The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-04-30
MARKETS FOR COTTON GOODS.

The Boston Journal of Commerce urges
business men and manufacturers not to
place their reliance upon China ITO take
American goods. but to seek other mark
cts that can be easily reached 1t says
that several States in South America are
very large consumers of coarse cotton
goods" and that 1.-The trade with these
countries can easily be secured by us to
large extent by a. very little effort in
the right direction" 1t says that in
some of the States we sell only two per
cent and in none of them do we sell over
ten per cent of the cotton goods used
there, and after saying that 1.-THE main
this trade and what it is worth to us
providing we can secure it, it adds:
In answer to the first question as to
hcw this trade can be reached we have
taken much pains to obtain the right
course to be pursued in this matter by
corresponding with our consuls located
there, and with people who have been
extensive travellers in that country. and
find that the practical course for our
mills and commission houses to pursue is
to locate bright young men there who
are familiar with the local languages,
and let them dictate to our mills the
class Of goods wanted and how they
should be put up for that market. In
letter from one of our consuls located in
one of the large cities there, he says:
Your people in America. may hold all of
the expositions they like; but they will
never avail much, if anything, towards
securing this trade. One or two bright
young men who understand the local Ian
guages. principally Spanish will be of
more advantage in securing trade here
than all Of the expositions that can be
held. in America He also goes on to
say Cotton goods bring a good price
here. and | am sure a good profit could
be made on Them bysour american cotton
mills We have endeavored to treat this
subject from a practical standpoint, and
sincerely huoe that the time is near at
hand when, the cotton mills in this coun-
try will not be so dependent, on any one
foreign outlet for their goods as they
are on China at the present time"
Commenting on the above. the Columbia
State says:
I'VE are firm in the opinion that, what
ever temporary arrangement may be
made the open door to China will ultl-
mately be closed TO our cotton goods
not only by the extension of Russian in
iuence, fostering monopoly for Russian
trade, but by the corresponding extension
or the trade spheres in China OF otner
nations bringing about determinations
in favor of their own products. Even
should the situation in China be tempo
rarily relieved therefore, it is the part
Of wisdom for our cotton manufacturers
TO look elsewhere for markets. IL we
hut had these markets, South Carolina
alone could supply the cotton and cotton
mills for millions of bales OF goods;
there would be practically no limit TO the
development of this great industry IN
our State But if the prosperity OF cur
coarse goods mills is to depend upon
conditions in but one foreign country,
then we may as we'll face the fact that
the scope of our manufacturing posi-
bilities is limited and that an end must
come to the building of new cotton mills.
For the domestic demand cannot ABSORB
in the near future a much greater sup
ply of goods than is now produced. ana
while our Southern mills can unquestlon-
ably work up to the finer fabrics, TINS
will be a task requiring time and ex-
perience, and progress on this line viii
involve struggle for existence between
Southern and Northern mills.
"For early results and large results
we must look to the foreign trade. With
the world as our market there is no limit
10 the possibilities of cotton manufac-
turing in this section. Many of our mills
are rich in capital and surplus, and 1t
cannot be contended that they are I'M
able by a combination of their resources
10 develop new markets for their goods
Let us hope that the policy of our cotton
manufacturers will be progressive and
that they will see the desirabilty-in-
deed the necessity-of expanding their
operations not by virtue of the arms of a
Maternal government, but by their own
intelligent and peaceful enterprise.
Governor Gambler denies that he made