New-York tribune., 1902-12-05
ENGLISH TRADE
EFFECTS OF AMERICAN COMPETITION
IN THE SHOE STRY-YORKSHIRE
EXPORTS IN The METAL AND
TEXTILE TRADES
Sheffield. Norenber u.

Sheffield has not Deen exposed 10 the aS-
sressive force of American competition Its
iron and steel plant is not hopelessly behind,
ike the mechanism in the shoe factories Of
Leicester and Northampton. In those towns
there are idlers in the streets, wages falling
.n the factories. and once prosperous industry
lies al the mercy OF American competition
There have been urgent warnings from progress
sive manufacturers and sagacous trade jour
nails that American rivals were reducing the
cost of production year by year through labor
saving devices for making holes clamping eye
lets, sewing buttons and dispensing with
bandworl5 in the manufacture of boots and
shoes but the masters OF Northampton and
Leicester have been sluggish. obstinate and
bind in clinging to old time cobbling methods
The industry in America has been transformed
during the last thirty years by the continuous
course OF invention and organization. and e2-
Yorters are now enabled to place superior goods
in the English market at prices which defy
competition from Leicester and Northampton.
II has not been tariff industry; inventive skill
and business organization alone have been be-
hind It; and after securing absolute supremacy
in the home market it is gradually taking pos
session Of the English market. If Northampton
and Leicester are steadily losing business. the
facturers dc not deserve sympathy from
their own people. for they have neglected to ac-
cept offers from American manufacturers Of
improved shoe plants for the re-equipnent of
their factories with the newest labor saving ap-
7liances and the introduction of the NewEng-
land system Of subdividing and multiplying
processes until over hundred workInen are
enoployed in making a single shoe. Such nlechan-
ism as they have is not the best although 1t
may have been good enough ten years ago, and
n the reorganization Of their industry they
have been sluggish ana inefficient English,
boots and shoes are now undersold by the
American trade. the old fashioned plant is kept
in operation at loss. and skilled workmen in
Northampton and Leicester are out Of employ
Inent-
There has been ineptitude OF this sort in
Sheffield. The Rogers knives are made on the
same site, if not in the same factory. where
they have been turned out for generations and
If some OF the anvils show the signs of con-
tinuous wear. the brand is still known all over
the world. Sheffield cutlery is industry
which holds its ground against both German
and American competition. and foreign tariffs
are powerless to exclude it. although successful
in reducing its Importation The master cutters
have kept abreast with modern invention, In
froduced new mechanism and labor saving de-
vices and cheapened their product, possibly not
to the same degree as their German rivals, but
sufficiently TO maintain their grip upon their
own and many foreign markets The iron and
the highest point Of efficiency in the manufact-
are of the most delicate instruments and the
most complex engines, and the talent for or
Eanizaticn and combination has not been lack
ing, for the great capitalists, by virtue Of re-
cent amalgamations with firms on the coast
are prepared to take contracts for building the
largest ermored battleships and arrning them
with the heaviest guns. The smoky, grirny
city has remained a stronghold Of British In
dustry and grit and centre Of prosperous in
r1ustry and wealth The American Consul gives
me a glowing account OF the splendid mansions,
brilliant entertainments and gracious hospitality
of the iron and steel princes OF Sheffield. and
speaks with enthusiasm and admiration Of their
capacity for business and their high character
and public spirit.
While Sheffield retains its hold upon the home
market, its trade with the United States has
shrunk under the operation of the American
protective system. Its exports during the last
twelve months have amounted to 2.621, ,569. an
increase OF S144s77 in comparison with those Of
the preceding year. This increase was due to
2 gain OF $50 931 in steel. caused by deficient
supply in the United States, and Il concealed
Joss Of SS6.43 In cutlery exports during the
same period When the ma gnitude, high quality
and variety Of the manufactures with which
Sheffield has been identified for generations are
kept in mind the shrinkage Of its trade with one
of the richest and most prosperous countries IN
the world is a striking proof Of the development
Of home Industries in America The export OF
engines and machinery from Sheffield to Amer
ica has virtually ceased: the silversmiths and
manufacturers of electroplated goods have been
shut out of that market: carving tools. razors,
shears and cutlery are shipped IN diminished
quantity; and two-thirds of the exports in value
consist Of crude steel, which cannot be produced
fn America with sufficient rapidity TO meet the
requirements of domestic trade. A critical ex-
animation Of the records of their trade with
both the United States and Germany convinces
Sheffield manufacturers that they have virtu-
allv lost two great markets where their su-
prenacy was acknowledged a generation ago;
and It also warns them that resources for COM
petition in the worlds trade have been accunu-
lated In those countries and that the future VIII
witness the survival of the fttest- 1t enrofces
the moral which Sir William Preece has drawn
this week in q remarkable address before the
Society of Arts in London that Englands INDUS
trial cornpetitors are gaining ground in conse-
uuence Of superior knowledge OF markets. 'ener-
zetic business habits, regular intelligence de-
partments more practical commercial ana
technical training systematic protection of their
own markets and rejection of free trade 1al-
lacIes.
The consular statistics OF The Leeds export
trade with the United States confirm these con-
clusions Although Leeds includes the textile as
well as the metal trades and is larger centre
Of manufacturing than Sheffield, its exports 10
America amounted TO only S1,o74,1l4 during the
twelve months ending September 30 II there
was a gain of S103513 over the exports OF lhe
preceding year. it caused by unusually ial se
shipments of wool. leather. hair. skins iron ana