The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-04-23
BRITISH TRA DE AND AMERICAN COM
PETITION
IN. o. Price Current

IN. o. Price Current.I
The last Board of Trade returns show
such falling off as to attract general at
tention and cause no little concern for the
future. Ihel exports from Great Britain
and Ireland showed decrease from the
previous year.of 936 900 600 or STA $50,
OOO gold, viz &222 200, 900 the past year
against f259, 10000 the previous year.
The imports on the contrary are the larg
eat on record. and those for January and
February, 1876, showing a further increase
OF los per cent over the same months last
year.
In connection with the above we notice
that the superiority of American cot
ton cloths over British fabrics is admitted,
| and that the imports from New England
have paid profit. But this is not all.
The exports of British goods are likely
to be futher diminished by American
exports to countries in which Great Brit
| ain has hitherto found remuneratve
market.
Thus we learn from the New York Price
Current that man ufacturers of Print Cloths
and Sheetipgs have met an unexpected de-
mand from Russia, Greece and other re-
gions bordering on the Levant. 1t is ad-
mite d that there ia not much profit in the
movement, but it has a tendency to rid the
country of Is portion of the surplus cOttons,
besides giving employ ment to thousands
of operatives, th"ugh at d reduced rate of
wages.
This is not all. The Shoe and Leather
HepOrter says:
We understand that meeting of the Lynn
shoe manufacturers was recently held to oon-
slider the best means of advancing the interests
of the business in that city. II is stated that
at the meeting referred to II was unanimously
agreed that the time had arrived for action"
aud 1t was decided to dispatch an agent to
South America with samples of goods, " it'll in
structlops to ASCERTAIN the wants of that sec.
ton and such flcta as may be of value to the
trade of that city.
This is wise action and deserves encourage
ment and imitation. Such project was pretty
talked of in Boston three or four
years ago, bot nothing came of it.
As to the general question of ability to
supply the world with leather, and perhaps
GENTLY discussed on theory. We have raised
our exports of leather from half million
dollars or less to about seven millions per year
The exports of boots and shoes have remained
about stationary, considerably less than half
a million, and our imports of calf-skius, fin
ished kid, and fine leather goods show but lit
tie change and amount to at least three mil
lion dollars.
Exports of leather and leather fabrics
may at present excite less attention at the
South than exports of cotton goods, but at
no distant period the leather tanned at the
South from Texas cattle must become an
important branch of Southern industry.
The superiority of French calf skin, which
constitutes large portion of the three
millions Of imports noticed above, is 10
doubt largely due to more skillful tanning. |
Why than should we not present the facts
to our friends in France, Alsace and Lar-
raine, and thereby induce the parties inter
ested abroad to send skillful and trust |
worthy men to examine the whole matter |
in Texas and Louisiana, and should cir |
warrant it advise a numerous
emigration of skilled w@rkmen and capital
lists, 1t ia believed by intelligent nrrsons
who have investigated the matter that oak |
and other barks required for tanning might
even now be exported from our port with |
profit to Great Britain and the Continent. |
Hence, it is evident that the French tan
ners would find an abundant supply of the |
raw material, and a remunerative home |
market.
Only few days Stree we were appraised
oy telegraph that a leading Sheffield manu-
'acturer proposed removing to the
United States. We learn from the N. Y. |
Daily Bulletin that the house referred to is |
Sanderson Brothers & Co, Qimited), who |
are arranging to establish branch Of their |
business in this country with the view of
steel and brass for ordinary |
uses, files, saws, tools, etc. The Bulletin |
also says;
A leading New York house in the Sheffield |
rade, says that the statement that " the stat
sites of The local trade OF Sheffield with the |
United States for the quarter endi ~ March 81, |
SIC. showed a totnl Of only $3.50 900, against |
he - 273 900 for he first quarter of 1873" ex-
PRESSED no surprise.