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About Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1896)
w-fct-t tf ifftYJ MOHAIR IND A CireEnruL Outlook ron Tnr. Goat IUisnns. EIUST FACTORY ON THE COAST Ub ..Himvr at Salem Eaiua Date. AT AN Oregon people arc greatly interested Fn the raolialr product, for a variety at reasons. Wc can and do raise sonic ?of the finest Ancora coats In the 'Werld: in fact, a Salem man lins the reputation of making the best ship- jnicnt of mohair ever sent from tins const. Oregon has the best auoptcu Sland in tho world for raising the goats, and she has that peculiar en- mate wjtli a soft, moist atmosphere Bo needful in the combing and spir. filing of tho mohair. In view of the fo.pt that saiem is about to establish tho first moiiiui factory on tho Pacific coast, tho fol lowing facts arc published from tlu American consul at Bradford, in land: In the last few months immense Ffortuncs have been made in Bradford, -England, in tho mohair business. Tin price of tho raw material lias lncrcascc Ffrom 24 cents to 04 cents per pound, 01 more than 105 per cent; of yarn (two ,fold 32s light gray Turkey mohair ffrom 48 cents to 81.03 per pound, nt lcr,casc of nearly 115 per cent, and ol fttlio finished product suitable for lln- 'ings, dress goods, summer coatings ietc., from 17, 21, 231 and 27 cents pel yard a year ago to about 70 per cent above these prices. One firm of man ufacturers is alleged to have clcarco .r,000,000 In less than five months. Half a dozen other firms, including spinners and raw-material dealers, an ' reputed to have done almost ns wch while merchants and all others wh. have been In a position to buy or scl tho hnlr. the varn or the fabric haw made great profits. The cause of till, great furore In molmlr has been tlu chango In fashion and the return o mohair and lustre fabrics to popular ity last spring. Anyone who had i large quantity In stock had a fortum in his hands, as had any who, foresee ing tho continued demand, had sut ttclcnt faith to keep on buying cvei. at tho advanced prices asked. It li predicted that mohairs will conttnik in stylo for. another season or two and many aro shaping their courso ac cordingly. Bradford, in tho mcai time, is enjoying a commercial pro& perlty sucli as It has not known sine. 1870-3. Not only has tho trado In mo hair products Increased, but also li woolen and worsted goods and dres. stuffs. Tho beginning of tho yea. found tho merchants of tho worlt with practically empty shelves. Then, had been a great wavo of depression Pcoplo wero either unable to buy, o In the face of tho hard times every where manifest they had ccdnomlzci and stopped buying. Now thcro Is u demand for Bradford products no. only In tho English homo trade, bm In tho United States, In South Amer; ica, Mexico, and all tho countries o. Europe, Asia and Africa. In tho fac. of tills demand, which cannot bo full) supplied, prices have advanced nil along tho line, but more particularly In mohair. To Amos Crabtrcc, Esq. n director of tho Bradford Charabci of Commerce, and a most Intelligent and enterprising dealer In mohair, 1 am Indebted for much of tho ap pended information. History of Mohair Manufacturc. Tho business In mohair wat commenced about fifty years ago, the raw material being imported into London and Liverpool exclusive!) from Asia Minor by several Greek firms. When tho spinners wantcu mohair thoy had to go to London oi Liverpool to buy it, But tlilrt) years ago ono of tho Bradford mohali merchants began to Import it dlreci from Constantinople, and these dlreci Importations have since developed bo extensively that now the bulk of the mohair grown In Asia Minor ana South Africa Is brought to Bradford In that way. Tho spinners have no occasion to co out of town to buy, nt they can supply their wants from the largo stocks regularly held here. For somo years after the commence ment of the business, by roason of the bright, slippery naturo of mohair, the spinners could not comb It by Itself, they had to mix long English luster wool with it. But that difficulty has long since been overcome, and now almost anybody can comb it. Supply countries. There aro two sources of supply, viz. Asia Minor and South Africa. Asia Minor is the natural home of tho angora goat, The country Is very mountainous nnd covered with trees and shrubs, on which the animals chiefly feed. This kind of country appears to bo much more suitable for the goats than a fiat, grass country. A large portion of South Africa being of a similar nature to Asia Minor, it occurred to a few enterprising farmers of tho