Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-09

one-half of these looms must soon 30 out
OF operation In this iuncture leading
SILK manufacturers are considering the
question Of coming over TO America. The
consumption of silk in the United States
is extremely large. Out OF 10000, 000f
worth of goods made at Zurich, "A, 000,0 00i.
goes to America. The women Of America
use four times as much silk in proportion
TO population as the women OF Europe.
One of the largest manufacturers in
switzerland contemplates the transfer OF
his entire business to this country. He
las been here to look the ground over.
He has to face an overproduction OF silk
N this country, but expects to overcome
that by superior experience. In silk
manufacture experience is of prime i'm
pOrtance, and the manufacturers of
Europe have mad the benefit of the results
of centuries of experience. The name of
the gentleman whose decision is made is
Mr.. Schwartzenbach-Lanti OF ZGrich.
He employs about 400 looms. Two years
ago he came here tor an experiment and
put up a small factory OF 1876 looms at
Union Hill in Ho0oken. The results of
that experiment and the condition OF
trade have determined him to put up adj
ditiOnal works to the extent of 400 to 400
looms. He proposes to put up twisting
or winding mill and also dye works. The
twisting for his Zurich works, is done in
Italy. Another hrm, that of Bodmer and
Hurlimann, Of Zurich, the second largest
In Switzerland, has had its Junior part
ner in this country within q short time TO
seek location for a factory and has
made similar decision. Both of these
firms are waiting, however, to see what
acCiOn Congress will take in reference to
the tariff. If the duty, which is now 90
per cent. Is letta that amount or not re-
duced below 30 per cent. they will make
the transfer of their works.
This information came to reporter
through Jacob Steiger- Meyer. of Herisau,
Switzerland, a leading embroidery man
ufacturer of that country, who is now
here in connection with the tariff on that
line OF manufacture. He introduced the
reporter to Mr.. Schwar' zenbacb-Lantis
who confirmed all that he
had related. Mr.. Schwartzenbach
said: SIN the causes that have deter
mined our decision to make a change the
introduction Of power looms in Switzer-
land should be considered. Formerly no
plant was required for the business, as
the hand looms belonged to the weavers
themselves. Then, too, we have been shutotf
from Germany, Austria and Italy by high
tariffs. We have factory in Italy, butit
does not pay. Our experiments in HO-
bOken proved that the manufacture would
pay in this country, in spite Of the poor
times. 1t would be ridiculous TO put up
power loom factory in Switzerland. We
have made careful calculation on about
twenty articles required in the manufac-
ture as to cost here and in Switzerland,
and if the tariff remains above 80 per
cent. we shall settle down here. There
is one decided advantage in this country,
which Is that the purchasers give a pref
erence to domestic goods. They think
that America is equal to the world.
Power looms are much cheaper here than
there. We can get good looms here for
$40 of the class required by the trade.
The best looms abroad cost $780, The
same looms here would cost only 500 or
$ll0. The winding is just as cheap here
as there, owing to an invention which we
cannot use there on account Of the fine
ness of the silk used abroad. They only
use firm silk here. Their weavers could
not handle the Japanese or Italian silks.
Dyeing Is just 80 cheap here as there.
The only difference is in the
wages Of the Weavers. The average
here is about 81 per day. In Switzerland
the same grade of work brings only soc. to
60c. day. The hand-loom weavers, many
OF whom are the wives and daughters of
farmers, do not earn over 16c. 90 24c. per
day, but this is, Of course, with them a
sort OF extra. l have been astOnished to
see what good silks are made in this cOun-
try. The weaVers can furnish nothing
but the very frmest and cleanest OF silk,
and 1t makes the very best of goods.
There is to be meeting here next month
OF the silk importers and the silk manu-
lecturers to see If they cannot come to an
agreement as to the TARIFF