Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-14
MAKERS Of RAYON
FACING PROBLEMS
Production Outlook and e.
feet of Increase in Mills
Concern Dealers.
BY J. {. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. August 1.-two Ques-
tions now are agitating the rayon in
1ustry. one is how near production in
this country will come to 100 600 00C
pounds this year. and the second is
what effect the increase In production
resulting from erection Of mills and ad-
ditional units now under construction
Will have on business next year.
There is small doubt according to
some we'll informed observers. that
ravon production will approximate
q5 600 600 pounds for 1928 This is
20 600 600 pounds more than was manu-
featured in 1927 With that fact III
mind, it Is not hard to see where the
cause Of some of the depression in the
natural silk and cotton fabric industries
lies.
Rayon has Supplanted the use of some
q5 600 600 pounds OF cotton and SILK a
wear. Those cotton and silk manutaC-
lurers who have seized on the oppor-
tuuities offered by manufacturers OF
artificial silk and mixed silk and cotton
fabrics have benefited largely. Others
have seen their sales checked.
Consumption Grows.
Ravon has not even had its name
more than six years. although the proc
esscs By which it is produced were far
older. In that time consumption mas
crown $40 per cent. II is Stl growing
The latest development lies in tbs
production Of rayOn lace, which hldS
fair to replace the hand and machine
made products for many uses. Moreover
ravon lace can be produced at a mini
mum cost. The process consists IN iorc-
ing a liuuid cellulose mixture through
a screen in which the perforations out
line the design of the lace desired. AS
the celluloSe filamentS dry they are
caught I'D and Teeled With the design
of the lace intact. Just as rayon threads
are caught and reeled as the cellulose
mixture is forced through tiny IndiVidu-
al holes.
Plants are working at full capacity at
present. but nearly every prominent
foreign and domestic manufacturer OF
ravon is building new plants in this
country or enlarging old units. In 1927
il was necessary to import some 10000
600 hounds of foreign rayOns. This year
it appears that domestic production and
will be more nearly syn
chronized. Some Of those connected
with the industry predict that in 1929
a part Of the American production may
have to be exported and come into COM
petition with foreign products.
Raw Silk Prices.
The danger is not immediate, since
America used 03.000, 900 pounds in ad-
dition to carryover in 1927, and tn.
demand is expected 10 show gain OF
between 5000 900 and 100000 pounds
this year. The producers OF rayon
fabrics are doing splendidly. having
found a new outlet in mems underwear
The manufacturers of natural SIX
products are not In so happy a posi-
ton. Raw silk prices have been rising.
The manufacturers have failed to Keep
output down to consumptive demand.
and there is in consequence a deter
mined opposition on the part OF con-
sumers to any advance in dry goods
prices such as might be dictated by high
raw silk costs. This country used only
70. 600 900 pounds Of silk in 1927, as
against 10000 900 pounds of rayon.
Many of those engaged in the SILK
industry declare that the quickest
remedy for the natural silk industry
lies in colsolidation OF rival companies,
so that production can be effectively
held down and non-profltahle plants
eliminated.