Capo Colony, about thirty years ago, that it would, be a iteelfabje UUng to get immimm,i edme angora goats from Turkey and try to grow mohair. At that time tho Turkish government was willing to allow tho animals to bo cent out of tho country, and ship-loads of puro bred angoras wero brought away from time to time, until tho government became alarmed and prohibited their exportation. The business- proved so successful that now the Cape mohair exceeds that of Turkey. For a tlmo it was doubted if tho Capo farmers would bo able to keep up tho breed and continue to send hair of the right class, but there Is no doubt now that thev can. and in proof of this there has Just been received from South Africa a large number, of prize llceces, clipped tills year, which aro every thing that can be desired. The Jump in Prices. Not .for lltccn years has there been such a rapid rise as the one that lins Just taken place. In January of this year tho price of best Turkey llcccc was 20 cents per pound. It remained nt that figure during February and March. In April It was 31 cents per pound; In May 38 Cents was paid; then In June it jumped, In ono week, to 18 cents; now It Is 04 cents per pound and still on tho rise Notwithstanding the demand was real and not speculative, and turns out to have Justified the rise, many of the spinners and mer chants refused for a time to follow ihe upward movement, not having confidence that It had come to stay, in 1808 nnd 1803 there were similar noves, not, however, so grct, but Jioso rises were quickly followed jy great and sudden drops, and It was Jils very recent experience that caused most people to be cautious. There is ono point more that Is .vorthy of attentlon,vlz., the Improvc jicnts which have taken place In nachlnery during tho past few years, riicso have enabled spinners to deal .vitli the short mohair in a way that )uld not have been possible fifteen .r twenty years ago. Large quantity f short mohair arc now successful!) .lanlpulatcd In Bradford and district -lint formerly had to be sold to tlu Voolcn pcoplo. Added to these lm jrovcnients, thcro is the other nd nntuge of tho greater suitability oi Jic English climate over that of othei :ountrics for the combing and spin ling of mohair, and It Is therefore issertcd that it is a very difficult mat ter Indeed for others to compete with Bradford. Tho Goat at Home. Though It h jndcrstood that tho Turkish govern nent prohibits the exportation of the tngora goat, I am told that the pro llbltlon is not strictly enforced, una .hat It would not be difficult for tlu southern farmers to Import goats foi ceding purposes, thus beginning 'ltli a fresh and pure blood. Thcro aro a great many varieties ol noliatr grown in Turkey, such at jcybazar, angora, gercdcli and cast tinboul, but one feature is very prom- ncnt it !s nearly all a good length. i?hc Turks nllow the hair to remaii. m tho animals the full twelve nontlis; they clip only onco a year, nd the result Is they produce a jcauttful, bright ficecc, tho staplo ol vhlch is eight inches In length. In South Africa. Some good lonp 'iair comes from Capo Colony, but tho ulk of the summer firsts is only ol iicdlum length only 5 or o inches Aus reason of this lack of length being .hat tho growers in South Africa, jcllovlng thoy get a greater weight, jlip twice a year. Tho first clip 1e thorn in April, nnd is of about beven n eight pound growth. This is the ongcr hair, and is called tho summci Irsts. Toward the end of August Jiey clip tho animals a second time ind this Is tho short winter hair ibouttwo or tlirco inches long. There ,s no doubt that if tlio South Africa rowers would allow tho hair to re naln on tho animals a longer time obey would produce ns good mohair as vliat which comes from Turkey. Tho Bradford chamber of commerce has aken this matter up and urged the ."uno farmers to crow a full season's lip. Strangely enough, transactions f tho United States havo been cited to them as tho reason why they should produce a long staple. It lias been pointed out to them that United States buyers havo purchased largely from Constantinople, but have not purchased a pound from Capo Colony for tho reason that tho Turk shears but onco a year, giving a fine, full t.nnle. while tho African farmer shears two or three times to get a greater weight, but to the detriment of his product. The most remarkable featuro of the mohair trado Is tho enormous Increase In the production In South Africa. From nothing at all 30 years ago, It has, from its commencement at that time, increased year by year, until now tho exports from tho Capo aro 