The New York herald., 1879-07-31
! BRITISH COMMERCE.
Invasion Of English Markets by
American Goods.
THE GRAIN AND CATTLE TRADES.
Rent Troubles Of the Ten
ant Farmers.
LEGAL ExTORTIONs LEVIED.

WORCESTER. England. July II. 1879.
Ashort tipe ago the birmingham Daily Post in
duged in some severe criticisms on a letter which
appeared in the HERALD from Birmingham as to the
state Of English manufactures and the methods and
habits of the British workman. After gratuitously
assuming that what had been stated i'll that letter
about British workmen in general attack
aimed at the artisans of Birmingham in particular.
the Post denied many of the facts and all the deduc
tions as being drawn from too limited experience.
This. suppose for political reasons it was necessary
for the chief radical organ of Birmingham to do. In
private conversation, however, the leading mer-
chants and tho secretary of the Birmingham Ex-
change. who is thoroughly we'll acquainted with
business ut Birmingham admitted all that was there
said Even the Birmingham Post subsequently
printed letter the agent of leading shipping
Arm at Melbourne with regard to American compe-
ton in Australia which proves not only much that
urged in the letter referred to but great deal
more.
STUBBORN FACT.
1--WE have two American vessels now dscharging
in our harbor." says this correspondent. "We
very sorry to American trade grows daily at
| the cost of our English department. You English
manufacturers must employ labor-saving
chinery. and not try to meet this American compe-
tition by reducing the wages of your workmen. We
are now landing tinsmiths' TOOLS tinmens fittings.
= enamelled goods and variety of new lines from
America far too long, indeed. to specify in letter.
You will notice how many lines which used to be
regularly in indent two three years since
have entirely disappeared. The reason in
every case is the same; goods Of American
make have supplanted the English make.
We have noticed of late that in
the Americans under the pressure Of keen competi-
ton. sending goods Of inferior class. Nothing
will help the English more than this. 1t is quality
alone which has put the Americans where they
in these markes-ther quality keeps them here; If
this falls off they will lose theirhold at The
make of their goods their perfect adaptation the
purpose they designed to serve their excellent
finish. the neat way in which they wrapped up
and labelled and their careful packing and marking
Of packagesall these points far in their favor
over ordinary English makers. that it is wonder
the trade is going to America We know how deep
an interest you take in these matters and only
assure you our best wishes for England. We
will do all to keep up the old country" The
official reports of the British consuls in Cuba and
the West Indies for tho present year, which have
just been published, show q still worse state of
things for British commerce
RECIPROCITY Do
The great remedy proposed for this state of things
and ono which is especially countensnced by Lord
Bateman Mr.. MacDoer and Captain Barnaby, the
would-be conservative members for Birmingham, is
reciprocity taxing the productions of those
tries which tax tho productions of England. This
nostrun while it has been greatly praised both in
Parliament and in certain journals. has been often
cried down. The great difficulty in the way this:
It is not in England that foreign countries
peting with English manufactures. 1t is outside Of
England. The imposition of duties articles of
foreign manufacture imported into England would
do little il any harm to foreign manufacturers. There
then remains nothing to tax but materials and
food. materials taxed the price Of British
manufactures is raised rather than lowered, and
England is therefore still less able compete
foreign market II corn and food are taxed an in
crease of wages must necessarily follow. with the
same result.
The taxation on foreign breadstuns and meats at
tracts. however, another set Of supporters-the
farmers and agriculturists. While the depression
in trade is very great the depression in agriculture
is perhaps greater The incomes of the large landed
propretors have been falling of within the last two
three years. and when the incomes of large landed
propretors fall of the welfare OF the British
tuition is at stake. 1t was therefore foregone
clusion that the resolution for the appointment Of
royal commission to investigate the of tho
depression OF agriculture should pass the House Of
Commons as it did two three nights ago. after
splendid debate, in which the conservatives generally
took the ground OF protection and the liberals leaned
toward amending the Land laws.
TIIE CATTLE TRADE
As far the importation OF cattle and live meat Is
concerned the British farmers have already secured
protection in different form. Much land had
already been taken from cultivation and given to
grazing when the found that although their
animals were much fatter and heavier than those Of
other countries, they could not keep up their prices
so long as tho Importation of foreign animals
untrammclled. Taking advantage of the outburst of
disease among the CATTLE which. sad had been
introduced from Holland and Germany, an act was
passed-the provisions of which last year were made
still stringent by which. ii cattle disease
stated to exist In any country, cattle coming from
such country must landing be placed in
quarantine. or in certain be siaug htered
on the dock. The number OF cattle coming from tho
United States small. and tho cost of transport
was supposed to bo so great that no preventive
however. when it has been found that owing to the
lower rate OF freight the Importation OF cattle from
when it was known that lines OF specially arranged
steamers were about to be started to facilitate this
t,aic disease was on ono Of the cattle
uied." as II is called. and the importation sub
jected to very great restrictions. Cattle from
America prohibited from landing in
England. except at ono special wharf in
Liverpool, on account Of pieuro-pncumonia. and
pigs are similarly limited through typhoid fever.
very large trade has been done in American aud
dian sheep and last Wednesday the steamer Bull
garian. from Boston, arrived In the Mersey with
1900 sheep. among which the local inspector of tho
Privy Council thought somc were suffering from
from London bv the Veterinary Department to
anime tho animals, and also of opinion that this
disease among the sheep. They ordered
to be slaughtered on the quay. AS this incon-
venient and costly the sheep slaughtered In the
Merscy dockyard abattoir, the skins being inn
pounded to prevent the spread of contagon. 1t s
announced that this will probably the impor-
tation OF American sheep to BIO forbidden. A very
large seizure also made the other day in London
OF dead meat imported from America. SAID to DO dis
eased and II s announced that trichna has been
tensivcly discovered I'm American hams.
DANoERs EXPLOITATION.
1t is for the American authorities, both State and
federal, to bring tho American exporters to a sense
OF their duty by careful quarantine regulations and
inspection; otherwise this growing branch OF Ameri-
commerce will DO utterly and irretrievably
ruined.
Oh IL is permitted an official to say that
tho object OF the cattle act is exclusively
sanitary one but being obliged snort time ago to
mako some inquiries about special importation OF
American cattle, which said to be diseased, 1
asked the inspector what was the reason OF the
severity of the law, which provided that they should