New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-09
SILK MANUFACTURE.

ANNUAL REPORT OFTllE SILK ASSOCIATION
REVIEW OF THE PAST TWELVE MoNTHs-A PERIOD
OF INACTIVITY RESOLUTIONS TO KEEP THE
QUALITY OF GOODS UNIMPAIRED-A SCHEME
FOR SPECIFIC TARIFF.
The following extracts will convey some OF
the leading features Of the annual report of the SIX
Association Of America presented at their yearly meet
ing, held yesterday:
In common with the other industries of this country
the silk manufacture has passed through period OF
comparative inactivity and depression during the past
year. a few of the mills have been closed. having sue
cumbed misfortune but the experience has been III
that respect no worse than that OF general busi-
ness interests here. and not so severe as tbat
of the silk manufacture of Europe in the period
During present session of Congress further eie
ment of uncertainty has been introduced by the pros
pec Of leg Station upon the tariff which has discouraged
enterprise The recurrence Of this occasion Of doubt
and embarrassment with each successive meeting OF our
National Legislature, necessarily limits or prevents
large undertakings in trade commerce. and thus
periodically infIcts n heavy burden on the man
ufacturer Owing to the prominence given in the
renorts and memorials of the silk Association n
the subject of frauds the revenue by the
differentiation of imported goods, tue Treasury De
partment has taken steps toward more thoroughly IN
vestgating these practices. The hope-Often dlsap-
polnted-that something Will be actually done to check
such frauds is again revived under the vigorous admin
istraou OF the present Secretary OF the Treasury though
as yet we report that great progress has
been made in reducing the frequency and amount OF
these undergauations which bring loss alike to the
manufacturers and the honest importers OF silk goods
while seriously diminishing the public revenue. Some
success has been achieved within the year through the
efforts Of special agents OF the Treasury Depart
ment and by tho United States Courts, In
checking the extensive operations OF silk smugglers
and bringing them TO justice that for the present this
form of crime is measurably suppressed.
The general verdict the business OF the past year Is
that II has been very unsatisfactory The general du
ness of trade Of the inability of to buy freely
and the agitation Of o change In the tariff have Goa
rluted to the depression here and other causes have
also largely influenced prices and demand.
From the January 10 the present date there has
been little activity in manufactured silks abroad
or at home. The prospect of another war depresses
prces in Europe and the agitation OF the tariff question
in Congress checks enterprise in this country Behind
all this is the inability of consumers to buy because OF
the continued hard times" which have enforced an I'M
known economy and restricted the sale OF costly goods
in domestic and foreign markets during the past three
years.
The production OF raw silk throughout the world
partially Recovered last year from It's great decline in
1916 but has not yet reached its previous average sta
stic furnished by the Buen DIES SoieS ct DIES SoiereS
show that the total production in kilOgrammes 2.2l
noupds) was in 1874 10,073, 800; 1875, 0,575 800
1876 1856 ESQ., 1877 S,503 102 The falling of took
Mace almost wholly in France and Italy. The following
comparison Of percentages Of European and Asatc silk
nroducton indicates 10 which the supply from
| (c,ino ond Ianan reDlaeed In mart the deficiency: