South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-07-31
PEOPLE OF j. S. TO
HAVE THEIR SILKS
Big Increase in Importation to
America Helps Meet
Demand.

The people OF the United States
VII have their silks Irrespective OF
the demand or supply o. other ar
ticles o. daily requirement says a
statement by the National City bank
a New York. While the quantities
of nearly all other classes OF manu-
featuring material imported show a
big Increase. standing for the month
OF May. 1921. at 4,435. 900 pounds
against only 2.506. OeO in the same
month Of last year. while artificial
silk imports stand az 500 900 pounds
against 172 600 IN the same month
of last year. and silk manufactures
as a whole stand al $4,000 value
against $4s8S.0 in May. 1920.
Meantime. the silk Association Of
America announces that the guam
tity Of raw silk in warehouse is the
lowest since Il began compiling sta
tistics upon this point. and that the
apparent consumption during June
IS the highest ever reported 30.S77
bales
IN nearly all OF the other raw ma
terlals imported for manufacturing
the quantities entering the country
in May are far below those Of the
same month Of last year, while silk.
as above indicated. shows an in
crease OF SO per cent. Raw cotton
imports in May. 1921 were but a
little over i've million pounds
against nearly eight millions In the
same month OF last year; fibers o.
600 tons against $4,000 in May.
1920 hides 100000 pounds
against $4,000. 900; India rubber "a
600. 900 pounds against 44,OOO,O0O;
and pig tin 100000 pounds against
5000 900 in the same month Of last
year. while even wool which is being
imported freely in view OF a pros
pective Increase in tariff rates, shows
but a slight increase as compared
with that % silk. which is really the
only important manufacturing ma
terial which has thus far shown ma
terial increases.
Has Big Growth.
The growth OF the silk industry
in the United States. adds the banks
statement. has been surprise
throughout its history Bringing all
OF its raw material from the other
side OF the globe and manufacturing
for many years exclusively for the
people OF the United States, the
value OF the outturn OF the silk fac
tories grew from $40. 900 in 1880
10 SS7,0O0.000 in 1890; S1O7,0OO.0 900
in 1900; 5000. 900. 900 in 1910: s254,-
600. 600 in 1914, and $3.50, 100000 in
1919 The sums pads in wages for
transforming this foreign raw ma
terial into from for use by our own
people, advanced from 100000 in
1880. 10 $4,000, 900 in 1890; S21.-
600. 900 in 1900: $50. 700. 900 in 1910;
s47.OOO,O0O in 1914. and probably
not far from S1OO.O0O,OOO in 1919,
though Official figures on this point
are not yet available.
Meantime. our silk factories have
so perfected their systems Of manu-
facture as 10 be able 10 compete
with those of other countries which
formerly supplied the silk manufac-
lures entering international trade.
Our exports OF silk manufactures
have grown in value from a little
over 100000 in 1913 TO SS,5OO,000
IN 1917: $4,000. 900 in 1918; $24,-
GOO. 0O0 in 1919. and So. 900 in
1920. while the exports Of articles
manufactured from artificial silk,
chiefly hosiery, have grown from a
little over 100000 in 1917, the
first yearly record. TO. over $4,000, 900
in 1920.