Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-01-01
THE MOHAIR INDUSTRY
CHEERFUL OUTLOOK FOR THE
GOAT RAIsERs.
FIRST FACTORY ON THE COAST
To BE BUILT AT SALEM AT AN
EARLY DATE.


Of reasons. We can and do raise some
OF the finest Angora goats in the
world; in fact, Salem man has the
reputation of making the best snip
ment of mohair ever sent from this
coast. Oregon has the best adopted
land in the world for raising the
goats, and she has that peculiar Gil
mate with soft, moist atmosphere
so needful in the combing and spir-
ming of the mohair.
In view of the fact that Salem Is
about to establish the first mohail
factory on the Pacific coast, the fol
lowing facts are published from the
American consul at Bradford, Eng
land:
In the last few months immense
fortunes have been made in Bradford,
England, in the mohair business. The
price of the raw material has increased
from "a cents to GA cents per pound, Oh
more than 1856 per cent; of yarn 1.-TWO
fold 32s light gray Turkey mohair
from 4S cents to BLOB per pound, al
increase Of nearly 115 per cent, and OF
the finished product suitable for lin
ings, dress goods, summer coatings
etc, from II, 81, 23i and q cents pei
yard year ago to about 10 per cent
above these prices. One firm of man
ufacturers is alleged to have cleared
Half dozen other firms, including
spinners and raw-material dealers, art
reputed to have done almost as well
while merchants and all Others VIII
have been in position to buy or sci
the hair, the yarn or the fabric haV,
made great profits. The cause of thi
great furore in mohair has been TN,
change in fashion and the return o.
mohair and lustre fabrics to popular
ity last spring. Any one who had
large quantity in stock had fortun'
in his hands, as had any who, foresee'
ing the continued demand, had SUI
ficient faith TO keep on buying eyeL
at the advanced prices asked. 1t !,
predicted that mohairs will continu,
in style for. another season or two
and many are shaping their course ac
cordingly. Bradford, in the meal
time, is enjoying commercial pros
perity such as 1t has not known sine,
1903. Not only has the trade in mo
hair products increased, but also II
woolen and worsted goods and dres,
stuffs. The beginning of the yea.
found the merchants Of the worl,
with practically empty shelves. Their
had been great wave OF depression
People were either unable to buy, o.
in the face of the hard times every
where manifest they had economizet
and stopped buying. Now there Is l.
demand for Bradford products no.
only in the English home trade, bui
in the United States, in South Amer.
lea, Mexico, and all the countries o.
Europe, Asia and Africa. In the fac,
OF this demand, which cannot be fully
supplied, prices have advanced al
along the line, but more particularly
in mohair. To Amos Crabtree, Esq.
a director of the Bradford Chambei
of Commerce, and most intelligen'
and enterprising dealer in mohair,
am indebted for much OF the ap
pended information.
History of Mohair Manufacture
The business in mohair wa'
commenced about fifty years ago, th'
raw material being imported int
London and Liverpool exclusively
from Asia Minor by several Greel
firms. When the spinners wanted
mohair they had to go TO London o
Liverpool to buy IL, But thirt!
years ago one of the Bradford mohai
merchants began to import 1t direc
from Constantinople, and these direc
importations have since developed s.
extensively that now the bulk OF tn
mohair grown in Asia Minor ant
South Africa is brought to Bradfor'
In that way. The spinners have n
occasion to go out Of town to buy, a
they can supply their wants from tn
large stocks regularly held here.
For some years after the commence
ment OF the business, by reason OF tn
bright, slippery nature of mohair, tn
spinners could not comb 1t by itsel
they had TO mix long English luste
wool with il. But that difficulty hS
long since been overcome, and no
almost anybody can comb it.
Supply countries.-There are tW
sources of supply, viz. Asia Minor an
South Africa. Asia Minor is IL
natural home of the angora goat. III
country is very mountainous an
covered with trees and shrubs,
which the animals chiefly feed. Tn
kind OF country appears to be muC
more suitable for the goats than fla
grass country. A large portion