The Washington herald., 1921-09-05
new ENCLAND'S
TEXTILE MILLS
OPEN WITH RUSH
Predicted Boom Sta rt s
Wheels Going as De-
mand Rises.
COTTON SHORTAGE
PARTLY THE CAUSE
Many Plants Running on
Double Time to Fill
Orders.

BOSTON, Sept THE predicted
fall boom in the textile industry has
begun. O..
1t developed almost overnight.
The government report of q 4s.3
per cent cotton. crop and a great in
crease in wool consumption are the
principal factors which have stirred
up markets. with consequent stimu-
lation OF manufacturing.
Cotton brokers and manufacturers
who were spurning 11-cent cotton a
month ago are now scrambling TO
buy at Is cents a pound and betting
that it will hit % within two months.
The woolen and wersted manufac-
turing industry has come out Of the
slump. wool consumption in the Unit
ed States. having Jumped from ap-
proximately 24.ooo.o00 pounds a
month to approximately 100000 900
poundA
Expect Return to Normal
Textile authorities believe tina,
this recovery is but a forerunner OF
a similar return to normal in the
other industries OF the country
pointing out that the chief handicap
against such a return has been a
general lack OF confidence and abb
sence of leadership.
Reports from the great textile
cities of New England show that the
demand for textiles has reached such
strength as to bring mill operation
close to 80 per cent normal The
great majority of the mills are run
ming. or about to run. on full -time
basis. and some of them are run
ming day and night
In Fan River. cotton mills which
have been either on part time OF
closed down completely. will reopen
on full time after Labor Day. Mer-
chants. recognizing the arrival OF
the boom, have notified clerks laid
of during the slack period that
their Jobs will be ready for then
again September IL.
Lawrence Mills Reopen.
Following the annual ten-day va
cation, all the Lawrence mills will
reopen on full time for the first
NiHlC Nhc lue
depression began neary two years
ago.
The great mills of the American
Woolen Company. employing about
10000, will be on full time again.
with more than 80 per cent OF all
departments running. It was stated.
President VIM. NJ. Wood declares
that his company is assured of ca
To- 1,o
winter. The United States worsted
Company's mills at Lawrence and
elsewhere are operating at capacity
and some of them working overtime.
After the holiday. 1t is believed,
less than 10 per cent OF the 10000
mill operatives in Lawrence will be
unemployed, as the cotton mills,
which have been harder hit than
ming almost completely.
Other Points Improving.
In New Bedford, where they make
the finer cotton goods. recovery has
been somewhat slower, but pres
ent production is estimated to be
running from so to 80 per cent
of normal.
Conditions in Lowell have been i'm
proving steadily. Several mills are
working overtime and the indepen-
dent concerns are generally on full
time. Some of the latter have an
nounced day and night programs to
take effect soon.
The big Amoskeag Cotton Mills
at Manchester. N H.. are working on
a full-time basis and business Is
good for the other mills. A short
age of skilled operatives is re-
ported. though many unskilled work
ers are still unemployed. The Stark
Mills are working about 80 per
cent Of capacity. The big boom has
affected the smaller textile COM
munities as we'll, at a time when
many of them were looking for
ward to another winter OF idle
ness and unemployment.