New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-11-04
AMERICAN COMPETITION.
,ro,r, To wpor,cuT yLANCAsHlRE.

RESULTS WROUGHT IN LANCASHIRE.
Ar.uttiAR TALK WITH rnR UNITED STATES con-
SIN AT ADMINISTRATORS COTTON TRADE OF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS opERATIvEs-How kMI-
GRAFTON AND THE SALE OF AMERICAN PRO-
DUCTS ABROAD MAY BIZ PROMOTED.
IrRoM OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF rHh TRibuNh''
MANCHESTER, Oct. 9-The United States Con-
sulate ut this centre of English manufacturing
industry is filed by Albert ID. Shaw, New
Yorker who keeps his ewes open. L have re-
Gently had a talk with him about various matters
of pressing interest to Americans, and II you can
spare the space in these busy times hope you will
allow me 10 repeat his answers to the questions
which asked. The conversation, your readers
will observe. related to the cotton trade of Lanea-
SHIRE the markets for American cotton in England,
the effect of American competition the outlook ior
English manufacturers, the condition OF Enghsh
operatives the Lancashire strikes the prospects oil
emigration and the sale of American products IN
England Mr. Shaw has made thorough study OF
the subject, and your readers may accept his con-
illusions as those of trai med observer.
"Has there been any improvement during the
past year in the cotton trade of Lancashiref" was
my first question. Il" j think not on the WHOLE"
replied Mr.. Shaw. "lt has been a gloomy time for
manufacturers. The margin between the cost OF
the raw material and the selling price of cotton
goods has been so small that the expenses have alb
sorbcd the profits in great majority Of cases. Few
mills have realized adequate return on the cap-
tai invested and probably 80 per cent Of them have
los. money. and some of them largely on the years
operations. Many mills have been shut down.
more are working on short time, and still greater
number have reduced the wages ~ their operatives
These facts prove that trade Is bad, exceptionally
SO. or these expedients and stoppages woud not
follow"
lis there any considerable market / asked,
"for American cottons in this part of EngandP
mot at present." said Mr.. shaw. " American cot
tons of fine quality and finish were sent over here
two or three years ago and met with a ready
and favorable sale Naturally this created alarm
in this stronghold of English cotton manufactures,
but reductions in wages and in the price OF ootons
coupled with the prcjodccs and reciprocal relations
OF the Manchester trade generally, so lowered the
price Of cotton goods that American impoitaiions
cea 81 t. secure "a reInTne;ailNe market. IHe ek-
pertinent, however, opened The eyes OF Inanuidc-
urers here TO the wonderful Development 81 Aneri-
can manufactures and taught them that dangerous
rivals were coming forward to compete with them
for the home as well as for tie foreign markets"
'Do English manufacturers feel the eft cts of
.ornprtition from outsiders -" Undoubtedly they
ior was the answer. English manufacturers
have striven nobly 10 meet the discouiaginc phases
Of their traae--caused by lack Of orders and the
low pIicc Of their goodshoping for better m2rdet,
and resorting TO every promising expedient 10
shcapen he cost of production. But many oil TIER
former large foreign purchasers supplying their
needs from home productions largely. and the III
creased facilities for the manufacture ~ staple
goods in Germany, in France. in the United States
and even in Canada. are now - great tia; English
manufacturers find themselves heavily handicapped
IN the rae, for supremacy ne iact is that foreign
competition lies at Tie bottom Of their
present troubles True comparatively small
percentage Of foreign manufactured goods Is
,od in Eueland but the danger Is. always. that
unless rock bottom" Pr'ce- are accepted Ior Eng
hsh manufactures, the Amer can. tie French ana
the German products viii ~ once take their place.
80. III reality. the cheap and excellent quality OF
foreign manufactures forces down the profits OF
rr,. = -,,"urfactur.rs and ~ mnnv cases renders
f.~t 49,