The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-11-18
A Revolution in Trade.

New York Times, 18th inst.l
The wholesale dry goods trade is just now
in lferment of excitement over the discovery
of probable means OF relief from Its long
stagnation. Before the war American dealers
enjoyed large export trade in cotons, sheet
ings, and prints with India, Africa, China,
and South America, where the apparel Of the
natives consists mainly of this class of mate
rial The rise in gold, the increase in the
price of labor and OF cotton, the abundance OF
money in the hands of the people, and other
causes conse quent uron the civil strife, made
it improbable to compete with the manu-
facturers OF England, and this export business
fell off to almost nothing.
The home dry goods trade, however, con-
tinued to be exceedingly profitable. Capital
flowed into the channel SO that it is estimated
that the number OF cotton sp'ndles has In
creased thirty hree per cent IN the last five
years, while the population has not increased
more than twelve per cent in the same period.
Then came the pane, followed by the hard
times, which occasioned q decrease of con-
sumption far greater than the increase OF the
population. The home markets became glut-
ted and prices fell steadily downward until.
al the present time, many grades OF cotton
manufacture sell tor less in currency than
they did in gold in 1861; to say nothing of
forward dating, longer credits, the guarantee
system, and ether modern innovations. In
other words, manufacturers here have begun
to EXP erience similar disasters to those OF the
cotton manufacturers OF France from 1927 to
1892
While matters were in this unsatisfactory
condition, somebody behought himself of the
condition OF things in ante bellum times, and
discovered that it would be prof able at the
ruling prices to ship goods abroad. Inc
Americans have one great advantage over
their English brethren. Competition has kept
their goods clear of chalk, size, starch and
other rubbish with which the latter have
weighted theirs. The shrink ge of American
cotton cloths is only from p to 3 per cent,
while that of British goods is from 30 to 80
percent. Oonse quently the former had been
immense favortes in the colonial markets.
and the natives only awaited an opportunity
to purchase them on anything like equal
terms.
Indeed, the small export business that
hung on during the best period OF home
trade prosperity was due altogether to this
superiority, many persons refusing TO accept
the English made goods while they could OBJ
tain American at any price. A hesl 'atlng
venture was made and was rewarded win
success. Others followed, and after awhile
the new enterprise began to be nolsed abroad
Olders began to come in for samples, ana
then other orders for lines OF Soods. 30 the
infaciion spread
Agents are being sent to this coun ry from
Manchester, the very heart OF the BRUSH
manufacturing interest, and they returned
home with their PURCHASES, to the astonish-
ment of the English public. The L ,ndon
lines in its financial column, Oc. %, said :
1--WE learn from the Diapers Trade Journal
that Manchester firm has began to import
calcoes from the United States. The fact Is
significant, and, as the importers say that the
goods are of much better quality and ap-
pearance than ours, Manc chester, 1t appears,
has found competitor at last; but that must
depend upon the price
Germany was the next to send out an agent,
Mr. Dreyff1e, who is now in this city loaded
with samples. He is to return home next
week, and is enthusiastic over the quantity OF
orders be will be enabled to send back when
he reaches there. Since his arrival fresh en-
VOWS from England have been sent out, and
OF the present writing number of foreigners
are busy in this market selecting goods for
export abroad. Samples have been freely
furnished, and there is now little doub. of our
surplus being rapidly clesred off by European
iobbers. who, it is estimates, have taken with
in the past three weeks between four thous md
ard five thousand packages, besides con.
siderable quantity in Boston.
Manufacture Gf Beet Sugar.
The manufacture of beet sugar in Canada
sn industry vet in lis infancy, promises to as
sume proportions of no little importance tc
The commerce of the Dominion. Numerous
trials have been made at different points, and
ali have beea attended with satisfactory re-