The times., 1898-07-03
MANILA HEMP IN DEMAND.
of n Harvest by Cord
age Dealers.
lFrom the BROOKLYN EagIe.( J

lfIOfn tHt BROOKLYN f-aElt-
Since the victory of Admiral Dewey at
Manila there has been considerable ac-
tivity in the cordage industry and a re-
markable rise in the price or hemp. 1t is
expected that there will be a great de-
mand for rope and twine, and with the
Manila hemp market closed manufactur-
ers who have considerable stock of that
kind of hemp on hand expect to realize
enormous profits. Within six weeks Ma
Mia hemp has gone up from cents per
pound TO cents. and it is still rising.
Factories, many of which are still in
the hands of receivers, are starting up
all over the country.
Brooklyn has long been the center of
the rape industry There were many rope
walks in the old city, but these have been
superseded by rope mills There are about
ten OF these here and a few small ones at
Long Island.
Manila hemp is almost exclusively used
in the manufacturs of rope for all kinds
OF shipping. 1t cannot be secured in any
other country. and the nearest substitute
for it is the American hemp. Sisal hemp
which comes from Mexico is also used ex-
tensiyely. Before the blockade of Manila
the price OF sisal hemp was l-2 cents
per pound Now IL Is quoted at rs cents.
Manufacturers believe, that certain big
shipping firms in Manhattan have form
ed combination TO speculate in il and
push prices up. The rope industry suffer
ed greatly from ~the sensa tional failures
of the National Gordage Company di-
rected by James A Waterbury and its
successor, the United States Cordage
Company. which also went under This
NAls subsequent to 1893 and it lasted until
the beginning of the war with Spain all
through attempts to corner the hemp
market. Now there seems TO be a revival
OF the speculative craze in the sudden
and unexplainable rise IN the price of
hemp.
1t is estimated that manufacturers have
supplies Of Manila hemp which will last
no longer than four months. but some
have large stocks of manufactured goods
~nlch VIII carry them much further in
being able to meet the demand for Manila
rope People who several months ago
made contracts with the manufacturers
to purchase Manila rope at 1-2 and 6
cents, are now, in many instances doub-
ling their orders in order to realize some
OF the enormous profits that will surely
be derived so long as the war continues
Owing 10 the large wheat crops there
Will be brisk demand for twine for bind
ing. Twine is used exclusively in the mod
ern reaping machines Formerly one and
one-half to two pounds per acre was suf-
hcient twine for binding but the straw is
so thick this year that two TO two and
one-half pounds will be required for both
wheat and oats. Prices heretofore were
2 to 1-2 cents above the cost of hemp
Many predict that prices will go up to
10 and is cents above the price of raw ma
terial.
Very little rope is used on the battle
ships or on those boats which have been
pressed into the Government service
They are seldom .moored to docks and
are generally corded from Golfers or light
ers, and they have more anchor chains
than rope Besides, Uncle Sam has
cordage factory of his own and seldom
gives outside orders. Few yachts have
been put in commission. All this would be
hurtful TO the cordage industry this year,
but the demands in other directions have
more than offset this drawback. and large
prices will be demanded. In fact, within
week manufacturers expect that prices
will be fully 200 per cent higher than
little more than a month ago.