Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-03-19
Thos. Gibson, Formerly of ottum-
wa, Commends Yankee Push.
HAS JUST RETURNED FROM ENGLAND
Tells of the Good Showing Made by
American Manufacturers in Foreign
Countries-Goods of This Country
Sell Over European Competition.
From Wednesdays Daily.

J..
Thomas Gibson, of Battle Creek,
Mich, who was a resident of this city
and an employee of Samuel Lilburn
Packing, company ten years ago, is in
Ottumwa for short visit with friends.
Mr.. Gibson is native of Ireland, and
has put in a great part of his life in
travel thru different parts of the coun-
try. He has only recently returned
from a trip to England and Ireland,
and talked Interestingly to a Courier
reporter today regarding his expert
ences in foreign lands.
After leaving Ottumwa several
years ago, Mr.. Gibson went to Mime
sofa. where he engaged in the prod
uce business for some time. His
health failed him and he went to Mex
leo, where he remained short time,
going from there to Argentina, South
America. From there he went to
England and visited his old home in
Ireland before returning to America
Mr.. Gibson, like all other loyal
Americans, prefers this country to
any he has visited, and prophesies a
great future for the industries of this
nation He characterizes as remark
able the showing made by the Ameri-
can steel and iron firms in England
and Ireland.
American Progressiveness.
Mr.. Gibson, in speaking of the mag
|nificent showing America is making
in foreign markets, said: 81 was sur
Iprised to see the American goods sell
SO rapidly. At the rate this coun.
try's business is going now she bids
fai1s n tolyo all "a do Of hn yoy1I
OF at least SO large share that other
pare with that of the United States.
''The American firms are shipping
to England's ship builders much of
the steel used in the construction of
the large vessels, as well as steel and
iron for several other purposes. Just
before left Dublin a contract was let
for the construction of additions to
the city's electric traction system.
German, English and American firms
We're bidding, but America easily won
the prize. It is so all over Great Bri-
tain, and when one picks up an En-
glish magazine he can see headlines
like England Must Wake Up and
other similar pieces of advice to the
effect that if that country does not
brace up she will lose her prestige
as among the greatest commercial
countries on the globe.
American Bicycles.
Many American bicycles are also
selling in England The amount
would be much larger than it is but
for the fact that the manufacturers
in this country do not like to ship to
England extra small parts for the
bicycles, and the result is that when
a machine breaks it is very difficult
to find a part like the one broken.
This fact alone is responsible for the
small demand for American wheels in
comparison to that for other American
articles of commerce
The Labor Question.
s'The American manufactures sell
better in England than do the English
goods even tho the wages in this coun-
try are higher, because the labor un.
ions there fight the introduction of la
Dor saving machinery. This is simply
working against themselves, but they
do not seem to see it. The labor saw.
| ing machinery puts the manufactury
in position to do more work, and
with an increase in work he can hire
more men and pay better wages than
with few orders.
American Coal.
During the excitement over the
Boer war, when the English navy had
to be well fitted out as to coal, the En-
glish dealers in that commodity put
their heads together and raised the
price of the black diamond about 1C
per cent. Right there the American
coal began to come into England, and
the price was brought steadily down
to the former figures, in order to al
low the English to compete with the
Yankees.
In South America.
"In South America there is also /;
good sale for American manufactures
but the American is hindered there
by the fact that he has the advantage
of no good banking facilities. TIL,
English are there in large numbers
and are able, on account of thei
banking facilities, to sell on longe
time than the Americans can. TIL,
motto of the manufacturers in thi