Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-12
Japan Our Rival In Silk Industry


Japan Our Rival In Silk Industry
III Japan progresses during the
next few years at the rate she has
progressed during the past few years
think the entire broad silk industry
will be menaced," declared a promin-
ent silk manufacturer before the L. S.
tariff commission recently, and this
sums up the opinion of the entire silk
industry of the country. The testi-
mony at this conference was that the
war had afforded some protection to
the silk trade from European compe-
tition, but when peace comes tariff
protection will be necessary, and par
ticular emphasis was laid on Japanese
competition as that most to be feared
because of the cheapness of labor and
the proximity of the raw material
The official figures of our import
trade taking it by the IL months per-
iCds, October TO September, for the
past five years. in silks affords an in
teresting study. This period for 1912
13 marks he last full years operation
of the Republican protective tariff law,
the present Democratic law becoming
effective the fore part of October. 1913.
I RAW MATERIALS: We find that
we imported for the 1913 period,
sS9,792,S00 worth: 1913-14, $101,SS4,
400: 1914-15, sS1,262,600; 1876,
s142,1SS,40O: and 1861. s176,752. 900.
Ir each year silk in skeins forms about
@7per cent of this raw material in
value. the volume. by pounds, for
these years running about -, IS. -,
"a, and SO millions. respectively, while
the average import price per pound
has been s2.22, $3.50. s2.91. si.O2, and
s482, an increase of 90 per cent, the
last year over the first. During the
first year Italy supplied per cent of
this raw material, Japan 20 per cent,
China 20 per cent. The last year Italy
Supplied practically none, Japan and
China furnishing over SO per cent.
That is one of the reasons for the rise
in price. Imports of waste silk totaled
about 100000 pounds in 1928, fell
&c about 100000 for the two follow
ing years, rose to nearly 1000, 600,
1856. and Went back to 100000
/
this the average import pound price
rose from &c for the first, to 73c for
the last year and Japan and China
supplied over 80 per cent.
+ MANUFACTURED GOODS: Band
ings. beltings, bindings, etc, show a
gradual falling off from $4,000 in
value for the first year. to $4,000 for
the last. Formerly Germany sent 80
per cent of these goods. now Japan
Boiling cloths rise from s257.000
worth for the first year to 1852 900 for
the fourth, and s393,O0O for the last,
switzerland the seller. Laces and en-
hroideries totaled s3,7S3,o0o the first
year, s3,936,00O the second, s5,404.O0O
the fourth--now about s3,5oo,0o0.
About 20 re, cent came from France,
l'ut England is making big gains.
.Iiushes, velvets. and pile fabrics show
q decided falling off.-s4,074,000 for
the first, to sl.167, 900 for the last year.
France and Germany formerly sup
piled over so per cent of this trade,
Germany row being out Of 1t and
France crippled. Ribbons, imports of
preceding the war. show a large de-
cline. Silk yarn rose from 3,450,000 to
4.1S3,000 pounds. comparing the first
with the last year. and the price from
s1.7S to s2.70 at port. France, Italy,
Germany, and Switzerland were form
erly our great sources, now France
has the inside. Wearing apparel de-
tclined from $4,39S.0O0 to s2,961,000
France supplied 81 per cent of it in
1923, Japan 10 per cent; now
France yields So and Japan % per
cent. But it is in silk piece fabrics
that the gravest concern is felt. The
total value of those imports by years
is 1881, 900. s11,140,0O0, s9.246.000,
$13,5S5,0OO and $1s.064.OO0. France
controlled 81 per cent of this trade in
1923, Japan % per cent. France has
been losing and Japan gaining until
today the former holds % per cent and
the latter 63 per cent. Isn't it high
time to heed the silk manufacturers
and prevent them becoming the prey
of Oriental as we'll as European COM
petition?
On the authority of the January Crop
Report, the average cost of wood to the