Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-11-14

The silk industry in America furnishes
an excellent object lesson on the tariff
The report just issued by the silk Asso-
citation, giving statistics Of imports for
the last seven fiscal years shows that
the total value Of the yearly imports Of
silk goods at this port decreased from
$50, 432, i06 in the year ending in 1882 to
$50, IA, 635 in the year ending in 1886
and That in the two years following there
has been an increase of about SO, 600 600
the first year and So, 600 900 the second
the total for the year ending IN 1883 be
ing S3i 400, 2l5. This increase in the past
two years has consisted of something
more than s., 900, 900 IN plushes, ST 600. 900
in silk and cotton goods, and the rest in
silk and worsted, laees, handkerchiefs
and braids and bindings Piece goods
have not increased in total alue, aud
are $4,000, 600 less than in the year 1882
Even ribbons, which have been so active,
have not increased.
Turning to the table of imports Of raw
silk we note a contrary movement. The
value Of raw silk imported in the year
ending in 1882 was $i4, 1887, 5s4. In the
two years following there was slight
falling off, but since then there has been
a marked and steady increase, the total
value in the past fiscal year being
500, 433, 942
Taking the two movements together.
we see how the loss in foreign trade
has been compensated for by the growth
of domestic manufactures. T he increase
in imports Of raw silk in the past four
years has been nearly GO per cent. As
all the raw silk used here is imported. its
consumption is an exact expression OF the
increase in our silk industry.
Mr., Robert p Porter gives some gen.
eral statistics relating to England and
America which are instructive. The i'm
portation Of raw silk is gauge for the
amount Of production Of the manufac
fured product. Under free trade the i'm
portation Of raw silk into England has
dwindled from $l2, 600 600 to 5000. 600
pounds, while the importation Of manu-
featured goods has increased from So
600 900 annually to something like 500
600, 900 per annum. The census reports
of the United Kingdom also show de-
crease in the number employed ia this in
dustry from total Of III, $3.50 returned
In 1851 70 an aggregate Of GO, 577 accord.
tng TO the last census. In the most pros
porous days Of the silk industry in Eng.
land 100, 900 persons were employed.
Under the protective tariff the i'm.
portation of raw silk into this country
rose in the short period between 1880 and
1886 from ., 569, 230 pounds to 1854. 626.
or nearly double In the state Of New
Jersey the number Of establishments has
increased since 1879 from GO TO 1856. or
more than double In the same period
the yearly amount OF wages in this state
increased from S3,025, l8e to $6, 7S6 600,
exclusive Of Office aud salesmen's wages.
Let us summarize Under free trade.
England has increased the Imports Of
manufactured silk ten. fold and decreased
abe imports Of raw material three-fold.
while the number Of operatives has de-
creased two thirds. Under protection.
America has established the silk indus
try and increased the imports Of raw silk
20 about fifty millions annually, while
not less than $4,000 persons are given
employment
No wonder the British manufacturer
wants 70 break down the Anne rican tariff
system and take possession Of the Amer
ican markets.