The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-29
COTTON GOODS TRADE
WORLD-wIDB ACTIVITY IN MANU-
 FACTURING SHOWN.
RemprlxabIe Record of Iron and steel Industry Bids Fair to Be Fully Matched by the FIeecy
 Staple.

Baltimore, Md. April 2S.---(SpeciaL)--- Worldwide prosperity in cotton manu- facturing Is shown in special letters published in this weeks issue of The Manufacturers Record, indicating that the remarkable activity in the iron and steel industry of America promises Tn the near future to be fully matched in phenomenal activity and prosperity in the cotton goods trade not only of this country, but of the world. A compre- hensive report on the conditions in England, prepared by a leading Man chester authority for The Manufactur- CTS Record, states that the export trade to China and India has been unprece- dented in volume, the revival having commenced last fall and by October the manufacturers were sold seven or eight months ahead. Since then conditions have continued to improve. and the oldest trader finds 1t difficult to remem- Der a time when the engagements of manufacturers were so deep. engage ments, too, made on a basis profitable to them. In view of the heavy busi- ness done in January it had been ex- pected that there would be a consider able slackening, but, on the contrary, the market continued surprisingly &C., tive and a large business wes done for delivery running twelve so fifteen, months ahead. The continuance of the active demand and the capacity of ab- sorptior were astonishing even to those who thought they understood the con ditions of the Celestial Empire. As far as could be seen, price differences were a secondary matter, the period of delivery being the first consideration.
 At this time 6S5,000 looms are run ming full time in Great Britain, with a demand so difficult of fulfllment that it is said second hand looms in good condition are being bought up at ad- yancing prices The exports for the first three months of the year were l. 530, 000,00 yards, largely in excessl Of the same time last year. Both manu- lecturers and merchants seem to be Of one mind as to the desirability of a pause, owing to the dificuity with shippers to keep up the promised de- liveries. Manufacturers have advanced prices in order to check the demand.
 So great Is this activity in British cotton circles that 1t is regarded there as phenomenal as Is the marvellous ex- pansion of the iron industry In tnis country. Fortunately. however, the cotton manufacturers ot the UniIed States are beginning to share in the same prosperity, although the tide did not turn here quite so soon as in Eng land. Reviewing the situation In the South a correspondent, who has made special inquiry throughout that sec- tion, writes as follows:
 For some weeks past there nave been unmistakable signs of the grow
 ing Improvement in the cotton mill
 business of this section. in fact. of the entire South. This is seen in the building of new mills and the enlarge ment of others. The whole Southern cotton milling field has taken on the air of renewed prosperity. one If the
 factors being an increase in .he export business. which is now being steadily worked up, and the export mills of
 the South are sold up at prices show ing big profits, while the yarn mills are in a particular good condition. One large mill making export goods has sold It's entire production to May, 1906, and mill men stated that they could sell goods far Into next years delivery if they would take orders now The demand for goods may be said to be unprecedented In the history of cot- ton on-fnanufacturing. The one great need Ia for ships to carry our goods.
 The foreign business Is limited only by the carrying capacity of the ships available, and this fact Is urged In fa- vor of ship subsidy. The home mar
 kets are holding their own. but are not as active as the export trade