The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-30
LOSING CUBA TRADE
o,TTON MANUFACTURERS FAIL TO
HOLD THEIR OWN.
UNITED KINGDOM GETS 1T.
raE EXPLANATION SEEMS INsUFFI.
GENT.

D,r;nE the First Eight Months of
1000 Great Britain Increased Her
EXPORTS of Cotton Goods to Cuba
nv s1.1OO,OOO, Taking 100000
.Uay From United States and
s22O. 900 From Spain-Unifed States
sells Much Raw Cotton But Little
manufactured.
washington, April 29.-In a recent state
,,ant given to the press by the division
If the insular affairs of the war depart
,oant a considerable loss was indicated in
the trade of Cuba with the United States
Cor the first eight months of 1900 as COM
rared with the same period of 1899. 1t is
now explained by the division of insular
a1airs that in the statement above re-
fsrred to the value of gold and silver
ooin and bullion was included in the total
,-a,ue of commerce between Cuba and the
United States. Eliminating the coin ship
rosnts il is ascertained that instead of
there being a decrease in the value of
innorts into Cuba from the United States
there is an increase of 81, DDS, 205 for the
first eight months of 1900, over the same
perod of 1899.
It is pointed out that American manu-
facturers cannot expect to dominate the
Cuban trade unless they cater to Cuban
tastes. This is true of cotton goods. 1t
costs no more to bring a cargo from Bar
celona than from New York and the Gu
bans. like the Mexicans, have come to
prefer the goods of European make and
the European manufacturers, through
long application. have come to know what
these people prefer and make the goods
expressly for that market.
This Needs Explanation.
The cotton statistics of the United
States present one peculiar fact, namely.
the large Importation into Cuba during
the first eight months of 1899, and the
subsequent falling off during the same
period of 1900. There was imported from
the United States in 1899 cotton goods to
the value of 1896, $40, and in 1900 to the
value of 1919, $50. The division of insular
affairs explains this on the theory that
importers expected to secure undervalua-
ton if they bought in the United States,
but have discovered that under our regime
all goods are valued on merit.
An analysis of the statistics of the cot
ton trade of the United States and the
United Kingdom with Spanish-American
countries and Cuba discloses the follow
ing facts:
First. that the United States is selling
more than its proportionate share of cot
tons to Cuba.
Britain's Heavy Exports.
Second that the United States is very
modest competitor of the United King
dom in cottons. and last, that the United
Kingdom made extraordinary importa-
tons of cotton into Cuba during the first
eight months of 1900. Cuba imported in
round numbers 50, 600 worth of cotton
goods in the 1899 period and $500, 600 in
the 1900 period, an increase. of 100000. The
United Kingdom secured this increase
with $4,000 more, of which 100000 was
taken from the United States and the
rest from Spain. The latter fell back
10000 worth. Germany and France each
gained some. The comparative proper
tons are said to be indicative of our re-
lation to the trade of the world in cotton
fabrics
The United States sells great deal of
raw cotton, but comparatively very little
Of the manufactured. During the afore-
said eight months of 1900 the United
states sold S147, Sls.6S6 worth of raw cot
ton and only 49, .167 worth Of manu-
1actured. Of the latter amount, Cuba Sc
cured nearly per cent, or three or four
times as much as Mexico, Brazil or the
otner South American countries