The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-12-09

About Carpets, COttOns and Clothing.
Everybody who is watching the
progress of American enterprise, or is
especially anxious for information as to
what this country is doing in the way of
competing with foreign countries in the
quality and quantity of high grades of
carpet and cotton manufactures, will be
Interested in the following article from
the pen of Charles S. Smith, of the New
York Chamber of Commerce. 1t shows
how marvellous have beer the strides OF
the United States in coming to the front
as a manufacturing nation, under the in
tiuence of American projections:
OF carpets we are the largest producers
in the world, and IN design, cOlors and
quality our goods are quite equal to any
thing made in Europe of competing grades;
OF silk we exceed in amount the product of
England and Germany, and are second
only to France; and IN plain silks Tin
which we excel as respects quality and
durability we equal the product of the
most famous looms of Lyons.
The large corporations of New England
engaged in cotton manufacture have had
as indicated by their last half yearly divi-
dends, average success, Notwithstanding
the fact that the average prices OF cotton
fabrics for the past six months have been
the lowest known In the history of the
tTduc i 0lt Oullcl DIdltS, tNtu III tIt
times of exceptional temporary panic or
depression.
Although an English cotton mill costs to
build and equip fully 3YH per cent. less
than ours, and while labor in such mills is
20 per cent. less in England than here Tin
some Industries the difference is much
greater il is an interesting fact that one
may buy the low and medium grades of
cotton goods of the class used by the
masses, or a ready-made garment of the
same, say of shirtings, calico, bingham,
canton flannel, and the like, in the retail
stores of New DIRK and Chicago, quite as
low as similar article can be bought in
standard sheetings and drills have
the preference in the Chinese mar
ket, and are sold IN competi-
ton with English and German made
goods, and always at better prices, be-
cause of their superior quality. The
product of favorite brands of American
Standard sheetings and drills adapted To
the China markets has been sold in adj
vance of production for more than six
months past, and prominent mill has
now 10000 packages engaged for the
African market.
Ii is a humiliating fact that every bale OF
New England made goods destined fol
China is shipped by the Canadian Pacific
Railway TO Vancouver and from thence to
its destination by English steamers, and
this large traffic has been diverted from
American railways and from the Pacific
Mail steamers because that line of steam
ers has not heretofore been able TO com
pete with the English government subsidy
Ii has been proved that we can success
fully compete with Europe In the Oriental
markets. In the manufacture and sale of
pIain cotton goods when the cost of labor
IN producing piece of goods does not ex
coed 25 per cent. of the total cost. have
seen recently stylish and appropriate
summer morning dress, made from col
ored American cotton fabric by a young
lady with her own fingers, where the cos
OF the material did not exceed S1.25. A
ready-made suit of clothes for man, o.