Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-13
NEGOTIATIONS OPENED
FOR SWISS DYESTUFFS
U. S. Will Furnish Intermediates"
and Switzerland Will Perform
the Finishing Process.
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce Active in Efforts to
Meet Present Serious Shortage.

Negotiations are in progress, through
the trade advisers in the State Depart
ment and the bureau of foreign and
domestic commerce., for cooperation
between dye manufacturers of the
United States and Switzerland, to meet
serious scarcity of dyestuffs resulting
from the cutting off of German coal
tar dyes.
American manufacturers seek to
utilize the Swiss dye works pending
the development of the industry in the
United States. The Swiss plants here
tofore have received from Germany
supplies of so-called intermediate"
coal tar products, to be converted into
the finished dyes. Germany now
threatens to cut off this supply, on the
ground that the finished products were
being exported by Switzerland to
France and England.
The new American dyeStuf industry,
fostered by the Department OF Com
merce since the beginning of the Eu-
ropean war, is now in position to
furnish substantial quantities of lin
termediates," and the plan is to have
this product shipped to Switzerland
for the finishing process.
A statement of the situation issued
by the bureau of foreign and domes-
tic commerce asserts that the effects of
the dye-stuff famine are becoming more
and more apparent.
"In some instances textile mills are
forced to shut down for the time
being until new supplies of color can
be obtained" says the statement. This
is especially true of work consuming
large amounts of indigo, the lack of
which has now become very acute"
Manufacturers, according to the bu-
reau. are substituting brown denim
for the well known blue variety be-
cause of the indigo scarcity, but the
new color has met with little approval
from merchants and consumers. Such
changes are being made in many in
dustries.
adds, the few American manufacture
ers of coal tar dyes are steadily ex-
panding their plants and are producing
dyestuffs in quantities hitherto I'M
known. Equally noteworthy is the
steady increase in the manufacture of
Intermediates, aniline oil. etc, by firms
lately started in this field"
In one instance, an American firm Is
said to have developed the manufac-
ture of a coal tar direct blac dye
which replaces the German dyes here
tofore used, particularly in the hosiery
industry.
While efforts are being continued to
secure dyestuffs from Germany, the
Berlin authorities refuse to allow any
Shipment unless Tree TO Ger
many is guaranteed for American cot
ton. or other products of equal value
Information from abroad the state
ment continues, leads to the conclu-
sion that the activity of the great Ger
man dyestuff works has been diverted
largely into the manufacture of NUM-
tions of war and hospital supplies
Despite that, the bureau says, Ger
man manufacturers have on hand a
stock of dyes adequate to meet the
pressing needs of the moment and to
cover the needs of American con-
sumers for months to come" and adds !:
Everything points to the conclusion
that German manufacturers will. in
event OF a cessation OF hoStilities, try
to promptly stock the American mar
ket. and will vigorously endeavor to
regain all ground lost during the past
embargo The Department of Com
merce is carefully watching the stu
alton. and will not hesitate to recon-
mend such action as may prove neces-
sary to prevent unfair competition by
foreign producers on our soil against
| the developing American dyestuff in
dustry.
The bureau is cooperating with the
federal trade commission to devise
| means to protect the new industry at
the wars end.