New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-04
Reed & Barton.
SOLID SILVER.
81 Union Square.
A MKINLEY INDUSTRY.
AMERICAN LACE CURTAINS.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN LONG ISLAND VIZ
LAGE-A NEW EMPLOYMENT FOR AMERI.
CAN WORK ERsi-PR;CEs NOT HIGH
Err THAN IL 1890.
r,oy y. sr.r, CORRESPONDENT ~ rHE rsrsrys'

FROM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT ~ TIE TsIsrys'
Patchogue. n. Y, Aug 3.-There is a notable
| example in this village Of an =" infant industry"
which has been created and protected in its
growth by the Mckinley act The manufacture
| Of cotton lace curtains has given employment
here to 200 hands, which might otherwise have
been idle The industry pays out in wages to thes
hands the sum Of 81 800 weekly, or $4,000 yearly
It's establishment has been n decided gain for
| the town, and it has not entaed any burdens
upon the great body Of CONSUMERS outside. The
price of cotton lace curtains is as low this year
as it was in 1890 when the Mckinley act Was
| passed SO far az the villagers can reason about
the matter, therefore, the tariff on lace curtains
IS not n tax on the consumer, while IL has given
employment to their working population and in-
creased the business of Pstchogne. When the
industry i. established elsewhere it will create
| competition from other American lace curtain
manufacturers and speedily IL will force down
! the price Of the goods far below the figures Tor
which they were selling in 1890. when the add-
tonal duty was imposed. No visitor 10 the village
Is surprised when he hears that it casts larga
Republican vote; nor can he wonder when he
sees hanging over the main street only one CAM
paign banner, namely: that containing the por-
traits Of Harrison and Reid, the chosen leaders
of the Republican party in its defence OF 'ne
American protective tariff
The lace curtain corporation, when mas "s
| factory here is known as The American Laos
Manufacturing Companyn The president is J.
G. Anderson Of New-York. Eight years ago ne
rented a portion Of an unoccupied factory build
| ing here for use as a bleachery OF unoeachea
ereign curtains He employed about fifty
hands az this business In 1890 the duty on
cotton lace curtains was increased from 40 70
60 per cent This increase promised 20 afford
sufficient protection from crushing competition
AZ the hands Of foreign manufacturers. MI
Anderson perceived this business opportunity ana
took advantage Of it. He and his associates pur'
chased in England curtain Manufacturing MAJ
chimes. placed them in their present factory oulh'
ing and began manufacturing curtalns Inc
machines were expensive costing. with the duty,
s. 800 each but they were indispensable slncs
nothing of the kind was then made In the Cnited
States Mr.. Anderson was confident that American
inventive genius would speedily improve upon them
and that American workingmen would use them
with such sLill that their product would b.
larger and, in the long run. cheaper Only two
years have passed and both these expectations
have been realized. improvements have been
made in the machinery, and as a larger number
Of yards Of lace curtains Is turned ouo ms
product is cheapened.
said Mr. Anderson today. has been established
during the last two years, AMI We feel greatly
encouraged By its success We have had
impo RI tie machines and 10 train our hands, bu'
,t last our work is accomplished. Under theS
circumstances should think il a great injustice
for Congress after tempting into this buS'
nes, now Immediately to lower tie tarin. ana
~ expose Ms 10 the destructive competition OF
the English lace curtain manufacturers NY
fourteen machines represent total investment
Of 81 05, 900. and they form only portion OF I"
! machinery OF the factory! The price OF lace cur
tains is 10 higher than ii was before the MchlnT'
act was passed. There was temporary rlS' ou'
that has been overcome, and the price IL now wv
same "a In 1890. Meanwhile employment has bee,
given 10 q large number of Americans Law
curtains ar. now used by every household. lbs
poorest can AFFORD them. For instance. cura.
? "A yards long two pieces, containing IN ~
| 10 yards are sold for - cents: or for cen.
a ward. which is but little more than the cos' I"
cotton cloth" #.
The business OF the mandatory has been oul'
nm until now its yearly product
valued az 100000. The factory Is dlsuneu!
on outcome Of the Mckinley tariff act and hs
almost certainty that the 200 hands would p~
their work il the duty upon lace curtains w"
|
week; the from So TO - week. :.
| Gut,ridge the superintendent of the factory WV
was trained TO the business of making lace cur
tans in England, said to-day: "Our men aa
women are employed every working day IN ~ =.
year. whereas the English factory hama osF
works internationally. the factory frequently
ing closed for weeks at a time. As rsnI'' y"
| total yearly wages OF men and women o. =.
greater. From what I hear from my fa'ie'
England should say that the lace curtain us" 20.
| Of that country has been badly injured '"
Mckinley tariff act. The factories here at
| plying the American market with lace cu,,'J
| The factory buildings are two wei III "a
structures in the western end Of fatchoeue "A
curtain lace machines in one Of the nub"'ns ,s.S
| fine specimens of delicate mechanism " ,,,,k
| need 70 be kent in motion BY men OF trained NV
| liscnce The American workingmcn have arr
won one triumph with them, which VIII ns ,,,.
| effect Of chcapcning lace curtains lne n ,a
| in England ordinarily manufacture ons ..
| racks of lace curtains day One OF o' =,
| chimes in this American factory Is run WIN
skill and speed that it manufactures the M l
able number of 725 tracks day III w. ,s l
rooms OF the factory, in the beachlhs,vy, ir
taring-room," the pressing room, o,"rins lsS
provements in the process oil
| curtains have been made. m Aha, any great i
harm has been done ~ the people ., VIZ industy
States by the establishment o, OIL, I" has been bent
The village of Patchogue certainly hasnnsacturipl
fitted by this creation OF u iaiss ybose employs
business within its borders, "no~ LARGE ness j
weekly receive 81 500 to eNpenu. he the conslrt
uie IN 'ne ,.ns NO one can say that he has fs
harmed since ne does not pay any .'' ;nssnt indas
| the curtains he now buys IL Is an healthy cn4
,v NY. "u ~ ~. Nan developed In the course VI