21,000 bales of 450 pounds each per annum. Thcro is still a considerable space of the country suitable for the cultivation of angora, where the farmers have no goats, and tho recent enormous rise In the price i causing these farmers to turn meir uueiuiuu to tho business, and It is reported there will ba a further increase during the next two or three years. Although the Turks are a much slower people tfcap the people ol South Africa, they havo increased their production also very largely. From 1803 to 1873, about 25,000 baloa wero exported from Constantinople yearly. From 1873 to 1883, about 33,000 bales was the average, while from 1883 to 1803. it was about 40.000 bales. Since 1893, the exports have averaged 42,' 000 bales yearly. The bales from Turkey weight 170 pounds each. Uses of Mohair. Mohair has nl- ways been considered a flcklo article. AVhcn it Is In demand, It suddenly rises from 10 to 30 per cent.; when, on the other hand, trade Is quiet, It Is dllHcult to sell at almost any price. Up to the end of 1875 the price of mo hair ruled between 73 cents and 07 cents per pound. This was the time when the fashion for ladles' dress goods ran on bright fabrics, of which "glaccs" made from mohair were an important class. Soon afterthattlinc, fashion chanced to soft goods made from merino wools, and although dur ing the past twenty years several at tempts have been made to Introduce mohair goods, they have never been in fashion until tho present time. This period from 1875 to 1895 has been a most trying one for mohair spinners and manufacturers, and the price lias been considerably lowcrthan was ever known. Besides being used largely for dress goods in tho old days, and nlso now again, the principal use. of mohair Is for the two-fold yarns for braids and for plush; for which purposes It is peculiarly suitable. There is no fibre that wears so well as mohair In the form of cither braid or plush. Fine mohair braids were formerly largely used for the edges of men's coats and vests, but since the sewing machine lias come so generally into use, thus enabling neater edges to bo made, thc?o fine braids do no, seem to be re quired, and that portion of the trade lias been the most depressed for a lumber of years. When tho price .vas so low, tho article was used for a lumber of purposes for which it is now too dear. There Is some used In ho woolen trado for mantle cloths. A largo proportion of tho mohair nms spun In tho Bradford district, especially two-folds, goes to Germany mil Franco; but very little raw mate rial Is manipulated abroad, and the explanation appears to be that tho jlimato of England Is moro suitable than that of any other for the comb ine and spinning of mohair. HOW THE NICARAGUA CANAL SHOULD BE BUILT. A wrltor in Scrlbner's says, thnt ns ,o tho Nicaragua canal, It would jortalnly bo gratifying to national iridc to havo Americans succeed .vlicro tho French havo made such a llsastrous failure. Without discuss ing tho questions of commercial or nllitnry necessity tlirco things aro .vorth censidering: First: That If tho United States jullds this canal, they should own tho ..crrltory through which It passes, by purchase outright from Nicaragua. Perhaps here Is n use for somo of tho jllvcr that is hoarded in our trensury. Secend: That thero should bo no underestimating tho cost. All tho various contingent Items, w foolishly 3vcrlookc(l in tho instances quoted, should, be liberally provided for. Lastly: Tho United States should make it a free canal, with no tolls except sufficient for maintenance, nnd open to all nations both In peace nnd war. This should holier gift to tho .vorld. Looked at In this generous way, wc need not consider tho question of the number of vessels that would pass through It, or tho tolls they could pay. Wo do say that tho amount of commerce thnt passes the Suez canal, and would pass tho Nicaragua canal, Is Insignificant In proportion to the domestic commerce of tho lakes. Tho amount of freight passing through the Detroit rlvor Inst year is aiore than double that which would pass both Isthmian canals, and It Is Increasing much faster than that would do. The wealth of tho Orient appeals to tho imagination; but the more prosaic products of our own land tho grain, tho lumber, the ores, tho coal, and tho myriads of manufactured articles which fioat down tho great lakes, and through the rich valleys of central New York, far exceed in im portance and in value. Another man is going to work the tovn with a series on "prophecies." "What Salem wants Is not more "needs" but more deeds. State or Ohio, City of Toledo, l