The Washington herald., 1921-02-24
SEATTLE MERCHANT SEES
u. 8. SILK DEVELOPMENT.

Y. >. SILK DEvELOPMENT.
VIII silk manufacture become one
Of the already varied Industries that
are springing up on the Western
rim of the American continent?
George Pearson Curtis. Seattle
merchant. seen at the Washington
yesterday en- route for New York
to attend the meeting of the Silk
Association of America, says that
his city is making a bid for this
business.
The question will be presented to
the representatives of the silk as
sociation in an effort to interest
capital in the venture, Curtis said.
Seattle is now the chief port of
entry of raw silk into this country
and what Is more logical than to
weave the raw product into textiles
at this point, instead of shipping 1t
across the continent?" asked Curtis.
SEATTLE BECOMES BIG
SILK PORT OF NATION.
I'm 1919 raw silk valued at $751;
coo, 900 and 100000 worth of waste
silk were imported through Seattle
and reshipped to Eastern points to
he made into CLOTH" he added. "The
express rates from Seattle to East
ern factories is $40 hundred
pounds. This means a great eco
nomic loss"
Seattle affords all the natural
conditions for the successful manu-
facture of silk, according to Curtis.
who says that visiting Japanese
silk manufacturers have pro-
nounced the climate well adapted
to silk weaving. Not only is there
the proper humidity, but investiga-
tion has shown that there is cheap
water power and four transconti-
mental railroads.
The labor supply is ample and
due to the absence of extremes OF
heat and cold Curtis says that labor
is regarded as 20 per cent more ef-
ficient there than in Eastern CEN
ters. In 1920 July z was the hot
test day of the summer. with a
temperature of SO. The coldest day
Of the year was January % with
"a degrees above zero. In Seattle
men, women and children live in
| comfort and every day in the year
go forth to the daily work or play
with vim and vitality 81. FL.
JAPAN SENDS MUCH
OF IMPORTS TO U. =.
Seattle receives a great amour,
Of Japanese raw silk" Curtis re.
marked. This really amounts to
| 80 per cent Of the trade with ia
pan. Ninety-six per cent of the
silk exported comes to the United
States and 95 per cent of United
States imports pass through ouI
| port. In 1919 the United States
| used 34,011 900 pounds of silk ol
about one-ha1f of the worlds pro,
| duction.
"a Seattle plant would enjoy
many advantages over its competi.
] tors on the Eastern coast. Time
now lost in shipping would be
saved. The territory tributary tc
Seattle consumes $4,000. 900 worth
of broad silk goods annually. About
IL per cent of this is dyed in the
piece goods and, georgettes. fSilk
hose worth $7.500,O00 are sold in the
same territory.
EFFORT TO MANUFACTURE
SILK IN CALIFORNIA.
Up to the present time the Pacinc
Coast has not been q factor in the
| production OF silks. An attempt
was made to manufacture silk in
California before the completion OF
the building of the Southern PACING
Railroad. The project was aban-
doned and nothing had been done
with view toward promoting this
industry on the West Coast until
about two years ago when the pres
ent agitation was started in Seattle
In addition to talking about silk
/ Curtis is anxious to dispel the idea
which he says appears to be prev
alent In the East that his town 4.
| a hotbed of radicalisrn.
1--WE have had some disturbances
out there, it is true" he observed
but there is not the discomfort ant
potential lawlessness which som,
reports would indicate.
Seattle, on the contrary, has al
ways leaned to the side of law ant
order. 1t is in keeping with tn,
pioneer spirit of the community. /;
spirit which has remained with 4
during its growth from a tiny set
tlement to community of 100000
| F. w q