New-York tribune., 1900-12-31
THE AMERICAN SILK INDUSTRY IN 1900.


The following review of the silk industry is fur
nshed by of the best authorities in the country
The conditions OF the silk Industry in the United
States in 1900 have in very marked degree favored
the buyer and consumer of silk goods. Silks have
cities of the country for the greater part of the
year, and are being sold to-day at prices below
the cost of manufacturing. The consumer also had
the silk manufacturer at a disadvantage in 1893. so
that we have had two consecutive years Of poor
business for the American silk manufacturer from
the point OF view Of a reasonable profit to those
engaged in it. For the same reason the Two ds silk
to the consumer.
CAUSES
Actually diverse causes have produced a similar
result In 1889 depleted stocks OF raw silk in the
principal silk buying markets Of the world induced
a buying movement which carried the average price
Unfortunately this advance took place in the face
of the fact that the yield of silk was greater
any previous year in the worlds history. Although
the import of raw silk in the United States in 1893
third of the worlds production. the advance in the
price referred to represented addition of So So9
manufacturer in America His trouble was that
tne american narhet wouio not LeSI t "a ~ rit,- ~
America being a larger consumer Of raw siIk
than any of the other countries of the world
outside of the Orient. this inability TO digest
the increased supply simultaneously with an ad-
market in the spring of 1900 This was not ony
raw silk season of the world is controlled by its
crops Of cocOOnS, and extends from July % June -
in Italy, France and Japan, and from June / 70
May 81 in China, the last named country eXpOrCins
annually about 40 per cent Of the worlds sNppy-
Raw silk prices, which were highest in DecemoeI.
1899 and January, 1900. began TO drop. sloWS a.
first but later in a marked degree. and ths sllA
season OF 1S99-900 closed in June 1901 Win prices
down far below the highest point. 80, -.
Many of manufacturers oought LISe4y q
prices much above the lowest. and laIer lhey
confronted with still lower prices lot tdM sllA-
Secondly, there occurred a very poor IaI business
incident to 1900 being Presidential electlon yea
Thirdly there were very low prices Ior nanuIsCts-
ured goods. owing to the heartbreakns coIhpsD, clp5
ton of rival mills equipped with hgny pioguSSttN7
machinery. Auction sales in SEPTEMBER q ahq Scss O
Der, preceding Election Day. which aVSrassi 49,
below manufacturers cost, also contrloIted ; eNts
svely unsettling confidence ana 10 Ihe lnlPa''
ment of values. -. -. ~.
Under conditions similar 20 those that have pre-
vailed in 1900 prudent manufacturing requires a
decided curtailInent in the volume OF DusllSesSs
which unfortunately for all concerned means hall
time or thirds time in the mills tor nc
tives and a marked diminutiOn in the conSuInlsos
of material 1t is no great surprise, Sens tsfss
that the imports OF silk IN Ihe Ili'eu sSst
have fallen off nearly one-thtrd in lsv ana % ais
the year closes with large stocks at an '''e
tributing points. - ~, r,ove-
The following table is Illustrative or me s,s, nSs
unent and cost OF raw materials 10 the Aineii0~~
silk manufacturer for the last four years