[Sidenote: _Viscose Process_] The Viscose process, which has made great strides in recent years, makes use of a pure grade of sulphite wood-pulp. This pulp is in sheet form and is first treated with a solution of caustic soda, then shredded very fine and put through several more chemical treatments, finally being dissolved in water preparatory to the “spinning.” [Sidenote: “_Spinning_”] In both of the above methods the production of the thread is the same. The solution, whether it be based on cotton or wood-pulp, is forced through minute holes and comes out in a thread-like stream, which solidifies when subjected to a setting bath. It is then washed, dried, and put through processes, such as twisting, reeling, etc., very similar to those which natural silks undergo. 3. USES OF ARTIFICIAL SILK The uses of artificial silk are many and are not entirely confined to combinations with other textiles. Of recent years the knitting trade has adopted it extensively, particularly in hosiery, sweater and underwear manufacture. In weaving, it has proven very successful in combination with silk or cotton. Large quantities are used in ribbon, electric cord covering, yarns, threads, etc. It is generally felt that the new fibre does not directly compete with or replace natural silk, but rather occupies its own place in the trade on the same basis as the other textiles. [Sidenote: _Growth of the Industry_] It has only been during the last fifteen years that artificial silk has been a very important factor commercially, although for a few years before that time, small quantities were produced in Europe. Since about 1910 its use has been steadily growing in this country, the importations from Europe increasing in 1912 from about one and one-half million pounds to nearly three million pounds in 1914. Since 1910 domestic production has also become a factor in the market and numerous factories have been established, the figures for 1923 showing about 33,000,000 pounds output. It is estimated that in 1922 the combined importations and domestic production amounted to around 20,000,000 pounds, about 50% of the total consumption of natural silk for that year. [Sidenote: _U. S. Production_] The following figures show the production of artificial silk in the United States in 1913 and between 1920 and 1923: 1913 1,566,000 pounds 1920 8,000,000 ” 1921 15,000,000 ” 1922 24,000,000 ” 1923 33,000,000 ” [Illustration: IMPORTS OF RAW SILK INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CALENDAR YEAR 1914-1923 Courtesy of The Silk Association of America] THE INTERNATIONAL ACCEPTANCE BANK, INC. AND THE SILK TRADE THE INTERNATIONAL ACCEPTANCE BANK, INC., finances annually the importation of millions of dollars worth of SILK from China, Japan, and Italy.