The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-07

higher costs Of raw material II may,
however, he said for the cotton manu-
facturers that when the prices were
low they did not ask the government
TO advance funds to keep them from
losing money, or appeal to the public
TO buy q bale" SO that dividends
should be forthcoming. Tho cotton
growers might also take note of the
fact that high prices for their product
tend to encourage tho use of su bsti-
tutes Ia Great Britain, for example.
they are already beginning to make
Use OF nettle abers I'm place Of cotton,
JUS n tho Germans hoo been doing,
and with very satisfactory results.
Chemicals md the Tariff.
Not the least among the many graft
fSlng features in connection with the
exposition Of chemical industries
which has Just closed was the decided
change in spirit from what was shown
on former occasions There was evil
aent marked optimism as to the fu-
ture and an absence of the apprehen-
sion regarding foreign competi9o on
after the war. Familiarity with the
problems involved and the knowledge
born Of experience have charged the
Views of those who clamored loudest
for the highest kind of tariffs on
everything from the raw materials to
the fnt~%d products. and who resent
ed the legislation intended to make
them dligeut. The difference In view
WAS strikinEly shown in the thought
ful address OF DIR. Bernhard C. Hesse.
lie empha1ized the need of looking
after the SO called key Industries.
but added that not all products of
49,.
support He went on to say:
There are not a few products OF
even the coal-tar chemical industry in
which an import duty may in effect
become "A premium on inetficiency in
operation and management, particu-
larry in those cases where the costs
of the basic materials employed are
substantially the same at home and
abroad In such cases, after the man.
ufacturing technique has been &C
quired and a degree OF efficiency IN
operation and utilization fairly com
parable with the maximum has been
achieved, the sole disability to the
foundation Of the industry. will have
should then be In position TO compete
on those goods with foreign makers In
cur own markets without any artif.
Cial help through protective import
duty and thus give these articles tc
such OF our other domestic industries
as use them at prices equal TO those
anywhere"
Another thing DIR. Hesse said that
would have provoked a loud outcry a
year or so ago was that public opinion
does not propose to pay premium on
Eefficiency, lack OF foresight. or lack
of constructive business policy. or the
like. Then he said. concerning the
! taretrg{sicisa which provoked SO much
wrath when IL was enacted:
In order that too much time he not
taken In getting going, the conditional
five-year limit TO the life of the sur
tax or Ave cents per pound on GER
tain dyes and OF two and one ha II
cents per pound on intermediates was
obviousl, inserted in the present dye
and allied chemicals tariff, which, in
my opinion. is very wholesome and
very equitable spur to our domestic
manufacturers
Cotton and It's Fabrics.
/ Quota tions on cotton have contin-
ued to rule high. Advances were
made on reports of bad crop condi.
| tions of peace prospects. and OF the
! approach of tropical storm, Per
haps the concerted efforts in various
+
for price have had much TO do with
making spot prices high. This week
the government crop figures will he
made public In the growing districts
there has been much inquiry and also
considerable buying recently for
foreign as we'll as domestic account
n ~-ou'd. probably 'Aswe treen larger
had more actual cotton been In sight
Prices In the goods market have
shown strength, in sym pathy with the
upward trend of the raw material
sheetings have been rather freely
taken. Colored goods have more thar
held their own. s1nghams especially
so. There IL still complaint of lack
of deliveries OF fall underwear Elk.
port trade. particularly In printed
goods. has been fairly active. Lack
II shipping facilities Is apt to prove
= handicap. however, to the expansion
which would otherwise he the case
There IL still marked lack OF move
lnent In the fine and fancy fabrics.
Trade In Wool and wooicns.
Little change IN the wool situation
occurred during the last week, NJ
more definite news has come regard
ng the shipment Of wool from Aus
trailia which was to he turned over tc
f tA1E navy htpoI tAVhAt ipI HAS LltE
been shown any further disposition
90 release other wool for the benefii
of the trade here. The impression
seems 70 prevail both In Great Britain
and Australia that plenty of woo
Is availa BILE here for all legitimate
purposes. and that further supple.
( would simply help speculation. /,
/ is a fact that. wboi prices in Postor
are lower than they are in South
America and some other growing
countries About '4e,o bales have
! been contracted for In South America
4 ad further quantities will be pur.
chased when American buyers now
on their way to Buenos Aires arrive
at their destination. In fabrics nc,
much Ia now doing In the prirnar,
.narkets Retail selling of garments
Is under way in both the mems and
Tamen's wear trades. and the reports
? from feth-tr~~ quite encouraging
Sales Of dress goods have also beer
good Much interest In shown in thu
@fYorr= uf the comm arcia1 economy
board TO secure economies in the use
Of woolens. This object is much
easier Of accomplishment IN the mems
wear trade than in the womens ir
the latter the element OF style cuts
the principal figure and manufac-
turers VIII find II hard 10 cut down
4 the number Of their models. Again
Z the effort to induce the use of fabrics
( 4. H..