The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-12-28
GROWTH OF HOSIERY INDUSTRY.
IS Per Cent Increase Annually in United
States for Some Years.

States for Some Years.
In study of the hosiery industry o
the United States, just completed by tn
bureau of foreign and domestic commerce
department of commerce, it is pointed on
that since the war started there has beer
great increase in the production of hos
iery in this country and that even before
the war began there had been a steady
increase of about Is per cent annually
for a number of years. One of the most
noticeable results of the increased home
production before the war started was
the rapid decrease in imports. From
1909 to 1915 imports of cotton hosiery
fell off from $6,400,000 to $3,000000, or
over so per cent.
This report by the bureau Of foreign
and domestic commerce is entitled, 1.-The
Hosiery Industry" and is the second of
series of studies of the clothing indus
try, the first of which dealt with muslin
underwear. The reports are prepared by
the cost of production division of the bu-
reau and are intended primarily for the
assistance of Congress when tariff legs-
lation is being considered, the work of
the bureau in this respect corresponding
to that of tariff board. The original
intention in preparing the report on hos
iery was to make a corresponding study
Of conditions in Europe, but the war rem.
dered such an undertaking out of the
question.
The report as it stands, however, serves
the very useful purpose of demonstrate
ing that the hosiery industry in this
country is in pretty sound and healthy
condition. One of the most important
reasons assigned for this satisfactory
state of affairs is the excellence of Amer
lean seamless hosiery. This style of foot
wear is distinctively American The
knitting machines used in its manufac
ture have been brought to their present
state of efficiency by American inventors,
and their use is confined largely to this
country. No less than 90 per cent of
the hosiery manufactured here is seam
less. Low cost of manufacture is the
main reason for its position in the mar
ket
The more expensive hosiery is full
fashioned. That is, it is made of shaped
or fashioned pieces which are closed by
scanning and looping. 1t has a seam cup
the back" While higher priced, it is
more likely to fit perfectly. There was
time when all such hosiery came from
abroad, and to-day practically all inn
ported hose is full fashioned. II is the |
product upon which European kntters |
concentrated while Americans were per-
fecting the seamless article. OF late |
years, however, the American mills have
pushed forward even in this line BE.
tween 1909 and 1914 the imports Of hos
ferry fell off heavily, partly on account
of tSe growing popularity of the cheaper
sea tless product, but partly also be-
cause of the fact that the American
ull-fashioned stocking was brought quite
up TO the level Of its foreign rival. The
cheaper full-fashioned cotton hosiery
forms the bulk OF the imports at pres
emit. The only silk hosiery purchased /
from abroad now is the very high class
expensive stocking demanded for special
occasions.
reau Of foreign and domestic commerce
was made 10 include % establishments,
located IN is states. OF these mills. S. {,
earned manufacturing profits. and Is had
losses. The average manufacturing profit
On net sales was 6.66 per cent and the
average manufacturing profit on capital
employed in business was i SO per cent.
The reasons for losses or insignificant
profits in some mills as compared with j,
more satisfactory results IN other mills
we're studied IN great detail BY the hu.
-eau representatives and the conclusions
reached form one Of the valuable fca.
lures q the report. N
A marked tendency % sell directly %
-etailers 4 pointed ont in the report !
This tendency is particularly notices bic /.
Imong western mi@ Al present q trihe !
yver 81 per cent of the total net sales q I
ne concerns visited are made through ]
obbers. about 4 per rent through com.
mission houses. and as per cent direct ~
etailers. lees than : per rent are made
broad The advantages and disadvan-
ages o. The different selling methods are
'eait with IN relation % c1st and profit. ?
nd some interesting observations are q
made On points that have long bcen die n
.uiea in THE trade. ID
Tie report states that there are err- )
trade nbusns r0mmUn 20 the whaip RI
iuthirn Industry. which hare their eject g
N THE manufacture and sole ~ hosiery !.
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