Statement showing the description and value of the exports from Lyons to the United States for the quarter ended September 30, 1863.—(Compiled from official returns.) I enclose a report on the general silk trade of this consular district for the year ended September 30, 1863. REPORT. The district of which the city of Lyons is the centre is acknowledged as the seat of the great silk manufactories of France. In this city are nearly all the looms for figured silks, and some for plain silks. The smaller cities and villages all around and to a great distance contain looms or large establishments for the manufacture of all sorts silk goodsGrenoble for gloves, Nismes for laces and light goods, St. Chamond for trimmings, &c., &c.; St. Etienne manufactures ribbons of all kinds. It is impossible to give a positive and accurate statement of the value of the silk goods manufactured in France or in this district. No statistics to that effect are published or collected, and my applications to the Chamber of Commerce have not produced me any information. The General Direction of the custom-house publishes a yearly and very detailed statement of French exports. From these tables I have endeavored to show the importance of this district for the manufacture of silk goods. RAW SILK. A few words on the raw material may be interesting. The southern part of France, the whole basin of the Rhone, produced formerly a very large proportion of the raw silk used in the manufacture. This silk was of a very superior quality, and commanded very high prices. The comparatively small quantity of foreign inferior silk required here did not induce the manufacturers to open direct intercourse with the distant producing countries, such as China, Bengal, and Japan. They purchased second-hand in London what they wanted. For the last ten years, however, the French and Italian silk crops, owing to various and serious diseases of the worms, have been very short, and at the same time the demand for French silk goods has been increasing, so that the manufacturers have been obliged to increase very largely their purchases of foreign silks. Several large institutions have been formed, direct intercourse with China and Japan has been opened, and it is probable that in the course of a few years the French manufacturers will receive their raw material direct, and that the large purchases they have until now made in London will be abandoned. Even now the importance of the Lyons raw silk market has very much increased, and the prices obtained at the public sales in London have no longer the same influence they used to have. Large periodical auction sales of raw silk have been instituted, and with the help of some new and important establishments of credit the wholesale silk merchant and large manufacturers are enabled to procure and carry much heavier stocks of raw material. Comparative table showing the value in francs of the exports of French manufactured silks for the several years 1859, 1860, 1861, and 1862. Showing a falling off for 1862, compared with 1859, of 136 millions, and an increase of 30 millions over the year 1861. Comparative table showing in detail the descriptions of silk goods manufactured and exported from France during the years 1859, 1860, 1861, and 1862. Tabular statement showing the comparative value in francs of the export of French silk goods to England, the United States, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Brazil, Algiers and Switzerland, for the years 1859, 1860, 1861 and These two tables taken in connexion show the following facts: The year 1859 has been the most prosperous year for the French silk export trade. The exports have never been so heavy, and have since considerably fallen off. The articles which have suffered most, proportionately, are, as compared with 1862: This last figure given by the French custom-house returns is not quite correct. The calculations for the value are made by weight, and I understand that for and until the year 1859, the rate fixed for the kilo of ribbons was too high; and it has been changed since. The pure plain, goods exported in 1862 are about the same amount as in 1859; and about 30,000,000 francs in excess of 1861. This is explained by the immense English purchase in consequence of the recent treaty of commerce. Taking into consideration the circumstance about ribbons above mentioned, I believe that the real difference between 1859 and 1862 can be stated with safety at one hundred millions of francs. EXPORTS OF 1859 AND 1862 To The united STATES COMpared. In 1859 the United States had purchased silk goods to the value of..... In 1862 we have taken only. Showing a decrease of.... 138, 000, 000 francs. 23, 000, 000 francs. 115, 000, 000 francs. The other customers of French silks have continued to purchase nearly as much in 1863 as they did in 1859. TOTAL PRODUCT OF FRENCH SILK MANUFACTURES. Table No. 1 is the only official basis existing for calculating the total production of French silk goods. It is generally admitted that the home consumption of France amounts to an average of one-third of the exports. I believe that this amount is very nearly correct. I have taken great pains to ascertain the value of the raw silk thrown during the year on the French market; and adding thereto 50 per cent. for expenses, (such as preparing the silk for the looms, drying, weaving, finishing, value of other materials mixed, our profits,) I come very nearly to the same result. SILK PRODUCTION OF THE LYONS DISTRICT. Reviewing the different kinds of silks named in table No. 1, I shall endeavor to give the production of Lyons and this consular district. No. 1. Plain pure silks are all produced here or in the surrounding villages; some manufactures have lately been established in Alsace, but they are of but little importance. The amount of plain goods manufactured and exported from this district is 190,000,000 francs. No. 2. Pure figured goods.—All dress goods are made in this city. Paris and Rouen manufacture some figured silk shawls, fancy scarfs, and other articles, but they do not amount to over four million francs in value. Amount of figured goods (pure silk) exported from this district, 25,000,000 francs. No. 3. Fourlards are all manufactured in and exported from this district, and amount to 5,500,000 francs. No. 4. Crêpes, estimated amount exported from this district, 1,500,000 francs. 4,000,000 francs. No. 6. Ribbons. All the ribbons are manufactured at St. Etienne, a city in this district, and amount to 47,000,000 francs. No. 7. Mixed goods.-A few of these goods are manufactured here; it is impossible to state the real quantity; their value must be at least 5,000,000 francs. This includes trimmings, silk lacets, &c., &c. No account is taken in this calculation of silk gloves and other small millinery articles. RECAPITULATION. Total value of silk goods exported from Lyons district. 278, 000, 000 Add one-third consumed in France... Total value manufactured .... 95, 666, 666 373, 666, 666 This, I believe, is a very moderate estimate; many merchants give a larger amount. It must be remembered that the silk passes through the hands of many parties the producer, or importer, wholesale silk merchant, manufac turer, commission merchant, and exporter. These 370 millions value of silk goods occasion in this district transactions amounting to fifteen hundred millions francs. EXPORTS FROM LYONS TO THE UNITED STATES. In 1862, out of 363,000,000 francs value of silk goods exported from France, this district has furnished 278 millions, or about four-fifths. The French exports to the United States were 23,700,000 francs; it can therefore be assumed that of that amount Lyons furnished about 19 millions. According to this calculation The value of silk goods manufactured in France in 1859 was... Manufactured in this district. Value of silks manufactured in all other parts of Value of all silk goods exported from this district . . . . . Value of silk goods exported to all other countries. 290, 000, 000 66 66 The above statement shows the importance of the trade of this district with the United States. The tables showing the values of the invoices verified at this consulate for the year 1863 will, in part, confirm the correctness of these estimates. Table showing the value of exportation of silk goods from Lyons to the United States, in French currency, for the first ten months of the year 1863, as verified by the American consulate in that city. Silk piece goods. Total........ Value in francs. 15, 200, 000 1, 100, 000 7,300, 000 23, 600, 000 This does not, however, represent the full value of the silks exported from this district, many firms having agencies in Paris or elsewhere, produce (it is supposed) their invoices at those consulates, although the goods are manufactured and forwarded from this place, and do not undergo any further change or preparation after they have left Lyons, merely passing through Paris on their way to the port of shipment. LA ROCHELLE-THADDEUS HYATT, Consul. JULY 14, 1863. I have no arrivals or departures of American vessels to report. |