New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-04
SWISS MAYUF4CTURERS COMING HERE.
DEPRESSION IN THE EUROPEAN SILK MILLs-RE-
MOVING TO AMERICA

DEPRESSION IN THE EUROPEAN SILK MILLs-RE-
MOVING TO AMERICA.
The silk manufacturing industry of Europe
Is undergoing changes that have important bearing
Oh the future Of this country. Many Of the European
silk manufacturers have been losing money for years
The trade OF Lyons France the great SILK manufactur
tug CENTRE has fallen of greatly that many Of the
manufacturers have suspended and the entire trade is
in prccarious condition. Switzerland is an important
homo Of the silk industry At Basle out Of twentyfour
concerns that in operation ten years ago, all but
ten have gone out business and those that still hold
ont are losing money Basic is a great ribbon manu-
featuring The piece goods trade at Zurich Is In
like preeaTious condition. BY the introduction OF power
looms at that place with cotton backs made
which had wide sale in England and France. 1t was
purely, however, matter OF fashion The fashion went
ont year and the last condition Of the manufacturers
Is than the first They have lost the other In &
trade which they relied for permanent success Ihee
cpal market the Uned states The condition OF trade
is such that fully one-ha OF toese looms must soon go
o oTer' to are A@eriea The consumption of six
out of 100000 francs worth OF goods made at Zurich
45000,000 goes TO America The women OF AneIicause
four times as much SIX In proportion 10 popuaoh as
one largest Switzerland contem-
plates transfer of his entire business to THIS country
fIe has here TO look the ground over He has to
face oveIproducton OF elk In this country Dqt eX
pects to overcome that by superior experience In SILK
~ Enrope have had the benefit OF the re-
suits OF OF experience The name OF the gem
teman whoseI decision is made Mr. SchwartZenDach-
IantIs of Zurich He employs about 400 looms. Two
years ago here for experiment aud put up
small factory of 125 looms at Union Hll In Hoboken
The results OF that experiment ana ths cohdltlon OF
trade have determined him to pat Up woIKs 10
the extent OF 400 to 45o looms he proposes TO put up
twisting or winding mill ana also aye WORKS. inc
twisting for hts Zurich works is done IN taY Another
firn that of Bodmer and Hurnann OF Zurich the sec
ond largest in switzerland has had It's junior partner IN
this country within short time TO seek location Tor
factory and has made similar decision Both OF these
firms are waiting however TO what action Congress
will with reference to the tariff II the duty which
low per they the transfer OF their works
This information came TO TRIBUNE reporter through
Jacob Steger-Meyer of Hersau, SwtZerlapd, leaanS
embroidery manufacturer OF that country VINO Is now
facture lie introduced the reporter MI schwarzen-
bach-Lants who confirmed all that he had related MT
mined decision TO make change the introduction OF
power looms in switzerland should be considered:
hand looms belonged to the weayers themselves.
Then, too, We have been shut , of from Ger Ger,
factory in Italy but it does not pay Our experiments
in Hoboken proved that the mannaene would pay 10
ridiculous TO put up power loom factory In swltzer
twenty articles required in the Manufacture ss to cost
here and In and II the tarif remains above
is one decided advantage in this country,
which is that the purchasers give pre-,
IS equal to the world. Power looms are much
eheser here than there We can get good looms here
looms abroad co ST $3.50. The looms here would
S Ss ss here owing to an invention which cannot
there account OF the hneness OF the SIX used
abroad. They only use firm silk here Their weavers
could handle the Japanese italian silks Dyeing
is Just cheap hero there. The only
difference is In the wages OF the The average
here Is about 81 per day. IN Switzerland the same
grade OF work brings only fifty 10 sixty cents day
The handle weavers, many OF whom are the wives
daughters of farmers, do not sixteen to
cents day, but this Is OF with
them q sort Of extra. have been astonished to see
what good silks made In this country. The weayers
can furnish nothing but the very and cleanest
sk and the very best goods. There is be
meeting here next month Of the six importer, and the
agreement as to the tariff"