New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-11-04

aud in far-away ccnue-, -iAlc----l -''. ''i'-tia
are rapidly gaining in favor, ard herein lies also
dangerous competition with English prooucts.
Many believe that the cotton manufacturers OF
hIs district are passing through crisis uLequod,
ali IN all III the history Cf this industry. Rival
competitors in other lands are bidding keeniy for
enlarged markets, and English manufacturers.
while still able to command large percentage OF
the foreign trade ia the East and To hold Their mar
Ike, az home are yet forced 10 accept smali profits
10 accomplish this So that while manufacturers
here IN the great majority of are able to pro-
luce goods at less first cost than their out
side rivals they are forced 10 put up with made
uuafe and unhealthy profits to hold their own AT
present IN the open markets of the world Besides
The failure of crops in England makes the home
trade poor and so all around the circle there is
concentrated pressure brought TO bear on English
manufacturers"
"What Is your opinion, Mr.. Shaw, of the future
prospects of manufactures in England r. - Well.
sir Your question Is a hard one TO answer.
Knowing as do the almost limitless resources OF
the United States in raw materials. naturally IN
cline 10 the opinion that American enterprise backed
by adequate cheap capital, will be equal to the fu-
lure and that materials, so wonderfully
distributed our vast continent, viii be manu-
factured cheapest near the place OF production.
The genius of American inventors, and the growing
skill OF American operators coupled with cheap
lands and cheap food certainly place us IN favor
able position for winning the race in the interna-
tiona contest for the controlling position in
features In England there is untold wealth and
The climate is specially favorable for the manufac
ture Of certain classes of goods Had il not been for
the present wet season, the loss and distress in
Lancashire would have been far greater. In work
ing up cotton damp atmosphere greatly facilitates
and economies the process. As high as 10 OF
20 per cent is thus saved. All cotton man
nfscturers understand this matter perfectly.
The trade policy of rival nations is what cuts into
the very vitals of English manufactures Protec-
fion lops off the limbs of Englands commerce., and
it Is this that IS leaving the trunk shorn Of its
branchesl Shut out as England is from even her
own colonies by tariff which encourages native
industries the supply thus curtails the demand for
manufactures n. I. D. the sum total. the various
losses thus brought bout. more serious 10 Eng
lish manufacture than is generally known"
- low do English operatives in the cotton mills
compare with our American operatvesf" was my
next question. In my opinion" sad Mr. Shaw.
the average nglish operative is not equal to the
average American operative, either physically or in-
tellectualy Here whole families work in the
mills. father. mother and children, and l notice
lack of physical strength in the workpeople as they
leave The factory. They look sailow, and appear
haggard and weary. There is kind of languor and
a lack OF buOyancy Of spirits among them quite III
contrast 10 our American operatives in this particu
lar Then, too, beer-drirking and smoking are very
common among them. and an enormous amount of
money is spent in this Beer is the great curse
of the poorer classes IN England. II deadens the
moral and physical forces and at the same time
robs them of much OF their hard earnings Really,
SIT, this drink question is a serious one at present,
for the money wasted on beer would bring gladness
and comfort to thousands OF homes now Inade desc
late by and through its use."
do English operatives live as well, and is their
social position equal 10 those OF American opera
lives 7"-" Oh, no; there Is a wide difference III
these respects In England, once an operative, as
rule. always an operative. In the United States 1t
is an operative to-day. and something else later on
MOI 80 IN England Class prejudices and customs
press heavily operatives. The spirit OF change,
tbe ambition 10 seek other fields ard pastures new
a. not general this class, so far as my obser-
yatlous extend in England. They are content to
toll on-sitisfed to lei Others do the planning-so
long as there is work in the mill. and ambitions
disturb them. Ii is a great privilege TO get work
there and u 1t are centred all their hopes for the