YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1189, 26 July 1911, Page 4

YORKSHIRE LETTER.

'SOME IMPORTANT NEWS FROM A.ViWIIOA. (From Our Special Correspondent.) Bradford, June Iβ, 1911. Quito a sonsntion yrems to. have 'boon Ciuiwtl in ("ailoil States trxlilo circles over the War Department of Ihe Anirricm linrerniiu'iil , asking for lenders for a supply of fiihrics for liu> coming .vear. It seems tliat up 1o Ihp present' the .American Army lias been rlail in worsted imperials, but at hi-l. the ollie-als have decided lo follow tin- example of European countries hy clothing llwir --oldiers in woollen fabrics. We heartily commend the. ollicials on that decision, and hope they will stoutly adhere to their present aclion. We hold no brief for woollen iabrics, and have no grievance asainst worsteds, but we are cert;iia that all wool made goods on tho carded principle wilt stand more wear and tear ban worsted materials, hi saying that l am simply voicing the results of twonty-hvo years' of maniifacturiii" cxpmcncp, confirmed by the War Department ot (he British Government, and also that of leading (Jonlinenl.il countries It "»"' a ?P Mr s lliatcvcn the United States War .Department has been largely at the mercy of I he American Woollen Trust and tho more one sees into the operation ot tho working of the present tariff an it favours will, its exorbitant duties a few firms engaged in the production of P j '"l° nM .vnnis.aml pieces, the more need there ,s for a thorough and radical ti S "'a V vcryol,e in c!ose touch with the carded manufacturers knows what a struggle they have had to keep their heads above water, and how their interfoot hv V M w lnr B el >Vn»npl«l under toot by the bis worsted manufacturers. Ao doubt good fabrics made on the worsted principle are satisfactory both for warmth and wear, but tho=e with a pracical knowledge of the United State/ oxtle industry assert that the bulk of the >orsted goods made arc very paperv, there being too many "cotton worsteds" ren -old f />«»<""> War Department rea good if they saw the splendid khaki whwT aS 7 • ' ns ° th 7 ,vc,ollp " materials "Inch are being made by We=t Didin" manufacturers for the British War Olli"e° ,n i '?. -?r, bßtfcr than a well-inacle and well-milled or felted woollen cloth when made out of pure wool? These goods a ™ ,? ar ?uP or >e.i- in general wear to ed fabrics, and we certainly think that tiie American Government has taken a wise step in asking for lenders for a supply of tlieso" fabrics for. the ensuing year. J. he above raises the very interesting question why wool-made fabrics are better than those made on the worsted principle, and tho reason is not far to seek. If a man wonts show and effect in design, then he can obtain that far better in a worsted fabric -than in woollens, but if a person requires strength, and something that will stand knocking about and hard wear, then by all means let him go to a y.-001-mado woollen fabric. Very seldom ndeed are worsted materials milled or felted, while it is well-known that to gain strength tho milling of woollen fabrics is an important operation in their manufacture. We cannot say off Land what has to be the strength of tho khaki fabrics required by tho British Government, hut every piece before it is passed by the Wsvr Office is put through a machine, and has to stand a very heavy test for strength, both warp and weft way of fhe piece, and manufacturers know that to stand that test tho fabrics must be made out of the best and soundest merino and fine- crossbred wool that is grown. No worsted cloth would stand the test that is required by the British Government, hence we certainly think that the United Stales War officials have made a wise departure, and one which in coming years will .be renewed each, season. The specification that.American-grown wools has to be. used in the production of these fabrics is also in-'favour of home-grown raw material, and even on that account tiro present move is bound to meet with the approval of the rank and file, although it yill hardly suit tho book of those manufacturers who are. specially ciitr.out,-,for the production of worsted cloths.- ■ The War Department has been paying something like 3s. Cd. per yard for a 22-ounce worsted, 55 inches wideband ss. k\. and. upwards for a 13-ounco worsted cloth, and the change is expected to save anywhere from 2s. to 3s. Gd. per yard.

