Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-05
CARPETS IN AMERICA.
Statistics Showing the Remarkable
Growth of the Industry,
A SUBSTITUTE FOR CAOUTCHOUC
Curing Nercurial Poisoning by Iodide Of
Potassium and Milk.
APPARATUS FoR PREVENTING SMOKE
rwRIrTKs FOE THE pIsPATcH.1


A remarkable growth has taken place il
the carpet industry in this country during
the last 80 years In 1860 the hand loon
was in its prime throug hout Kensington
where the power loom was looked upon
more as an experimental curiosity than q
practical aid to labor. Usually the employe
worked side by side with his weaver, who
earned good wages and was as much re-
spected among his neighbors as high-class
merchant now is Skilled Englishmen,
Scotchmen and Irishmen all found ready
employment and prompt return fol-
their labor. The total number Of
factories in the United States was 213, but
the product amounted to only about 13, 000,
600 yards, valued at nearly s., 900, 000 an in
crease Of 2, 500, 600 over the output in 1850.
In 1870 the number of factories was only
increased by three, but the amount of the
product swelled to 80, 10000 yards, valued
at about 500, 600, 900, with an invested capi-
tai of s12, 5000 Wages on hand looms be-
gan to decrease owing to the competition of
the power looms In 1882 the capital in
vested in the industry was upward
of s25,OOO,oOO, involving $40 establish
ments (including many small concerns not
factories, strictly speaking), in which there
were over 5000 hand looms, 1900 power
looms and q, 900 operatives The total out
put was 81, ,0O0, 900 yards, valued at $50, 800,
900. Or this over 1900. 900 yards were
ingram (one-half of which was the cheap
cotton grade), 100000 tapestry and
$500, 900 body brussels and wilton. The
estimated increase in the number of factor
les from 1850 to to 1880 was over 80 per
cent; in capital 20 per cent, and in the num-
mainly an increase in the number of fe-
males employed, rendered possible by the
introduction of the power loom. Wages
had increased 20 per cent
In 1890 q considerable change was found.
Hand looms had practically disappeared,
anu the factories, though numbering only
about $50, had been greatly enlarged, and
ran, in the aggregate, something over 200
power looms The total output in that year
was about So, 600, 900 yards (excluding mo-
quettes), valued at over $54, ,000, 900, which,
with the S. 600, 900 worth of moquette, made
only in New York and Massachusetts,,
brought the grand total to S57, 900, 0Oo OF
the 81. 900, 000 yards AZ were ingram, 20H
brussels and wilton. Philadelphia produces
over half of this, 48, 600, 900 yards, valued at
S29, 600, 600; New York, 19, 600, 900, valued at
S13, 500, 600, and Massachusetts, 1850, 900
yards, valued at SIC. 600. 900. The eheapen-
ing of the product and the consequent in
crease in the per capita consumption, which
is tenfold greater than in 1860, Is the direct
result OF improvements in machinery. Fine
tapestries and brussels can now be obtained
at the former cost of the rudest ingram.
The enormous product, $4,000 yards, is
consumed entirely at home, making a per
capita consumption of nearly yard and q
half, tar more than in any foreign country.
The standard of carpet designs has vastly
improved of late years. Designers wages
range from $40 to $50 per week, and good
design will sell all the way from $40 to $50.