The sun., 1905-09-05
The Cotton Export Market.
Commenting on conditions In tn
cotton market, Duns Revfew says:

+ Commenting on conditions in the
cotton market, Duns Revtew says:
The fact remains that whe producing about
three fourths Of oil the raw cotton grown In the
world. this country exports only \ per cent OF
the manufactured goods. and each year imports
about twice - much a. Il e1ports-
It finds the remedy for this peculiar
trade disorder to be "merely a matter
OF method and adaptabillty':
Possessing the raw material. domestic spin
ners would bs In an imprsgnabis position a. com.
petitors In tho markets OF the world II they would
only mako what the world wants and sell II In .
mannsr that appeals to CONSUMERS abroad
The census Of 1900 shows that there
were in this country at that time ZOOS
cotton mills with an aggregate capitali-
cation Of 4o7,2Ao,o0o. These establish
ments gave employment to 100000 per-
SONS, to whom they paid $4,000, 900 In
wages. It is safe to assume that these
figures have been somewhat increased
since the census was taken, although
our domestic consumption Of raw cot
ton, estimated in weight, shows little or
no increase since that time. New mills
have been erected, additions have been
made to older mills and more capital
has been invested. Such development
as appears in the industry 10 largely
fictitious and represents little or nothing
except an increased competition for do
mestio trade.
The import markets Of tho world.
exclusive Of our own, purchase annually
about S125, ,0OO0 600 worth Of cotton yarns
and thread. Our yarn sales last year
were Sslo,2s7. The world market abb
serbs more than $3.50, o0o,o worth Of
cotton cloth per year. We sold last year
to China $27, ,7el ,0o5 worth. and to all the
rest OF tho world $13.559, ,447 worth. OF
other forms Of manufactured cotton
goods, such rs underwear, stockings,
handkerchieis, &C., the world buys
more than 500, ,OOO, 900 worth annually.
We sell about s5,oO0.o 900 worth, one-half
of which goes to Canada. This is not
at all q creditable showing for q people
as much disposed as We are to boast Of
our superior commercial activity and
intelligence.
+ In 80 far as they relate to our export
trade, the conditions which obtain in the
cotton business and the principles which
apply to 1t find duplication in nearly
all branches Of American productive
industry. The despatch Of special trade
agents, or the establishment Of resident
trade agents in connection with our
consulates, are Of only limited useful
ness and value until there shall be deeply
impressed on the minds Of our producers
and distributors the fact that tho busi-
ness Of the world is open to them along
strictly commercial! lines and that
foreign trade waits only on their effort
to secure it.
30 long as we confine our activities
to the mere supply Of domestic re-
quirements, with spasmodio effort to
dispose Of an accumulated surplus, and
80 long as We limit our energies to efforts
to convince potential customers that
goods which suit us ought to suit them,
whether they do or not, We are only
petty traders and not . commercial
world power. There is no sound reason
why we should not export 500, 900, 900
worth Of manufactured cotton goods
annually.