The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-06-11
S50,000 Will Pay Expenses of
 Cotton Experts
TO VISIT FOREIGN MARKETS
According to Plan Outlined the Work VIII Be Under the Immediate Direction of Secretary
 Metcalf.

Washington, June 0.-(Special.) .)-The legislative appropriation bill which IS now in conference will probably be agreed upon this week and go to the President for his signature. As the bill stands an amendment was inserted by the Senate carrying an appropriation of sS0,Oo0 for the enlargement of the cotton export trade. The advocates of this amendment are inclined to believe that 1t will be re- tained in the bill and become law. The importance of the amendment is obvious from reading.
 It provides for report from the de- partment as to the opportunities for and the obstacles against the enlargement of our export trade in cotton goods the kinds and qualities of goods in demand the shipping facilities, freight rates, and the commercial and financial agencies nee- essary for successful competition of our cotton manufacturers and exporters in foreign trade; to collect full lines of the standard specimens of all cotton products consumed there, to exhibit them in the different cotton industrial centers of the United States, classified, labeled, and ar ranged for exhibition with complete in- formation as to the countries in which they are produced, wholesale and retail prices, the patterns in demand by different localities and by different classes of con sumers, and the essential conditions of each kind of goods
 Best Done by Department.
 The original bills introduced in Con- gress having for their object the further ance of this work created a commission but 1t was the opinion of the secretary of agriculture that the work could best be undertaken through the department of commerce and labor and this suggestion was accordingly adopted. Secretary Met calf will therefore have charge of the work and will probably name several ex- perts to visit China and other countries where the possibilities of enlarglng the foreign trade are considered good On a small scale during the past year work of this nature was undertaken by the depart ment and it's good effects are already evident. Maj. John M. Carson, the eff hcent chief of the bureau of manufactur- CTS, has caused to be sent to boards of trade and, commercial clubs throughout the south samples of cotton patterns In demand in China These sample, it Is hoped, will be closely followed by Ameri- can manufacturers, and. it is the opinion of Major Carsen. that 1t will only be a matter of few years before the Chinese trade can be largely controlled by the United States.
 Wilson Advocates Legislation.
 Secretary of Agriculture Wilson is a strong advocate of the proposed legisla- ton. "The cultivation and manufacture of cotton Is the leading industry of the | United States" says the secretary. We supply seven-tenths of the raw material, l of which 30 per cent Is used In home con ] sumption. 9 per cent Is held In stock, and l 61 per cent is exported. The latter Is manufactured Into yarn and cloth by the foreign purchasers and sold in the worlds markets to the approximate value of $500 | 000,000, of which immense aggregate the manufacturers of the United States par 1 tlcipate only to the extent of $60,00 600. | "Mow to increase our share In this great and steadily expanding trade Is a 1 problem confronting our planters and manufacturers. the solution of which deep- ly concerns our domestic welfare and in- l dustrial prosperity and our commercial | ] therefore presenting reasonable grounds of success. especially when they emanate l from and have the deliberate approval of those directing the great industry invol- we'd, are entitled to the most careful con slderation. The study of foreign mar kets is essential to the promotion of the object Tn view and I believe the services of those expert in the manufacture and marketing of cotton products would be valuable in this connection. I do not, however, believe the work contemplated can be accomplished by employing ex- l perts alone. It has been demonstrated by the experience of our commercial rivals | confirmed by voluminous testimony of our consular officers and special agents. and by individuals who have studied foreign markets, that recognition of existing con- ditions, methods of conducting business, habits and tastes of the people, their pre- ferences prejudices, and supersttions is infinitely more important than expert in- quiry into. or previously acquired knowl- edge of, the technics of manufacture"