The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-02-24

have tended to stimulate the recent
demand for American cotton cloth In
China. Il. unuuestionably. h int1u-
M Of foreign capital which Il be-
ing expended In the construction OF
railroads and the opening OF mines.
The influx IL bound Co continue and
TO increase In volume. and q very
large aroun OF credit for the result
Is due to the fact that. In response TO
the appeal OF the government Of the
United States. the nations OF the
world ave agreed. In the most no
quivocal terms. TO respect the fntcg-
ritz OF the Chinese empire. While
the n OF Acknowledgement huns
9 China. there could be neither
commercial confidence within. nor
faith In h security Of investment
from without The establishment OF
both marks the opening OF a new
era In the history OF China. pregnant
with momentous results for the COM
merce Of the world. and. not least
among the nations. for the commerce
~ the United States. That a careful
study by competent men OF the new
conditions which mark the dawn Of
the new day in China would bring
out facts OF the highest value TO the
manufacturers and merchants OF the
United States. and particularly 60
those engaged In the production and
distribution % cotton fabrics. does
not admit of question. II Is eight
years since any well equipped COM :
mercial commission went through
China. and the reports Of the Black
burn commission of Lancashire cot
ton spinners. and OF the Lyons COM
mission OF the French silk manufac-
lures. remain the most authoritative
trade with the great UNEMPLOYED
markets OF the interior OF the empire.
1t Is the turn of America TO take up
and continue the work which was so
well begun in 1897. and to see that
1t IL placed in hands equally capable.
The field is the most inviting one that
the world has to offer today. because
the result attending Its thorough in
vestigation may prove OF untold VAL
and will certainly have an interest
for no people so profound and far
reaching as they have for our own.
Central and South America used
OF our goods las
They being our nearby neighbors our
trade with them should b. largely
increased. From correspondence has.
ed on consular reports. IL will be seen
that he Mediterrean, Red Sea, and
Gulf regions are clamoring
for our goods and for reasons rcmov-
able cannon obtain them. Mr.. Pres
ident, we believe these markets can
be so developed that they will become
large and regular users OF our goods.
We therefore respectfully request hat
you obtain authority from Congress
to appoint, to begin this work at once
a special commission to take steps for
the retention OF the export markets
for cotton products in China. Central
and South America. the Persian Gulf
the Mediterrean and Red Sea re-
gions."
In conclusion the address called at
tention to the fact that m half a CEN
fury from 1850 the value OF cotton
products has grown from s12s.7s9.-
900 in 1850, to s721,949.00 o I'm 1900
and that IL we add to these figures
the value of the products of the linen.
jute. hemp and bagging mills Of tho
country, there is an additional pro-
duct of $413,e22.00o: making the to-
tai value OF the products of u tex
tile mills. when they finally reach the
market, s1.124,971.77s. This IL added
does not include our great cotton
seed industry, which represents a val
ue of about $50. 900. 900. and which
under the influence of the Grout bill
is selling it's oil today at five cents q
gallon under its relative value to
other oils and greases."
The committee later conferred with
Secretary OF Agriculture Wilson.