Lucas County f ss. Frank J. Cheney makes oath that he Ir the senior partner of the firm ofF. J. Cheney & Co, doing business in the City of Toledo, County and State aforesaid, and that said firm will pay the sum of ONE HUNDRED DOL LARS for each and every case f Catarrh that cannot be cured by the use of HalPt Catarrh Cure. FRANR J. ClIFSEY nnd subscribed in my Sworn to before me pressnee, this 6th day of December, A. D A.W. Cleaso.v, Notary I'ubllc 1 Brio. j SEAL J Hill'c Catarrh Cure is taken internally and act directly on the blood and muoun surfaces or the s stem. iena lor testimonials, irec. F. J. Cheney & Co.,Tolcdo, () Q"Sold by Druggists, 75c. WMkmfM fS THE BEST PIPE TOBACCO. Opera House. Wednesday, Jan. 1. f m BY THE COIVI PANY OF N- Y- Fourth entertainment of the V, M, C. A. course, Mroc. Julia Aramentl. soprno. Mlsi Cclia Schiller, phinist. Mr. ChM. F. Iliugins, Violinist. ADMISSION So CENTS., i ID! a Prices no object. Many attractive nnd uselul Holiday Goods still in stock. Silk Handkerchiefs, silk mufflers, silk mittens, linen handker chiefs plain and embroideried, um brellas, hosiery, underwear, Kx. Kemembcr, prices no object, PALACE ! 307 COMMERCIAL STREET. COMBINATION OIL CURE CO., foi cancer and all malignant diseases. Wc cure cancer, old ulcers, piles, tumors, Cstul sciatic rhcumatism,catarrh and minor disease. We have a combination oil which is working wonder. Address, II. HfcCKMAN, Box 169. Traveling Agent, Eugene, Or. FOUND On the Silverton Salem stage route, a ladies' purse, containing a sum of money Owner can have same by proving property. Inquire of Silverton stage driver, 12 313' VETERINARY Condition powders, liniments, heal Ing lotions and ointments, blisteiing oint ments, purgative pills and colic medicines al ways on hand as cheap as elsewhere CONSULTATION FREE. W. C. MITCHELL. Graduate of Ont. Vet. College, Toronto, Canda. ..... Office and Dcspensary at Red Front Livery Stable, Salem, Oregcn. FOUND. On Trade street a key. Owner call at Journal office. 12-26.31 A FARM To rent on easy terms, enquire nnr hlock west of North Salem school R, U. Crayton. i2.29.3t tf LOST. A heavy ivory headed hickory can bearing the inscription of the owners name A. 1. Taylor Oakland, Cal Finder please leave at Journal office. l2-2b"-3t Ieirve BioocH Tonic Builder bn4fbt (Cucrtotlv pacifrtJM . VILLttftS' lot. MfcDICINE CO., jerto. Schenectady, ;(.Y. ifcrfWo. MtUrPClcTlUcQtt, GRAND 1 Mill mm ST B Tl MrtBte ji?.jtr$h.- VSVKKa VVlSatV jMBw VSfeR27 Br DR. CONTRIS, GOLD FILLINGS A. SPECIALTY. - All Kinds of Plate, Crown and All work conscientiously performed and guaranteed first-class and fully abreast of the tfmes, No "cheap" work done, but all work done upon honor and with the latest appliances, "Cheap" Dentistry is dear at any price, Dental Work is what I guarantee, Fees attention and care given to children's teeth and all ations and consultations free, COR STATE and The Salem Woolen Mills Store, The Clothing Busb ness in Salem during the past year, has, in a general way, had its rough sailing, But the Woolen Mills Store has stood like Gibral ter and sold the most and best goods, Its home-made and alk wool goods, coupled with square dealing, has done that busb ness, and the intention of the managers is to put in a large stock the coming season at prices that will corres pond with small in' comes, and at the same time thestand ard of these popular goods will be full kept up, and its many friends and patrons can rely in the future on getting reliable goods, the same as in the past, NOTICE. There will be a meeting of the stockholders of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill Company hld in their offlce in Salem, Or., Friday fanuarv 1 1806. at the hour of? o'clock p. m. for the purpose of considering the quest-on of iucreaslng the Capital Mock ol Ihe Company to S100.ooo-.by order of ihe president, ' RHCOSHOW la.aS-td. SecRETAity. DENTIST PARLORS OVER GRAY BROS. LIBERTY STREETS, - A FEW - D01jLS- which we will close out, ONBTHIRD OFF. Also several dressing cases at same reduce tion, We want to close them entirely out, TI If ir ANOTHER PISH AltltlM OF SHOES. GREAT MONEY SAVERS-WHY? Because we sell cheaper tha,n any other house and because the Shoea aee the best In the store, cost. UNION BARGAIN STORE. re -EXCELSIOR, - STABLE- J. C, HANSEN, MASAOJSre- Only Cood horses used. Satisfaction 8uarantced. tftabia''of SiUts lfW Mock zz&cxi u."!S Bridge Work. First-class, Scientific reasonable, Special examine SALEM II BIGHT. make, No shoddy stutf All holiday goods left at i a-xiwiim "" v - r -,ii r'lSiifflHlWIWsltW 0y " ""! " ,