New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-05-17
j. S. LOOMS Big IN
DYESTUFF INDUSTRY
Has Become Exporter, Instead Of
Importer, Since 1914

Washington, May 17--In less than
three years the largest dyestuH 1hous-
try in the world, from point of view
of money invested, has been built up
in the United States. In that snort
period of time the United States has
changed from being an importer 10
an exporter of dyes, and is now seek
ing still further enlarged foreign mar
kets for this lusty infant industry.
What this means in relation to the
war is that the United States has Won
a gigantic economic victory over Ger
many The United States has smashed
with overwhelming blows the German
dyestuff monopoly on this side of the
Atlantic. She has wrecked Germany's
most profitable market for the prod
ucts of one Of her pet industries. She
has cut Germany off from source of
prosperity which in the past has
meant the employment of thousands
of men and the reaping of millions
of dollars of revenue.
When the war broke out in August,
1914, there was, broadly speaking, no
such thing as an American dyestuff
industry. On that date there were
about half a dozen factories with
about four hundred operatives. These
factories turned out coal tar products
to the amount of some $500 short
tons annually. This was the American
dye industry of ante bellum days.
At the same time we imported from
Europe about 5000 tons of dye stuffs
each year. OF this amount, Germany
supplied by far the bulk, or in the
neighborhood of $4,000 tons. Our an
nual consumption of dyestuffs was
5000 tons. We were abiectlv sub
servient to Germany for dyes for our
woods, our cotton and our silk ia brics.
Today, instead of half a dozen fac
tories producing dyestuffs, there are
we'll over 125, with something like so
more in various stages of organiza-
! tion and erection. Unofficial esti-
mates are to the effect that more than
$500, 900, 900 has been invested in the
American dyestuff industry: that
thousands of workingmen have been
trained in this brand new industry:
THAT hundreds of chemists and chem
cal engineers are engag ed in research
work, and that throughout this new
industry the leaders are organizing,
consolidating, cooperating and build
ng up the structure Of a vast business
Which will not only render the United
Ftates permanently independent Of
Germany, but will go out into open
markets of the world and compete
18th Germany for their control.
Now Normal Business.
t'The American dyestuff industry
ps settled down to a normal BUSH
ass,'' declared a New Yorker with
oney invested in the enterprise re-
ntly.
To go back a little to the beginning
this modern miracle. The outbreak
the war shut down on the open
port of dyes from Germany. Prices
such supplies as were available
be to unprecedented heights-one
d two hundred per cent In spite
the general suspension of ship
Hnts from abroad, a little leaked
Eough from Germany, some coming
second hand from the Orient A
Ie came from Switzerland. But not
CHI In general it was true that the
nufa cturers of fabrics which de-
d on dyes were facing not only a
rtage but an actual famine, for
scanty supplies on hand could not
Bibly last more than a. few months.
responding to a call from the SEN
the Departm ent Of Commerce put
brce of experts on the job of find
out promptly and com plete1y what
the truth about the American dye
industry, what was the truth
bit the German situation. and what
be done. While this material
being gathered and the report
written, the State department.
endeavoring to secure dyes from
aany, the United States being still
titral. But small relief was to be
Ia in this way and it was clearly
that the only safe way out was
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