The evening times., 1900-05-28
EFFECT ON COTTON TRADE
A Report Showing the Benefit of
an Isthmian Canal.
Much Good Would Accrue to the
6uIf of Mexico Ports-Thc Demand
From Japan and the East Cited
an InstRnce-Waferway Would
Allow America to Lead the World.


tee on Inter-Oceanic Canals. today pre-
sented a report from a committee in
regard to the cotton trade of the United
States and the manner in which 1t would
be affected by an isthmian canal.
The report states that New Orleans and
all OF the Gulf States would be wonderful
ly benefited by such a-waterway. The de-
mand for raw cotton in Japan and the
East is cited as an instance. and an all
water route would enable Americans to
lead the world in this trade since the CHI
nese product is inferior and not desired.
The current season illustrates what will
probably result from an isthmian canal.
OF the 100000 bales as shipped this this
season los, 900 went from United States
ports on the Pacific. $1,000 from Gulf ports
(New Orleans. Galveston, aad PensacOlaD,
and 1900 from Atlantic ports (New York
and Savannah j"
The report states:
The cotton via the Pacific ports stood
he rail transportation westward overland
from the cotton fields, and thence By water
across the Pacific; that from the Gulf and
Atlantic ports crossed the Atlantic Ocean,
passing through the SueZ Canal 20 final
destination, bearing water transportation
much in excess Of that via an isthmian
ously long ard enormously expensive. II
trade can increase under such conditions,
what viii il be under the faVOring influence
of an iSthmian canal?
But while the cotton planters of the
South and the Southern ports especially
those OF the Gulf would reap great benr
fits from improved demand and increased
Ishipments Of the raw material, by far the
greatest benefits would be derived through
the manufactured article. At present the
export OF cotton goods from the United
States is a drop in the bucket compared
with that of other countries. Aside from
home consumption, the manufacturers OF
Europe export something like $4I5sOOO,O0
in values Of cotton goods The United
States exports Gin round igures) but $24,-
600. 09O. and even that total is far above
the average OF the past ten years, for IN
1890 it was but SO 600 .000; in 1885 Sl4,-
600. 600: in 1895. $1,000, 600, and in 1899.
S24 .OO0. Round figures are given be-
cause they cCnduce to a clearer cOmpre-
heusiOn of facts as whole But we are
more directly interested in the cotton
goods trade with the Far East and the eT-
feet thereon Of an isthmian canal We
have not convenient the figures Of this
trade from Continental Europe Those OF
Great Britain, however, Will be sufficient
for our purpose.
In 1899 Great Britain exported OF all
5j6. .000 or. say over $3.50, 900 900 OF this
total SOS. .S31. 900 were piece goods and
yarns FOrty-twO and siXty-fOur one hun
dredths per cent of the piece goods were
10 British East India and 1906 per cent
We're 10 China. Japan. Java, etc, or, say.
In all $50 per cent were tS the East OF
the exports OF yarns, 19-41 per cent were
10 British East India. and 11-21 per cent to
China Japan. etc. making a total TO the
East Of 30.62 per cent. In short, Great
Britain shipped more than one-hah Of the
piece goods she manufactured and nearly
One-third OF the yarn 10 countries which
will be rendered easy of access to US by
water on the completion OF an isthmian
canal The trade in piece goods and yarns
of Great Britain with the East in 1893 vas
valued at over e32. .G0O, coo sterling, or more
than $l55, ,000. goo, an amount exceeding 90
per cent OF the value of the United States
cotton crop Of 1889.
1t is this trade for which an isthmian
canal viii aid US TO successfully compete
Today its value 10 US is not quite twelve
and a quarter million dollars. or less than
eight -hundredths of what Great Bri-
tain enjoys. And yet we have the advan-
tage Of location Of raw material practi-
cally at the mill doors ESPECIALLY in the
South. the latest improved machinery
and labOr-saving apparatus in our mills.
and the most intelligent and able class Of
labor. which, if paid higher than that Of
foreign countries yields greater returns
in both quantity and quality OF work.
1T is TO secure part Of this handsome
excess over the cost OF the raw mater al
that il is desirable the manufacturer Of
American cotton should be placed on a
healthier and more lasting basis. To do
this we must have more favorable outlet
for exports and none can be found better
than through facilities afforded by an
fsthmian canal The American mills,
North and South, took in the year 1880
2.346. 600 bales. and OF this the census OF
that year tells US 2.259, 900 bales were
consumed In 1899 American mills con-
sumed 3.569. 600, or / $3.50 OC0 bales more
Our mills now turn out more goods thar
necessary for our country alone. and il Is
essential to their prosperity that export
facilities be had that will enable them to
compete successfully with other COuntri
in the great markets Of the world, es-
pecially those Of the Far East To the
Southern States particularly which have
increased their consumption from 5f7 000
in 1890 TO 1,4OO. 00O in 1S99-and give prom
Use of still greater progress in the near
future-an outlet through an isthmian
canal is OF the last importance Given
such an outlet, affording cheap competi-
tive transportation and ready foreign mar
ketS in the Pacific countries. and the en-
tire cotton manufacturing industry in the
United States viii reap substantial benefit
The hundreds Of millions Of dollars thus
invested Will be made TO yield safe AMI
profitable returns. and ample room VIII be
afforded for doubling the industry. With
out a proper export outlet a serious clash
between the manufacturers OF the South
and. other sections is inevitable sooner OF
later
The South, as stated is steadily and