The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-04-19
DOLLNS TENcmfyp shrdIu taoin s
IMPORTATION OF LAcEs.

An astonishing statement has just /
been made officially by the bureau
Of manufacturers. Of the department
of commerce and labor 1t IS that, OF
the sjOOOO.OOO worth Of laces used
in this country last year. ninety per
cent Of them were imported. great
er amount Of them coming from
switzerland than from any other
country
4 special agent Of the bureau OF
manufacturers. VI 4. g.. Clark, has
made special study OF the lace in
dustry lu Europe with view to
obtaining information that will be of
value to American manufacturers Re
ports on the lace industry have been
received from American cousuls In
England. France. Belgium and other
countries.
It is notable and interesting that
Si2 100000 worth Of cotton laces and
omnroidcrirs were imported into this
country last year. nearly forty per
cent Of which came from switzerland.
why an this vast amount Of cotton
manufacturers should come from
switzerland am interior country Of
Europe which has To come To Amer
lea or 20 to some other country for
Cos cotton was puzllng problem
to American experts Further inquiry
disclosed the fact that SNOOO.OOO
worth Of silk hccs. cmbroiderics and
ribbons were imported into Amer.
lea. a considerable percentage of
which also came from switzerland
The total amount Of the imports
from switzerland last year was about
, S29 100000 while American exports
To that country aggregated less than
SG2 OOOO Inquiry developed the fact
that. last year, switzerland exported
cotton manufacturers 10 the aggrc-
gate amount of $4,000 900, while the
/ United States. whicu produces inn
mensc amounts of raw cotton. oN-
ported only about $4,000. 900 worth
/ The figures indicate that America
Is not keeping step with the world
in the manufacture of cotton. More
than that. II Is losing ground, as the
exports of cotton manufactures from
the United States last year were
100000 900 less than they were the
previous year.
Il was discovered by agents of
the American government that the
average value of raw cotton import
ed into Switzerland principally laccs
and cmbruiderics. were Sis per
pound The actual value OF laccs
and cmbroIdcrics exported from
switzerland was $2O7 per pound
Agents of the United States express
the opinion that the manufacture of
lam these articles could be done in
this country a. a good profit
The statistics collected by the
American agents show that while
switzerland has n operation about
5000 power machines and l6 OoO
hand machines for the manufacture
of cotton cmbroidcrics and laccs
America has only something less than
q thousand, and all of these machines
have to be- imported into that couu
try
II Is a notable fact that more of
the largest factories In switzerland
are owned and controlled by Ameri.
cans, who have located their plants
In that country because of their
liability 10 get the worl, done
LAT lower wages than have To hc paid
In the United States. Ia Switzerland
/ Istitchrrs receive from $40 To $40 a
week i'm the United States from SIS
To so other employees receive pro-
pou,ionatcly lower vases In SWitzcr.
land than in this country So. too, IL
is iu France, from which American
imports and am immense amount of
laces and cmhroidcries In Belgium
and In India the wages are very low
lower than In Switzerland In such
circumstances 10 seems impossible
that the United States ever should
come into direct competition with
those countries in this work. not
wthstaudng IT'S advantage as a pro
duCvr of the raw material
-N. .fO
An exchange says Neh York SO.
.cicy is being Piushurgcd