New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-31
ENGLISH MANUFACTURERS

| THEIR ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES.
A TALK WITH 4. d. SHAW, UNITED STATES CONSUL
AT MANCHESTER. ENGLAND-soME RESULTS OF
HIS OBSERVATIONS.
Albert ID. Shaw, United States Consul at
Manchester England. is at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. on
two months leave OF from ms post. MI Shaw
comes home with a hope of participating in the cam
! paisn but he was met, landing. with news OF the
sudden death of his only brother and he is row likely
| 10 spend most Of his time with the bereaVeG
family. In the course OF recent conversation
with TRIBUNE reporter, Mr. Shaw spoke Of some ad-
vantages and disadvantages which English manufac-
turers have and which not found In this country
| What ia the state OF trade in your Consular dis
tIic,l" he asked.
"As a whole think 1t Is not over-encouragnG or SAT-
lsfaciory 10 manufacurera" the reply "The good
Old days fifteen years aGo have not returned
and It Il serious question when good times WI. come
again The concentrated pressure Of foreign compe-
| tton in many ways very seriously felt III the
manufacturing centres OF England Profits are not
satisfactory and as whole the outlook is not encour-
aging. my observations extend"
What do you by the concentrated pressure OF
| foreign oompctiiion'f"
"simply this: That the development OF manuiac-
turing enterprises United States, in France in
Germany India. China aud japan, well "a
Canada and Australia helps to Ill markets formerly
supplied from En- gsh mills The result Is that English
manufacturers lose old markets and are put TO their
|
appears in every new place and pushes MS way into all
old markets. determined have share in the ira ie
of foreign centres and he Is accompanied by the Ger
man and the Frenchman Added to this Is the ever-r-
creasing Introduction Of foreign manufactures INTO
Great Britain"
How : il that English manufacturers car stand
! against this pressure z"
| There several reasons:
Firsi-Tne English climate is specially adapted for
manufacturing various kinds OF textile iabrcs. Inc
humidity OF the atmosphere enables manufacturers to
SPIN and at great advantage THIS is point Of
| great Importance.
Second-The excellent construction their mills an
other reason. Their weaving sheds are built On the
| ground are only one story height and have
glass roofs and stone flag floors. Two advan-
tages are gained by this system
:" F4rst-An even and fine light falls on each loom.
SecOnd-The machinery. being laced on ~ond tounda-
t,nora,ce that the old factories with weaving
one story above another have al been aDAhuoheu III
Third-The working people in En- gland are ambitious
only 10 have work do the mills ana so they toll
on satisfied when they employed with no desire Tor
change IN their condition ~ he Ihis ieais TO skilled
labor ana I'm operatives. To Illustrate; A
mi-Owner told me not long ae0 tht ne employed ZVOV
operatives aud that there had hot D,oh lhlr.{ III
in his force the pasi year, while large majority had
been with him for many years. The children follow
their the mill
F6urfh-Cheap capital has developed vast industries,
hern) ana no, ew al a loss. These ani other reasons
OF nucn brief furnish tie answer 10 your qes-
ton"
Why cannot American manufacturers build their
mills "a ter the same plan T.
well hardly KNOW. suppose the great neat IN
summer ana Inc extreme cOa III NI4l,el .ouI De
trOublesOne The sun would OrlNe the operatives ont
OF weaving sheds win glass roofs Over one story hud-
mes ana IN winter II would I've difficult. perhaps to
keep diem properly heated. | only know that one 90
ton mil Ia and assured tia; NO iactory-ldt Is.
"a mil with OOms occupying several storie-cohl1 com
pefc with looms accd III one story Wttfin--sheI U.s.
Ms reason for this conviction was thar the
inperiecr Ight which the factory had owin- To The
Nt,rc I
much in a day The clear anu even n-hl OF me "ie-
story sned eab ed them do Moreover IA" c1nieudrd
in ADDITION the vibration o. the machinery IN iHc-
tories built the American plan was 81 serious IN III g.
work that the solid foundations turui-hei Nv the single
shed would always have con,lderipe ac-
vantage. He considered these two matters Of
the reasonng Of very able practical
manufacturer. only state his views, but am sat
i~cd hat ne knows what he Is taAn- about a. Wen AS
any one VINO ever studied the subject These points APP
pear 30 be imPorlani ana our = aeean
Are American markets mucn vain, q IN klsla 81 -
from America would be sad times EuEiau ID
| I sneok OF her manufacturing GENRES IN American
ma lets best they nave tl-day,an tont these
/ cannot see what many yasi industries IL England
"Wnat VIII be the eject, your opinion. Of American
competition "a agncu a. prodncLs On tie farming III
VERY serious, beyond question The farmers in
Great Britain are awakening 60 RAM 0h CT Sac cl
that cheap lands, cheap fieighis ana the eAecieA'
quality our our butter, GU cleesr, as well -
our fresh and canned meats o. a kinds must soon en-
landlords in the eri.ulturi di>,rirls Rents must
]
game laws and ieases-must De abolished There IT, wide
epread discomfort among farmers, ana tue II ervas-
supply OF American farm products winch are rapidly
winning popular favor, VIII add u me en-
barr9 .nents which surround this perpr king question:
VIII a change ia the land Laws In Enelahd enani'
farmers 10 REGAIN control OF their home markets
I again =
"On. no fancy not. The climate Is not adapted t'
gram raising II IS too uncertain; II rains TOO much
and 40 the expense OF harvesting crops too great
Besides il VIII take long time Tor and-OW ers 20 CONT
/ down fu tlcir TO point that VIII euaoe tcuah
q successfully Win American pro
ducers The contest the Land laws ana Over
orr products viii such favor IN England, ana
VIII be so cheaply laid down there, az To enable Ou
fl mers 20 cOmDefe viii English farmers, even IT the
aua III England should be gwen relt tree 10 the tler
of it, The reason for thu lies in the great expense
ferti.lZDg the old lands there"
the prejudice against An erican products grOwinl
, ! less !" ...t =.
Decidedly 50. have frequently called attention, in
my Consular reports, the loss which ias on American
producers through the imperfect way IN whcn our pro
ducts reach the English CONSUMERS only "a lev, uhy
ago "A large cotton Manufactured informed me lhhl III
recently furnished rm IN his town Win 3VO pieces %
cotton otn FOR makIng coverings Tor American hains
tera These hams from the United states ana OF
reaching England done up IN Englsh stJ &c
, and sold as English hams, at sidri
advance. This Is done with our cheese ~ wei lneu
ZOO the English of supplying Ietau ucaieil
should carefully studied and more direct ana com
prelepsiye OF supplying these shOud De aooptc
Parfuer.nips should be formed between American an,
} Engnsn produce dealers-mucn tie same as Lh1lisl
honsrs now combine W tn the foreign trade III many
parts of the for the supply and sale OF maHui"c
| tured goods OF various kinds"
|