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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
SPECIALTY TALKS
vails relative to the superior qualities of
the so-called "blue felt."
As we under-
stand it is a covering of fine hair interfelted
QUESTIONS PROPOUNDED BY THE " REVIEW*.' UPON THE LIVE MATTERS OF THE DAY AND
in such a manner that the blue felt becomes
ANSWERED BY LEADING MEN IN THE TRADE.
part of the body of felt which is adjacent.
Mr. Cavalli—The so-called blue felt is a
Interview V. Ludwig Cavalli.
combination of the finest hair with finest
against the export of less than $1,000,000, wool, interfelted on surface of sheets of
NDER the above head THE REVIEW
proposes to give weekly the expressed showing an increase of nearly $39,000,000 hammerfelts for pianos.
REVIEW—You claim, we believe, that the
views of some member of the trade upon imported, and that much less American
matters which are of vital interest.
It production : besides, we had imported blue felt in a piano hammer is so compact,
19,000,000 lbs. of shoddy against 1,000,000 elastic and durable that the best possible
should be understood that the answers to
lbs. to compete against imported goods.
tone is produced ?
these inquiries will be published in every
REVIEW—Is there any future for the
Mr. Cavalli—I claim it is stronger, hence
issue without editorial criticism. In other
words, every "specialty talk" will fairly American wool grower, with foreign wool more durability and the combination pro-
duces a finer, more even and perfect felt.
express the sentiment of the individual admitted free of duty?
Mr. Cavalli More than half of our
under whose name it appears, rather
REVIEW—Have you any other specific
than the editorial belief of THE REVIEW. wool growers will go out of business of claims for blue felt?
There will be no distortion ; no boil-
Mr. Cavalli—Specific claims: Pro-
ing down. The answers will be pub-
duces superior tone quality, sweetness
lished without change or comment, and
and richness.
in every case the individuality of the
REVIEW—What amount of wool do
one whose opinions are written will be
you suppose is used annually in the
preserved. We propose in this way to
music trade industry of America?
build one of the most interesting fea-
Mr. Cavalli—About 500,000 pounds
tures which a trade paper can offer to
of wool.
its readers.
This week Mr. Cavalli
REVIEW—Is not London, England,
talks from the supplyman's stand-
the center of the wool markets of the
point:
world? At what time of the year
do buyers mostly congregate in that
REVIEW—Mr. Cavalli, your wide ex-
quarter ?
perience in .the wool business has un-
Mr. Cavalli—London is the center of
doubtedly equipped you in a marked
the wool market, but we do not need
degree with an extended knowledge of
London, having direct shipments from
affairs pertaining to the wool industry.
the colonies to the United States.
At the present time from what country
REVIEW—Is it a fact that felt seats
is America buying the largest shipments
and tires are being largely used in the
of wool ?
bicycle industry ?
Mr. Cavalli—Australia and South
Mr. Cavalli—In seats for bicycles, felt
Africa (Cape colonies.)
is used for underlinings—as cushions.
REVIEW—Does Australian, New Zea-
REVIEW—Any general observations
land and South African wool stand well
you may see fit to make, Mr. Cavalli,
for American use?
on the wool question will be appreciated
Mr. Cavalli—All stand well for Am-
U
erican, used to good result.
REVIEW—Has the sheep industry in
South Africa assumed greater promi- :
nence of late years? Are not the large """*
velts, which form a feature, we be-
lieve, of that country, conducive to
sheep raising ?
Mr.
Cavalli—Constantly
increasing,
though not equal to Australian productions,
of wool.
REVIEW—What quality of wool does the
Argentine Republic furnish?
Mr. Cavalli—Importation limited, and
not of the higher grades.
REVIEW—Do you care to state, from
your standpoint, what effect free wool has
had upon the manufacturers of America?
Mr. Cavalli—The free wool theory has
not proved beneficial. The price for wool
is lower at present than when we had pro-
tected wool under the McKinley rates. The
imports show for the year 1895 an excess
over the previous year, 1894.
The
Wool Growers' Association claimed, at
its last meeting in Philadelphia, a loss
of $100,000,000 since acceptance of Wil-
son Bill of free wool. Over importation in
1895, 133,252,397 lbs more than in 1894;
decrease of domestic wool, 80,000 bales.
We imported during the same period in
woolen goods nearly $16,000,000 in value
by THE REVIEW readers.
LUDWIG CAVALLI.
sheep raising if wool continues free of duty.
The immense slaughter of sheep goes on,
and the more we kill the more we must buy
elsewhere, when caused by improvement of
home consumption and production. It will
not be in this century that we will have a
wool-clip as in 1890-92, of 310,000,000
pounds, and consumed 450,000,000, thereof
140,000,000 pounds of foreign wool, but to-
day we have twice as much of foreign stock
here, and 133,000,000 more than in 1894.
REVIEW—Should the present tariff con-
tinue, what country do you consider most
likely to receive the greatest portion of
American trade?
Mr. Cavalli—England and Germany. The
present tariff has crippled our industries and
not increased exports. Cost of production
must yet be lower to compete with Europe.
REVIEW—How do present prices of wool,
of various grades, compare with those ex-
isting in—say—1891?
Mr. Cavalli—Values of fine wools are near-
ly 50 percent.less; coarse wools, 25 per cent.
REVIEW—Mr. Cavalli, much interest pre-
Mr. Cavalli—There is so much wool
produced outside of the States that our
own wool raising and consuming indus-
tries can go out of existence and still
none will suffer for want of supplies
made elsewhere—hence, more protection
needed. The leaders of the political party
advocating tariff reform promised as part
of their program that they would open
foreign markets, and thereby increase the
demand for our products outside of the
States, which, as a matter of course, would
compel a greater demand for help, increase
wages and insure prosperity, besides lower
the prices of the necessities of life.
We have thus far not realized the bright
picture which was painted; instead we have
a reduction of values in all lines. The
prosperity outlined may come sometime(?)
In the districts where woolen goods are
made the situation is lamentable, and the
outlook such as to cause indignation and
grief.
Nearly one-half—including the largest
and oldest—of the woolen mills have either
closed their doors or are working half or
three-qviarter time. In addition, the work-
ing classes have to endure lower rates of
wages for not being able to compete with
the still lower priced foreign workers.