The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-11-16
AMEaIoAN COTTON GOODS.

= 1t has recently become matter of no
small surprise, amounting indeed almost
to amazement, that American cotton
goods should have been shipped to En-
gland with satisfactory results. Why
this should be surprising is not appa-
rent. We know that it has become, of
late years, tacitly conceded fact that
England ruled the worlds market for
cotton goods. But the ulterior question
why England should control the mar
kets for cotton fabrfcs-has never been
considered. England can not produce
pound of cotton within her own terrific
ries nearer than India, and that of o
quality that can not rival our American
cotton, and at distance so remote that
1t can not enter into competition with
the product Of this country. This fact
was demonstrated by the experiments
with cotton from Bombay during the
cotton embargo caused by our civil war.
1t has been stated, and SO published,
that the recent enterprise in making a
shipment of American cotton goods to
England was like carrying Goals to
Newcastle" mere chimera, scheme
to attract notorlety without any per-
manent results. But the reports from
the centers of trade show this to be an
utter mistake. This single venture in
that line of trade has been attended
with such success, that numerous orders
are now being daily received from En-
gland for cotton goods Of like quality.
Agents from Manchester, the very tocu
of British cotton manufactures, were
sent out to this country, have made their
purchases, and returned to England to
witness the astonishment that this move
ment produced.
But this movement OF trade in Amer
lear calicoes does not'stop in England.
Germany has likewise entered the Amer
ican markets, and has sent thither
agents to procure samples of our cotton
cloths, who return to Europe quite en-
Unused upon the subject in view of the
liberal orders they will forward from
Germany to this country for that line OF
goods.
Such being the present fact, it becomes
now important to consider why America,
instead of England, should not control
the worlds markets for cotton goods.
We have here at our doors the raw cot
ton raised on our own fields. The cot
ton planter and the cotton weaver may
conduct their operations side by side,
while the British weaver must transport
his cotton across the ocean before it can
reach his looms. This circumstance
alone ought to be accepted as sufficient
TO place the cotton sceptre in American
hands.
II has, however, been presumed that
the superior skill and mechanism OF
British manufacturers enabled them to
produce better articles than American
weavers could offer; and that, on this
account, the British would rule the
markets. But this assumption has not
been sustained by facts-and why should
1t bep Can not we command in this
country an equal degree of mechanical
skill and machinery as perfect as any,
thing England can produce? If we can
net, then, indeed, we must yield the first
place in the worlds markets to our
British rivals, despite our advantages
in the production Of our own cotton.
But it is not SO. We can produce, and
do produce, better article in the line
of cotton goods than England does.
This fact is attested by British au-
thority. The London Times of Oct. 22d,
speaking of the recent importations
thither, says,-''the importers say that
the American goods are of much better
quality and appearance than ours"
And it is for this reason that the Ameri-
can goods are taken by British con-
sumers in preference to the products of
British looms.
But it is not In England alone, nor
yet in Europe only, that our American
cotton goods are in superior demand.
We happen to know that in India, in
China and in Japan, American calieoes
are the only goods in that fine accepta.
BILE to those markets. American cotton
saiLduck, drillings, and what we here
call muslin, but there called calico, al
though plain, /. e., not ''printed," are the
only goods in demand among the san-
dreds of millions Of those Asiatlc coun-
tries whose clothing is almost entirely
of cotton goods. And we happen to
know, likewise, that Inferior British
goods have been placed in those mar
kets under American stamps or trade
marks, in order to force them upon those
markets to the injury Of our country's
commerce. Fortunately this fraud was
detected, and recoiled upon its authors.
In this country competition, and we
would hope, q sense Of honor combined
have kept our cotton goods free from
The excessive use Of size, starch, chalk.
ana similar things to give weight and
6Ll up interst stices used by British manu-.
facturers. On this account, as well al
from superior spinning and weaving
American cotton goods govern the mar
kats of Asia as well as of South Amer