Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1882-09-26
WHERE ooRsErs CONE FROM.


Mr.. Catlin, the American Consul at
Stuttgardt, in the Kingdom of Wurtem-
berg, writes in one of his reports to the
Government of the United States a
statement of the corset trade of that
country, especially with the United
States. As corsets are an article Of uni
versal use in this country, he considers
it instructive to let the American ladies
know how much they contribute TO the
employment ofthe poor women in far-off
Wurtemberg. hemanufacture of WOW
en- corsets in that kingdom began in
1S4S. Its progress was slow until in 1856
orders from the United States gave
strong impetus to the trade, but the
great development of the trade began in
1865, at the close of the war in the Uni
ted States.
Since that time, one-third of the total
value of all the exports of Wurtemberg
to the United States has been in woven
corsets. The total annual production
Tin 1880 Of corsets in the kingdom is
J, 1850, 900, valued at $3.50, 900, requiring
1000 pounds Of cotton yarn. The in
dustry requires sixteen distinct process
es in the change Of the raw material to
the finished corset These are the weav-
ing, cutting out, stitching, stamping,
embroidering, insertion of whalebones,
punching eyelet holes, washing. starch
ing, shaping, ironing, eyeletting, clasp
ing, measuring and boxing. In the
manufacture Of these goods LOO hand
looms and about $500 persons are en-
ployed. About LOO are male weavers.
All the work except the weaving is done
by female operatives, and most of the
work is done at home. These women
earn an average of SO. 80 per month, and
the male weavers from S17 to Sl8 per
month. The new French tariff has cut
of the trade with that country, though
the trade with the United States, En-
gland and South America is still main
tanned. The German tariff, by increas-
ing the duty on yarn. has also injured
the profits Of the business. Following
the close Of the American war, the ex-
port Of these corsets 10 the United
States, which had been $3.50, 900 a year,
rapidly increased in 1866 To 1886, 900,
and in 1872 to 81, l19, 900, but since has
declined to $4,000 in 1880, and rose
again in 1881 to S5OO,OOO
There were imported TO this country
in 1881 about $1,000 dozen corsets,
valued at not less than SO per dozen,
and over $4,000 dozen of an average
value Of 80 per dozen. On these there |
was levied and collested duty Of $751; |
800, or about 35 per cent. The cost
price Of the best quality landed in this
country was fraction less than rs cents
a corset, which, adding the duty, made
the cost over 81 each.
The great increase in the Wurtemberg
production and sale Of corsets 10 this
country following for several years the
close OF our war was due to the increased
demand from this country to supply the
colored population, to whom emancipa-
ton for the first time made corsets an
indispensable article OF dress From
1866 TO 1872 there were perhaps TO-
600, 900 OF cOrsets sent 10 the United
States, at a cost, with the duty added,
OF about the same number Of dollars.
The manufacture Of cheaper goods and
Of inferior materials has since then re-
duced the consumption Of Wurtemherg
corsets in this country 10 about $780,