New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-12
A NEW SILK FACTORY.
MORE M'KINLEY RESULTS.
GROWTH OF THE PRINTED SILK INDUSTRY IN
THE UNITED sTATES-DoMESTIC GOODS
FAST REPLACING FOREIGN GOODS
LOWER PRICES

FAST REPLACING FOREIGN GOODS
LOWER PRICES.
frnoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUyE.l
Middletown N. Y, Sept. 1O.-As the average trav-
eer rides through this busy manufacturing city on the
lines OF the Erie Railroad he would not be apt "
thlnk unless Inc had been previously Informed, mat
In the tall sxStpry building on the north sac OF inc
tracks midway between the two depots, IL proDapiy
one OF the most extensive plants in the country FOR
the printing OF Silks but SUCH nevertheless, is the
fact and its trees machinery was first started wheh
the passaa Of the Mckinley bill was assured For
years the printed silks used In this country were not
only abroad but printed abrond rs well, IL De-
Ing from France the greatest producer OF such gooos
that We received our supply 1t was not alone inc
fact that France supplied our market that began 10
excite the public interest, bit rather the fact that IN
supplying It she held undisputed possession, being
without single competitor In America. This condl-
ton OF affairs combined with the quality OF the for
cgn goods, and the price at when sucn goolS couiu
be imported and placed upon the shelves ana counters
of American stores and sold TO American cohsuners'
made It a doubtful undertaking to compete with such
an old and long-establlshed INDUSTRY as That OF the
printing Of silks in France. Yet, doubtful as the I'M
dertakng WIS q few manufacturers who Believed
that domestic goods could be produced in quality equal
20 the imported started the Industry. But AFTER
years OF work and Mt the expense Of thousands OF
dollars to provide machinery that would do the work
previously done abroad by hand, 50 as to reduce the
cost OF production nearly possible to that OF tine
foragn goods the venture proved OF little avail for
in the American market the French article seemed
almost as common ever.
In addition to the difference In the cost OF pro-
ductlon In favor Of the foreign silks, there was
another and greater obstacle In the then universal
reputation OF the imported goods. II VIII be seen
upon q careful examination Of the facts as they ten
existed that such reputation was not at that uuc
gained because OF the superior excellence of such
goods but simply because Of the entire absence OF
any competition whatsoever that would bring out us
copparative worth aud value. Therefore the state
mcnt that tho French silks would give better satis
faction aud BE- the most Trustworthy purchase lady
coud make when hrst opposed to goods OF American
manufacture was altogether unmcrited SQch state
rncnts as the above, emanang they did from re-
talcrs who carrying a full stock OF foreign goods
feared that they would be unable to rid themselves
Of their surplus proltably were not void OF results
and as n consequence, the public favor at ume
when IL might have easily been turned toward do
mcstIo goods remained loyal to- the French. Matters
remained thus until the weaving Of silk in this country
had taken root and domestic plain silk found favor
and sold readily the same counters with the
foreign silks. This advance made In the public con-
ndcnce materially aided the struggling sDkprnters,
but not enough to cradle them to compete sulicen'y
10 t1ducc Others TO Join them In the business. Lately
,he possibilities OF the heM commended themselves
TO Republican Legislators. and at ocir hands tle In
d,lstry was aided. and the large advances made IN
all departments OF the work can but voice the Wis
dom Of such legislation. Clearly 1t Is to this NC
Kinley bill that the people OF MlddletoWn owe the
establishment Of the Columbia PRINT ana Dye WORKS
within q cir limits and the employment By them OF
over half n hundred hands at wages far In advance
M those maid abroad for a scVercr degree Of labor.
Mr. Hutchinson. the genial superintendent, SAID 10
me: This industry Is Just getting firmly upon It's
feet and under the protective tariff is making RAPID
strides, and now hope 10 compete with the
French 1t is trilo rs you say that there are very
few in the business yet for II is brought to Us present
high degree OF perfection only after years OF expert
cnce so you see We something after all TO those
who early began the business. But the machinery
witch you sec here Is among the finest plants IN the
world 1t is sensitive To the smallest turn OF
screw us IL must needs be- inasmuch as II has to
allow for the stretching OF the SILK * II passes under
the rollers. But tic ingenious Yankee is encouraged
I'm the creating OF such machines when Ii, knows mat
he is to be protected In their output
We now print" he added. stepping up 10 one
Of the machines, SIX and eight colorS nj unc on
s.nge machine or course there are othcr hla'IhlcS
,h,t print more. some high as twenty, but eN'
r.,Ieue has demonstrated that they are not pfacucl-
Mic We do the same work six or eight color
machines When We want To pint more than eSht
colos we subject the goods after printing III steam"
hath that ightens deepens the cOo's dco'fNle 10
the temperature OF the steam, or to give t't huch
sought after shaded encct we PRINT scNcru 'o'oi"
over each other and thus arrive at the same result
with "A minimum OF risk in damaging the goods
toll Won this to show You what are capable OF
doing when we have a chance 10 make goods profit
ably. The quality OF our work has become 80
well recognized that unable 20 I'LL our orders
and at present and for some time past we nave Ee sn
running for thirteen hours. That Is soniethlis 10
be proud OF, and good record, considering the SNORT
time the bill has been IN OPERATION. ,,
About how much can you NJ the present. tlhic
turn out IN IA single day ~ asked You must re.
member that this is not our busy season. out We prin
nearly 10 pieces per day, and IL all runs ABOUT
ify five yards to the piece. our orders call FOR 100
pieces per day. and In the height OF the season tiey
will reach 300 pieces. That means no small number
q years at that rate would equal nearly 3oooooO
yards, but our actual output Is nearer 4Ooono Iha'
would make silk dresses for about 10000 women,
allowing sixteen yards per dress. To meet the IN
creased demand occupy about twice as much space
as did when We first began, and the still lurther
enlargement Of quarters Is present need. As IL
is our boiler capacity has been doubled and water
comes from own wells" 49,
What Is the average value per yard Of the SILK
up silk from pile IN corner. Is the cheapest
grade WI print. and II readily sells In the wholesale
background of solid colors commands higher price.
often high ~ 80 per ycard that being cheap for
such grade. Figuring up our years output at the
the snug sum OF abo II -. 900 600 and that 1, the
output OF only mill. and that Is not filling all
orders.
ave are RUNNING both kinds. The foreign silks I'm
the texture have been a little moro even and conse
the domestic silks have If anything surpassed the
foreign and should We be cS'icd upon to DISC lminale
should select the domestic product every time.
The manufactures OF plain silk for printing and silk
for dress goods are entirely different lines OF bust.
ness, but putting the three together the weaving OF
the two kinds and the printing Of the one makes an