SYNTHETIC INDIGO AND DYES.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECT1TGR:1
S1R,—I have seen in the Spectator and elsewhere advertisements and comments on indigo and dyes produced in England, and the references are each that it seemed as if no limit could be placed on the production, and that the whole world could, if needful, be supplied from British sources. We were all glad and proud to learn that this had been accomplished, for truly it is a freeing of our -nation from a part of its former bondage. We had, how- ever, hoped that long ere this the greatest market in the world— viz:, China—would have benefited by the production of these dyes; but though two years have now elapsed since we first saw mention of them, so far they have not penetrated to Manchuria, and, se far as we know, not to China. Now, it is of the utmost import- ance that British dyes should have a chance of securing a portion of the vast Chinese trade, and if Britain does not at once endeavour to do so as soon as peace is declared, the accumulated German stocks will be dumped in China at prices which will shut out British trade, inasmuch as Germany always first endeavours to purchase the monopoly of the market by underselling all others. To hold therefore this market w hen secured will need energetic measures. Whereas to endeavour then to share it in face of dumping prices w ill be impossible, it will be too late to compete after German trade has again commenced, first for the reason above stared, and second because German dyes are now, or were until recently, the only •foreign ones known. Japan is now doing her best to replace these, but so far her dyes have no reputation. German dyes were excellent, and especially the indigo sent here met a great need.
Manchuria produces a variety of indigo—as I expect most of 'China does—which formerly was a great item of inland commerce, being grown in great quantities and sent through the country. Now, while German indigo was more expensive than native, yet because of the less labour, firing, and repeated dyeing needed, the German was in the end so much cheaper than the native product that the latter was completely replaced. I think I am right in saying that in Manchuria in 1914 not 1 per cent. of the crop say of 1908 was grown; in fact, when the supply of German indigo was stopped by the war there was so little seed in the country that the native indigo could not be grown in any quantity, and the 1915 crop was grown for seed rather than for indigo. 1 think perhaps the German plans included the complete destruc- tion of native supply, so as to secure a monopoly, inasmuch as at first the price of their indigo was $50 small coin (about $40 Mex.) per drum of about 125 English pounds, rising after a few years to $60 and $80 in 1914. It would have been safe enough to have charged three times that sum, its use was so easy and inexpensive and the colours so good. (The cloth dyed did not always keep its first beautiful colour, but that may be due to the inexperience of dyers.) This year (1918) I have not been about to find out about it, but early last year it was being sold at $480 (small coin, of which there about 125 cents to the dollar) per drum, and dyers even at that price found it remunerative to use. I do not know much about other dyes. They had a slower sale to begin with, and considerable skill was required in their use; but this was met by Messrs. Bayer's agents training a great number of men, who were lent out free through the country to whoever requested them, and they remained in even small dye-shops until they had imparted their skill, so that these dyes were also getting hold of the market. Now the demand in China for these dyes may he evidenced by the prices which people are willing to pay for them. Indigo formerly sold at $50 (small coin) was last year sold at $480 per drum; locally that is about ten times the original price; but really, so far as the foreign price is concerned, when we take into account the greatly increased price of silver, it means twenty times the price. The other dyes I am not so well acquainted with, but a few days ago one of our members, formerly a wholesale agent for Messrs. Bayer and Co., called, and said that a dye which formerly sold at 60 cents per pound he now sold at $16 per pound. Taking the rise of silver into account, that is fifty times the former price. (As at the time he called I had no idea of writing this, I did not ask what colour, so I am unable now to supply that information, but can, if needful, obtain it. As, however, this is only to show the great demand, I don't suppose it greatly matters.) It is impossible for me to say what the former supply per annum was. I thought possibly Customs returns would give it, but as there is no great need for hurry if there is a sufficient supply at the centre, I doubt if Customs returns would give the full imports, as so much is sent by slower and cheaper native craft—however, the Customs returns are open to check any miscalculations. I have reckoned up from informa- tion obtained during the last few days from dyers in particular market towns, and multiplying these by the other market towns. that from one thousand to fifteen hundred drums of indigo alone were needed in this district per annum. If we reckon the popula- tion there supplied at half-a-million (which is another guess, of course, but cannot be one hundred thousand out) then for China probably over five hundred thousand drums would be needed per year. The proportion, taking the population of China as four hundred millions, would be over one million, but if we take half that number this trade is surely worth securing.
To secure the trade, a commencement requires to be made at once. The above-mentioned person, former agent for Messrs. Bayer and Co., said that even if a sufficient supply could not be forwarded at once, all that could possibly be spared should be sent out immediately. Prices would of course fall as soon as the new stuff arrived, but need not fall to former prices (if there be any advantage in keeping up price); but the important thing is to get an agent, who can get in touch with former agents, and get out plenty of advertisements all over the country. Here I may say that several firms make their names ridiculous by their advertisements, but Messrs. Bayer and Co., and such firms as the British-American Tobacco Company, and some soap companies, send out calendars and other advertisements for the street and the home which are at once beautiful and arrest attention. There are now sufficient Anglo-Chinese in England to give all the information needed on this head. But if the present opportunity is lost, there will be no future one, as the Germans will see to it that other dyes will be kept out—by underselling and the other plans that they well know how to use.
If the firms at present producing these dyes in England are unable to meet such a demand, there should be authentic informa- tion given of the demand in this and other markets, and a number of new firms should start work to meet the needs. A few shiploads of synthetic indigo at half present prices, if sent out, say by the Government, would supply enough funds to enable them to guarantee assistance to such firms in future, so as to compete with German Governmental assistance when German firms again attempt to control the market by driving out British
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