WOOL SCHEDULE ADOPTED. Full particulars are to hand this week from the United States of tho. wool schedule adopted by the Democratic party in tholTouso of Representatives, and the details are full of significance to woolgrowers throughout'tho world, as well as European manufacturers. There arc eome tremendous reductions, and if the propped duties become law it: will give a wonderful impetus to colonial wools. It is proposed to tux raw wool 20 per cent, against 41 per cent, under the present dispensation, which means a reduction of more than one-half. We must admit that we like the reductions, and they seem to us to be more like business than the present barbarous duties. Wo are. tola by one eminent textile authority that "prominent authorities in Washington, when interviewed in regard to the Underwood Bill, expressed the opinion that, every detail of the Bill is in line, item for item, with the establishment of a moderate woollen tariff which offers necessary protection to the raiser and manufacturer without making the cost of woollen merchandise pro* hibitive to the consumer. But tho question of protecting; American slieep-raifors was not mentioned at the mesting, J[r. Underwood preferring to urge the placing of a duty on raw wool on the grounds that the condition of the United States Treasury demands it. A feature of tho new Bill which is regarded by Democrats as particularly commendable is the changing to ad valorem duties from specific duties, thereby under the Payne-Aldrich law ii stated sum was collected by tho Government. This Act precludes all possibility of practising certain underhand methods which are alleged to have been done in the past." Tho following ;ire the proposed duties on tho articles specified, which were passed unanimously:—

Per cent. Raw wool 20 Noils, waste, shoddies, etc 20 Combed wool or tons 25 Yarns, mado wholly or in part of wool 30 Cloths, knit fabrics, and all manufactures of wool 40

Blankets and flannels when valued at loss Ih.-in .10 rents per 11, sn \ allied at more Ilian SO rents per 11, '" |-, Women's ; ,,,,| rhildrons dress pno.ls "Mil similar foods .. j-, Uendy-mado clothing and artVclos" of wearing apparel jJlrnids. ribbons, insertions, laces enibroidenos neili,, X s, and like artilies wholly or in p ln | made of Tnpcstry "' the warp or olhenvi.-o 30 rrel) c ingrains, three-ply, and"a'ii tt 1 i, A !I , V , PlK ' tinn Ci "'"fl> Ill) ,e(? " ml I "'°" |)l - V illßri,in ra,:; Oriental runs .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.".'. p,|j Druggets and bockin B s,' pri ii'leti'"or" col 1 ourcd oCarpots not otlicrwis7providTd'for"of wool, flax, or ration sr, A VERY QUIET MARKET IX BRADFORD.

The position of affairs shows no amelioration iroin the spoil ~f (| uie(ness which nas iallen upon (ho market, and business is being conducted with considerable difficulty. Everybody scorns at pre,ent to bo waiting development?, and hoping for something to turn up which will impart, vigour and vitality b bath merinos and crofsbreds. It is quite true that machinery is still fully run, both topmakers and spinners being exceedingly busy, but great dissatisfaction is felt over the absence of new business. Trade is quiet, and that condition of affairs is likely h> continue for some time to come. A filing of uncertainty obtains regarding the prnjpcctive strike of wralcomhers, and if it comes olt it; can easily Imve a very unlow.-ird effect upon tho wool trade. It is coin" to tnfco values all their time to be maintained even if trade continues without any adverse factor transpiring, and there is abroad a litflo nervousness over Ihe immediate outlcok. If woolcombing establishments come to a standstill it: will mean that sorters in many eases will have, to play, and the stock of tops, particularly merino, does not seem largo enough to keen spinners running for many weeks We dare say an avcrnjro GJ's foil could be bought at 27W. if a "firm offer" was forthcoming, although the general quotation is id. more. Spinners are vi>ry well supplied with particulars, and this is largely accountable for tops going so freely into consumption. In regard ti crossbred?, there is nothing new to report.