The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-09-08

Americans do not put up machinery the
scotch manufacturers of these goods will
still be able TO hold their OWL. The in
crease of 20 per cent would not keep the
Americans from purchasing these goods of
Scotch manufacturers. Bnt the duty may
encourage American manufacturers to set
up business for themselves. Scotch maui
ufacturers also think that the humidity OF
their climate will always be in their favor.
as in o hot climate 1t is Impossible to spin
fine numbers of cotton yarns.
Linen-trade manufacturers think that no
blow has been dealt TO the linen trade by
the tariff. In fact. they believe here that
the Americans cannot weave linen goods
because of their climate. There are great
carpet manufacturers In Glasgow. but they
are not much affected by the tariff. 1t is
frankly admitted that the Americans can
make carpets as well as the Scotch. The
latter believe that they will still be able to
get market in the United States for choice
designs and superior Workmanship, not
wlthstaudlng the tariff.
THE CUTLERY TRADE.
In Sheffield there are. roughly speaking.
between three and four thousand men en-
gagged in supplying tho American market.
For the first few months after the tariff came
into operation these found great diilicultyin
obtaining employment. but recently there
has peen perceptible Improvement in their
conditions so far as the more valuable
goods are concerned. The lower-priced
articles are affected, however. very greatly.
The heads of the well-knOwn firm OF
Joseph Rogers u Sons claim that they
nave not been damaged so much by the
operations of the new tariff directly as by
the uncertainty which exists with regard
TO future legislation. People will not buy
when the high duties are in operation.
which stand q chance OF being lowered.
He remarked that when the Mckinley
tariff first came into operation trade was
pulled down great deal, as the firm cx-
pected would be the case. Instead OF trade
becoming worse, however. 1t had gradually
improved of late. and he was OF the opinion
that they would be able to see the tariff
safely through The Sheffield manufact-
urers claim that the best cutlery hitherto
manufactured in tie United States is not
equal to that imported from Sheffield and
made by the better-known firms. 1t is
supposed that the excellence of Sheffield
cutlery is due to some peculiar property in
the water, but there Is no doubt that the
real cause Of the superiority of the steel
goods made III that town Is the superiority
of the handicraftsmen.
Mr. Rogers states that high class goods
always find ready market In the United
States or elsewhere, and he believes that
the American tariff has had more disas-
trOus effect upon German wares THAI upon
the cutlery which Sheffield is exporting to
America. Upon the lOwer-pricai~ goods
Sheffield as well as German. the tariff has
operated prejudiclaily. the specific duty OF
so much ad valorem hitting manufacturers
of these classes OF wares very hard. In
answer to q question concerning the ulti.
mate recovery of the American market by
the Sheffield firms. Mr.. Rogers said: We
are smiling now. and there Is hope for the
future The Mckinley tariff may have
troubled US to begin with, but it does not
trouble US now. Things are, however. I'M
certain. If the Mckinley tariff stays, our
trade would even DO better than il is at the
m haaa fhQra w mn Ina N
much uncertainty"
Rogers further explained that had it not
been for the Sheffield and SOlngen firms
rushing stocks into the states just previous
would, in his opinion. have been q more
speedy recovery. Speaking generally, he
said he firmly believed that, although trade
had not risen to the former standard, pros
poets had greatly frightened and manu-
LECTURERS in Sheffield .ssre increasingly
hopeful.
AMERICANS SPIN THEIR OWN COTTON.
While some parts of the neighboring
country have suffered severely from the
effects of the new tariff. this cannot be said
OF Lancashire. Inquiry among the princi-
pal firms in Manchester. who directly or
indirectly may be said to represent Lanca.
shire in this matter. reveals that the McKin-
ley tariff has produced no alarming results
reason is that very small part of the ex-
ports of Lancashire cotton goods went to
the United States before the new tariff
came into operation, the exact proportion
being only per cent The trade In the
coarser cotton fabrics had been practically
lost before the Mckinley tariff was made.
The United States had proved before that
time that they could spin, weave and
bleach the coarser qualities of goods in any
quantity, and on paying conditions. Not
haA
but they had created q considerable ship
ping trade with outside countries. Man
chester still claims to keep the lead in
what NAV be called the superior class of
goods, and to retain. in spite of the tariff,
its business in the best qualities of cotton
dress materials.
At the beginning of the year trade was
greatly depressed by the tariff, but the
Leeds manufacturers say that they have
built up trade with their own colonies
| and with Italy which cOmpensates them
| for the loss In the United States The year
| SO far has been freer from failures than In
less than 50 per cent. The head of one of
| the largest firms, in reply to questions.
| said: I'VE have done q large trade for the
| last twenty-five years with America, both
in the better and medium makes of goods
Since the new tariff we have ceased max:
| ing the medium or cheap kinds Of
| fabrics and have given our atten-
| tion to lighter cloths, for which we
can do brisk trade, despite the
| tariff. For heavy goods we do not
| receive many orders. as the weight is
| against us with the present tariff, but for
| spring goods we are as busy as ever. Amer
| lea cannot compete with us, either in style.
quality OF price in light goods For COM
| mon goods. such as serges. tweeds and cot
| ton warps, we stand DO chance with the
| present tariff; and there is al end of this
| class of trade so far as America is con-
| cerned. Other markets, however. have
| been found, Canada taking more than she
, did. Some firms engaged In ready-made
| juvenile clothing are of the opinion that
| they will be able to meet the tariff at O
| profit. and as winter approaches ABRAMS e-
| ments will have been completed to try the
| experiment"
| BRADFORD A SUFFERER.
! According to Bradford manufacturers the
| effect of the tariff upon exports to the
States has so far proved even more preju-
| dicial to the Bradford trade than was an
| ticipated. And though, upon careful ex-
animation of the monthly returns of ex-
| ports from July, 1890. to July, 1891, 1t
appears that one or two of the larger de-
| partments are showing some improvement
| from an Englishman's point of view. the
| fact remains of decrease in the aggregate
| value of declared exports of every kind
| from Bradford to the United States in May,
June and July last, by comparison with
| those three months in 1890. 1t was. taklng
| larger by 100000 pounds than that during
| October, November and December.
| The representative here of the
American hOuse which has abcut the