New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-21

JrTTFR FROM ROBERT p. PORTER.
on THE COTTON INDUSTRY IN SCOT
ira UNSATISFACTORY CONDITION IN Eng
LAND
"a tAs gdttor Of TIE TYfo1n@
c,p From newspapers that reached me here IN
aha ceutre of the cotton distrcts of Southern Ger
many and France, find that some of my unreason-
,no critics at home arc disposed even TO question
the accuracy of tho OF facts presented in the
Manchester letters showing that the condit'oh OF
tina cotton industry was fai from satisfactory eTea
in tho most important British cotton distriees.
AL presented nothing but official hgures and
described nothing that was not witnessed when
WAS accompanied by Consul Shaw aud the otncer
.,,tailed by the Chief Constable OF Manchester TO
take me through the industrial quarters OF tue CITY,
AN, AS much at loss as nv critics are TO point CUT
che error excepting that, In general way, quo
only conclusion to be reached from this ofciai aa'a
was not agreeable 10 those anxious 10 spread Ireo
trade doctrines in the United States. ana hsnce
the abuse. e
The ablest free trade writer's in the United states
are content to discuss the condition OF the co''on
industry of Great Britain with some OF the most
vital elements of the question entirely LETT out OF
ouietly ignored. For example. the most eminent
.na nrohably the most able and conscientious Tree
ryade advocate in q recent communication I'd IHE
rv,xrSp expressed his willingness TO rest the
case and leays it to the public to decde WHICH Oh
tho two positions is more In accordance Win
trutbD On an exhbis of the increase in the e1por-
tat,op from Great Britain OF pounds OF eottoa
warn and yards of cotton cloth aud OF the increase
In the total value of tho exports OF all cotton pro-
ducts between 1860 and 1850 Whhe TINS
snormous increase in quantity has undoubtedly
h.., Going on those who LEAD free trade thought in
an. limited States 40 not bring out and discuss In
.nv form the most vital ana appalling fact to Eng
liar manufscturers--ns that every year more
manufactured goods are being sent ont for less
money! and that the manufactured article Is faling
in price more rapidly than the raw material from
which IL was produced. II some of these gentlemen
will spend a few months in the industrial centres
of Great Britain they will find that the gravity Oh
the situation in the cotton industry. as IN nearly
every other industry. in Great brltain' lies I'D tue
fact that while that country Is becoming every
wear more dependent upon foreign supplies Tor tne
support of its population. the products OF It's In
dnstrv are becoming less necessary to the countries
from which those supplies are drawn. Improved
machinery the command of capital, Increased SKILL
better organization and judicious tariiis nave OIL
abled countries once wholly dependent upon 0rea'
britain for manufactured goods TO take rank us
,.omnstitors and the result IS constant tendency
IN diminish the usual rate OF PROFIT for the Lngsn
manufacturer Hence the general complaint thas
"
rrce is relatively less and in spite OF the increase
which American free traders are Wiling 10 rest
then case ON. the Manchester manufacturers say
that of late wears they have made no profits, out
are living on tneir capital. while the weaker con
Germs. as shall presently show, are being pnsheu
to the wall and the once hourishing COTTON ihuuS-
try of Scotland will in few years be ut'efiS oohi
Grated This decay set in eight years ago aller
tbe repeal of the custom duties in 1872 and Illus
ID nffnV
trates the whitening ELECTS OF hee-trade poncy
en- weaker industries and small capitalists.
In France. Germany and Belgium ! was repeatedly
;old by manufacturers in all branches OF industry
that to England they sent thslr surplus sloeK'
when it has TO be sacrificed for cash. because the
coocs vera admitted duty free thus disturbing the
leo1timate markets, crushing out las ID Scotlandl
rhs weaker firms. lowering the rates oil wages 'hu
reducing profit to the home producer. Between
1866 and 1881 the value of the imports OF manu-
faetures of cotton Into England have steadily III
creased which is largely attributable 10 the TACT
that England has become by her economic pohey
the dumping ground FOR the surplus stocK OF her
crrpetitors. The expectation from Great Britain Oh
white plain. printed ami mixed cotton cloths mas
ipcreasod from 2,576,OOO,O00 yards in 1866. to
a 779 600 900 IN 1881 yet the money received 1or
a nos on,v increased from f6l 100000 in 1866 TO
f6e Ooo 900 in 1881 Thus while the number OF
wards ALWAYS given by free-trade writers without
apy explanatory have nearly doubled IN that
period the money value has hardly increased . per
can't Sixteen years ago England received
s14. 100000 for I7o,OOO,ooO pounds OF cotton
warn: IN 1881 she supplied tie world with
255. oCO.0O0 pounds of warn for fl3.OoOOOo VI
course during this whole period the price OF raw
eotton has greatly declined bnt, as the oneial hg
ures show lot so rapidly as the price OF manniae-
,n,aa Goods For example, in 1850 and 1851 the
r.rors ry,ca of raw cotton imported into the
I,pited Kingdom was higher than 1T was IN 1879
md 1878. ana about the same average price as IN
1877 vet the average price of the manufactured
article has with two exceptions s,ea1ily 1eoIoaSe"