost to Switzerland, he spoke
substantially a. follows:
For q long time America has been the prin-
cipal market for our watches. To-day w
must earnestly prepare to struggle with the
Americans ON the fields where hitherto We
have been the masters. Mr.. Dennison, the
father of American Matchmaking, travelled
through the canton OF Neuchate1 studying
our mode Of manufacturing, seeking to in
form himself Of everything, and carefully
noting the weak points in our industry. Al
ter his return to the United States, in 1854.
he founded a factory at Boston-"The Bos-
ton Watch Company The capital, scarcely
800, 900, was subscribed by capitalists more
than by practical business men. In the begin
ming, the company turned out only the rough
skeleton movement and attended to the fin
ishing; all other parts, such 40 trains, bal
ances, jewels, &C., were imported from Swift.
zerland. Little by little, however, the fac
tory extended its operations and produced
other parts. But as the profits were small,
the capitalists abandoned 1t and 1t failed in
1856. :
Another American, Mr.. Robbins, scented
q good speculation and bought the factory
and tools for $4,000. A new company, 1.-THE
American Watch Company" was formed,
with q capital of 100000, which was in
creased.to 100000 before the war, which put
on foot q million Of soldiers, and as every
one wanted q watch, there was . great ami.
nation In the watch business. At the june
ture, which might have been . lucky one for
our industry, we failed to comprehsnd our
real interests. Instead Of sending good
watches to the Americans, the worst trash
was sent. The Americans, however, wentto
work on an entirely different plan. The com
| pany increased their plant and turned out .
| At the end Of several years the American
watch enjoyed q good reputation, while ours
was discredited everywhere. In 1865, the
capital was increased to $4,000, and the
operations of the company grew to immense
proportions. The Waltham company give
employment to 800 workmen and make
about as movements per day. They have
again increased their capital till il amount
TO S1,5O0,000, besides 100000 as 3 reserve
fund. This watch factory IL . real power
there Is none Eke u IN Europe. We have seer
It in all its details, and We have admired ii
splendid organization. w
Last Nay, on the eve of the Exhibition, VI
still neemed masters Of the situation, On,
---x h>-.w~- 1n.1t ~ : 1891 kl~- m,
Waltham Company announced . reduction o
from 40 to 50per cent. onlprices already lowe
than their rivals. the reduction 10 date bacl
10 January 1, 1876. It Ia unnecessary 10 tel
YOU, gentlemen, how very detrimental thi
wa TO the Swiss watch. Still another an
mare important reason explains the CROWN
prosperity of the American Company. Thei
tools work 30 regularly, that all parts of Ii
watch may be intsrchanged, by Q simple o.
der on 8 postal card, without necsssitatin
the forwarding Of the adjoining piecs.
The question has often been asked, can ID
Americans sufficiently supply the demand {
The market? Yes, they can; we are drive
cut Of the Amsric.r market. In 1850 q
watches. To-day they produce 10000, whic
can be easily doubled. We sent to the Ulits
states IN Ief7, s66,ioo watches. In 1875 v
rSs1 barely send u, 900 Watches The Anne
|. icsns have already begun 70 send their mani
, fscture to Europe. In England they sell al
nually from 10000 to 5000 watches. II
American wston commences 10 drive fro
me Enelish market the Swiss watch and eve
The En9lish watch The America M began |
creating q demand for their goods in the l
J dies and in Australia, and then-thanks
some powerful importing houses-they !
vsded England. At Moscow and 81 Peter
.bsuh they have established imports
8 branch offcea. Their aim 4 10 drive NJ N
Z oaf Fl thsir own county, and then 70 col
Z pefe with Ms on our own soif- sincere
a eenfess tfsf i personally have doubted n
2 competition. But now I have seen-I hs'
: felt it-and I am terrified by the danger