The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-09
WHY ENGLISH TRADE LAGS
CHARLES s. Cox,S ORGANIZATIONS
IN GREAT BRITAIN.

IN OREdT
RnEifsh Nrnnura cturers away Rshiud the Times
n Their methods ma Iachipery-superi
GRITTY or American ldsns - rnstances OF
the Hara or CiisEinE to Oid-FoEy Was.
After q stay OF fourteen years in the United
States, Charles S. Cox. nm Engllshman well
known among golfers, sailed for his native
country two months ago on n business trip. He
returned on the Teutonic last Thursday. During
his ~sojourn here Mr.. Cox has become strongly
imbuod with many American theories. In a
breezy way yesterday he told of tho many
shocks administered to his adopted PRINCIPLES
and methods by experiences in his native land.
sPart OF my business" began Mr.. Cox, "wns
10 try and sell American.mado golf clubs. Ny
fellow passengers going over said 1t would be
carrying Goals to Newcastle; yet / had no
trouble in obtaining orders for 5000 clubs from
the largest dealers in golf goods in Scotland
and England. They have been making golf
clubs for 200 years over there, yet the dealers
told me the American clubs wero better made
and better finished than any they could get in
their own country at anything near the price.
Al q matter of fact the wood from Virginia and
South Carolina can be laid down at Liverpool,
Manchester or Glasgow at q less cost than we
can freight II to our factory in Massachusetts,.
The reason we can undersell them 10 our i'm
proved machinery and advanced methods. The
Englishmen know this, hut they are too conserv-
alive to change. 1t 10 the cause of tho present
stagnation of trade throughout Great Britain.
which, in the face of millions Of capital lying
idle. 10 o most unique economic situation.
NEARLY all the English factories were started
years ago, whom immense sums were expended
In cuuipping the plants. They have been very
successful, but are now away behind the tines.
Tho vast strides in invention during the past
twenty-five years arc ignored. Through the
improvements in machinery 1t is impossible for
the English to compete with us unless by writ
lnG of tho cost of the old equipment and put
ting in new plants. They realize this, but they
are in q rut and will not change. AS a nation of
manufacturers England has lost its get and
push instinct.
GAS an illustration, twenty-five years ago a
certain English company was formed with a
capital of 81, 900, 900. II put up II plant and
machinery costing $500. 600. To-day modern
plant, capable from $50 to 500 per cent. larger
production. could be equipped and managed for
o1eQuarter of tho money. But, as it made a
large profit during the first part OF the twenty.
ave years. and has cleared expenses ana q mar.
gin over since, tho company is contented. The
shareholders draw dividends of 3 per cent, or
less, whom they might easily make 10 to 20 per
cent. by putting in new machines and starting
fresh all around. This conservative spirit is the
great factor aiding American industries, for we
are twenty-five years ahead of the English and
viii always lead until they wake from their
sleep.
Here is a story told me by a shareholder in q
great locomotive works that illustrates this
conservatism. Recently a continental firm
asked for bids on 200 locomotives. sending stimuli
taneously to three English firms and one firm in
tho United States. When the estimates were
opened America had undcrbid all England by
fully 10 per cent. and furthermore the Ameri-
cans agreed to make all parts OF the machines
continental, firm. but it preferred engines of
English make, and. as q compromise. offered the
The 10 per cent. greater cost With the nroyiso
that the parts should be made interchangeable.
The EnElishmen raised their hands up in horror
parts was something they had never done, and
they positively declined to introduce 30 radical
Wherever L went the instances of manufac.
turing backwardness filled me with wonder. In
making links for bicycle chains. Each hold a
wooden lever by which at each pull a single link
feeds an automatic machine with steel rods and
two men are kept busy shovelling up links at the
manufacturers are shipping bicycle parts to
England and the Continents
tbrou 1eSna te Gre oasl Brita Tot'e Bo II n %boIyss all ,i and
thing but the shoddiest stuff for the people
goods are cheap. On this account many dealers
viii not pay a fair price for them. y The dealers
recognized the superiority OF the American
goods but Vi it t" psid %" them Jest paS'a to sell a tTashy a lns
slum.made goods at any low price.
Tho mine owners for some Years have been
mining coal at an actual loss, but they are now
Ssbsoiuteiy lost and any AZ further DEPRESSION LspHe Il NOM IN
prices will cause a general bankruptcy, for the
miners are now receiving more wages than ever
hAlnFn h NHnrE1nD n III vR III W m VtnnlY
my informant, who had large coal interests.
expressed tho belief that Il ever the United States
English manufacturing for with improved ma
chinery. Inventive genius and unlimited re-
higher wages made necessary by protection pre-
vented America from competing with England
Gin the matter of living. there has been q
great change In England since l left there first.
wehave here will find America far the cheaper
pace 70 stay in; But two things are lower in
E Moald Almost ssfv sasiify w tSis. f oPS after nGu the f hoase Is !
hired the expense really is only beginning. for
the tenant gets only bare walls. He must pay
for all repairs, and the taxes, tithes. water rates,
Insurance. and many other charges betrayed by
the landlord here.
English life. 1t is amazing to learn the amount
Of capital lying idle in Great Britain. The
ehares Of the endless companies now being
started there is very strange compared with the
regard the opportunities for getting large re,
turns In manufacturing by putting some OF this
idle capital into new plants to take the place of
the antiquated machinery.
"Theso things impressed me on my return 30
strongly, perhaps. because in the old days / had
never talked with any business men, nor looked
into such matters. My final thought as tho
Teutonic sailed was that i was very glad to be
facing toward an up.to.date people and coun-
try"
II was as characteristic of tho English, per-
haps, as any point mentioned in tho interview
that Mr.. Cox ended by assuring his auditors
that however slow they may be. he Is still an
Gnglishman at heart.
q SAID HE HYPNoTIZED RATS.