Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-06-30
SILK MAKING IN JAPAN.
Done Almost Entirely by Women and
Girls-American
Imports.

Al the beginning Of the Japanese-RuS-
90 war 1t was predictedin Lyons that the
outbreak of host1lities would be accom-
panied by an immediate rise in the price
of raw silk, as japan produces and ex-
ports about one-twelfth of the raw SILK
consumed In the world. AsChina Is near
the scene of hostillties and, 1t was sur
missed, might be involved in the war II
was feared that the exports from that
country might also be suspended, there
was, as a consequence, some uneasiness
IN the minds Of the dealers In that article
The aggregate silk product OF the world
Is about 100000 pounds The an
nual value OF this product is, in round
numbers. $154, 1000. About 100000
pounds of this silk come from Japan
and II that country were blockaded OF
the production suspended the shortage
in raw silk would be very detrimental to
business But thus far the war has oc-
casioned no change whatever In the BLK
market Japanese merchants knowing
that their silk was as good as bank
notes, were in no hurry to sell. except
in few isolated cases where individuals
desired to contribute to the war fund.
A large part Of the crop was exported
before the outbreak of hostilities and az
It Is carried in neutral ships there will be
no danger Of any difficulty in exporting
what remains to the markets Of Europe.
The work Of producing the raw silk is al
most entirely done by women and girls.
They gather the mulberry leaves, pre-
pare them, feed the worms, and reel the
silk from the cocoons. II need be they
can put the raw silk In bales and prepare
It for shipment. AS the women are NOT
in the army 1t is not likely that hostili-
ties will in any way interfere with the
production Of silk. The only event In
which the silk product OF Japan could be
withheld from the market would be the
blockading Of her ports. TN
Within the last month Lyonneee mer-
chants have agitated the subject Of Inn
posing duty on manufactured silk
from Japan. The purchases Of this silk
from Japan now foot mp to about IS.
900 annually, and 1t Is proposed to i'm
pose upon II a protective duty Of about
$3.50 per kilogram (75 cents per IL
pounds. When these goods are received
here from japan they are dyed and
printed and reexported. large quantities
Of them going to the United States. They
consist generally Of pongees, tussah and
corah. These goods could all BE- dyed
In the United State& The new duty, al
though TO be RENTED when the Japan
ese goods are reexported, will, neverthe-
less, cause some Inconvenience and de-
lay. The shippers would like TO avoid
this If possible. and II their Japanese
silks could DO dyed in the Unitsd States
It would save them one reehipment and
the delay caused in paying the duties
and In having them refunded upon trans
shipment TO the United States. Itseems
TO me that, with our better machinery
and more slilltul workmen, We might
dye these goods Is cheaply as the
French. French manufacturers who
have silk mills in the United States as
sure me that an American workingmsn
viii do three times as much work In
day as a Frenchmsn. They say our men
are more active. Women who have
lived here and employed French dress
makers in their homes assure me that
an American dressmAksr VIII DO three
or four times as much work in q day a.
q French girl. The dyers and printers
Of Lyons are emphatically opposed TO
the proposed duty and may succeed in
defeating It; but II Il should Be imposed.
! can zee no reason why our people
should not take advantage Oft
JOHN c. COVERT.