Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1915-03-06
SILK IN AMERICAN
TRADE INDUSTRY
Increased Imports Of Raw Materials
and Rapid Growth In Domestic
Manufacture.

S''N 'RuP'o StoNIu III COfl08tC
Manufacture.
The silk manufacturers OF the United
States in the 35 years since 1880 have
Increased the value of their output
from $41 100000 to upwards of $780,
900, have consumed in that time
about As million pounds of raw mater
ial, and have increased their proper
tion OF the domestic consumption Of
silk goods from a little over one-half
the total in 1880 to more than four
ffths In 1910, the latest year covered
by the reports of the government
The fiscal year 1914 surpassed all
previous years in the quantity of raw
silk imported into this country, the
total for that year, according to the
figures Of the bureau of foreign and
domestic commerce, department Of
commerce, being "a IL million pounds,
against 81 million in 1913, 13 million
in 1900, 2 1-2 million in 1880 and a
half million in 1870.
This rapid growth In imports Of
raw silk Is reflected in the rapid ex-
pansion in the product Of domestic
silk manufacturing establishments
the value thereof rising steadily from
IL million dollars in 1870 to Al mil
lion in 1880, 81 million in 1890, lO7
million in 1900, and 1877 million in
1910. The. importation of silk manu-
factures has been conversely affect
ed and the value of silk goods i'm
ported last year, $35,455,OOO, is less
than the total recorded 80 years ago,
and substantially the same as that o.!
60 years ago.
ing proportion of the raw silk con
p6 in Annripon
years ago she furnished more tha,
half of the total, while last year her
share was nearly three-fourths O.!
the 1854 900 pounds of raw silk i'm
ported in 1904, 6,691.0O pounds were
from Japan, 3,385,0O0 from China, and
2,095,000 from Italy. In 1914 there
were imported % IL million pounds
Of raw silk in skeins reeled from the
cocoon or rereeled, exclusive OF
waste, and of this amount Japan's
share was 2O,196,O00 pounds, against
5,9N000 from China, and 1897, 900
from Italy. It is interesting to note
that considerable part of this In
creased importation of raw silk from
japan is paid for by American cotton.
In 1904 we exported to Japan % mil
lion pounds OF raw cotton and in
1914 nearly 1T million pounds.
OF the 35 1-2 million dollars worth
Of silk manufactures imported in the
last fiscal year $12,232,O0O worth, or
more than ohe-third, consisted of fab
RIGS woven in the piece; $5,752,OOO
spun silk or schapp eyarn; 4,246,-
600 wearing a apparel; ppa sd; s4,a51,ooo laces
and about $3,006,000 each consisted
of ribbons, and of pushes, velyets,
and other pile fabrics. In addition
over 100000 worth Of artificial silks,
mostly yarns and threads, for use In
domestic factories, were imported
France supplied over one-ha1f, ia
pan one-fourth, and Switzerland one
eighth OF the silk fabrics imported.
or the silk laces and embroideries
imported France furnished over three
fourthS OF the pushes and velvets
imported we bought $1,712,000 from
France and $1,056, 900 from Germany
out OF total Of 33,205,00O last year
Switzerland ranks next to France in
the supply of ribbons, their respec.
tive shares being $1,136,0oO and ST.,
100000 out of a total of $3,112,0O0
The silk clothing imported into the
United States is largely from France
imports therefrom totaling $2,848, 900
as compared with less than a half
million dollars worth from England or
Japan, a quarter million from Ger
| many, and about 100000 from Swift
zerland.
The customs revenues on imported
silk manufactures in the fiscal year
1914 aggregated $16,7O4, 900, equiva
lent to 48 per cent ad valorem
against $13,9S8,0OO, or 81 per cent ad
valorem in 1913. Under the present
tariff law the rioh mans silks cost
him more and the poor mans silks
cost him less than formerly. The
law changed the rate of duty from SO
per pound and upward on silk goods
to As per cent ad valorem. Thus a
32-ounce bolt Of silk containing say
20 yards, and worth 81 at the foreign
port of shipment, which formerly
paid $6 duty, now pays only 80 cents