The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-11-11

M
necessary to the American textile in
dustry. 1t is believed, however, that
within a short time shipments Of raw
wool from England to this country
will be resumed under some sort Of
licensing system which will insure
that the manufactured product is not
intended for Germany.
The textile industry in this coun-
try Is already feeling the benefit Of
this new opportunity. Foreign com
petition has been reduced more eff
fectively than 1t could be by any tar
Id, and there have been advances In
the prices Of somo fabrics. Many Of
the mills are booked to capacity with
orders, and some of,them are running
night and day. Competition, never
theless, Is keen and failures which
have occurred recently are ascribedI
to the fact that mills with old equip
ment are unable to compete with
those having the most modern ma
chinery. The mills producing fine
fabrics for the highest class Of 1ner-
chant tailor trade are especially pros
porous, because a large part OF the
. imports that have ceased were of that
class.
In addition to the demand fol. cloth,
a large foreign demand for blankets
has sprung up, and several hundred
Thousand blankets have been sold
within the last few weeks for export
purposes. Most of them, OF course,
Iare for the use Of European armies.
This large demand for blankets has
lied spectators to buy them In large
quantities and hold them for a rise in
prices. Another heavy foreign demand
is for sweaters and underwear for
military use. France is said to have
a corps Of trained buyers in this
country, working under the direction
liof the consul general to obtain a
supply OF these articles. They have
established credit with large financial
houses In this country and are re-
ported to have placed an order for
$4,000 dozen sweaters with single
American firm. With the European
armies facing winter campaign,
there Is every prospect that the de-
mand for these heavy woolens will
continue.
<AAubA0ki 1uuCA ulSCuo60u lOppUELuu.
fity Afforded the American textile in
dustries by the war situation is to|
capture larger share Of the South
American trade in these lines It is
interesting to note that the British
manufacturers, as their opinion is re-
Elected in their trade press, likewise
see splendid opportunity to take
South American trade away from
Germany, and seem confident that the
American dealers will not gain any
permanent advantage over them. New
ertheless. 1t is certain that the Amer
leans have the advantage for the timel
being at least. South American rep
resentatives of textile manufacturers
organizations in this country report a !
large South American demand forl
hosiery and underwear to take thel
place OF the supply that usually
comes from Germany, France, Bell
GUM and Italy. Exporters in this
country seeking a share of this trade
are strongly advised to use the meth
DDS which have been proved success
full by European dealers, and which
consist chiefly in selling on a basis /
of at least ninety days credit, selling
by sample, not by catalogue, and deal
ing through local commission men
who understand the local languages
and trade customs.
The most important question which
all this involves for the consumer in !
this country-namely, whether the
war Is going to make his clothes cost
him more or less-is still largely un-
decided. The elimination Of a great
deal OF the foreign competition, COM
bined with a heavy demand from
abroad for American woolens, would
naturally tend to raise the prices inl
this country; but while the prices of 4
some fabrics have risen, several
causes have conspired to keep the
average down. Somewhat depressed
business conditions generally In thisI
country, together with a very warm
autumn, have kept the demand forl
winter woolens rather small. It isl
the foreign demand, rather than the
domestic, which promises prosperity
for the American manufacturer atl
present. Moreover, the raw WOOL
which We have imported since the be-
ginning of the war. although reduced
in quantity, has been at low cost
oSSthuSc VI t1c urgent uSeQ Oh tue
foreign dealers to sell. Clothing woods
imported into this country duringI
July cost $.279 pound, while those
imported in September cost but 1921.
There is a wide difference Of opin-
ion among the various factors in theI
wooden trade as to what prices are,
going to do. Merchant tailors ASSERT
that the heavy foreign demand will
make a suit cost thirty per cent mored
within few months. Importers, on
the other hand, declare that Ship
ments will soon be coming in as reg
ularly as ever, that the English max
ers have large stocks on hand because
of the recent trade depression, and
that therefore prices will remain
much as they are for at least year.
It is generally conceded, however
that II business conditions improve
and the foreign demand continues,
prices will be forced up.
When you buy an advertised arti-l
Gle you buy something which the mer-j
chant himself has implicit faith in-i