New-York tribune., 1906-07-03
MUST FIGHT FOR TRADE.
American Cotton Exporters Get Only Over
flow Orders.

The export trade in cotton goods of the United
States has been remarkably active recently but
this is not to be attributed much TO the energy
and activity of manufacturers and exporters as to
the creation Of an abnormal demand for cotton
goods in the markets of the world Practically
all the extra business which have done came
to us after the European mills had been overrun
with orders, and customers were obliged to come
10 us or go without.
The overflow, when forced from Europe took the
only course open to it. Atlantic and the
result was a boom in cotton goods trade for
which we were not at all responsible. but Of which
we reaped the profits contentedy. That this con-
dition OF affairs will continue indefinitely is not to
be assumed. Indeed. the foreign mills realizing
the strength Of the demand, making prepara-
hons to supply it in the future, and upless Ameri-
can manufacturers make some effort to keep the
markets which have come to them unsolicited the
prospects are that they will lose them TO the
energetic manufacturers of Europe
England has added about 100000 new spindles 10
her mills in the last eighteen months and has in
creased the number Of her looms very materially
Ing demand II Is evident that the growth in the
pected TO use more than a fraction of the goods
which these new spindles and looms will produce.
Their owners. therefore must of necessity. compete
for new markets or encrOach on the trade of their
competitors in the present markets. When they
do this the action will most certainly affect the
standing OF manufacturers in the United States un-
present grip or to gain foothold in those Gnr im
pOrtant buying centres which we have not yet
II must be remembered, too. that the many new
mills now being erected in the United States must
hnd a market for their wares and, rapidly as new
mills are now springing up the pace win be much
faster in the South when the many hydro-electric
plants now under construction completed and
ready TO deliver electricity at low price to mills
consuucled 70 use this type or power TO the best
advantage OF India, which really buys more cot
ton goods than China. know practically moth
ing from trading point of view. We send kes IN
dri5lets less than half million dollars worth of
cloth year out OF total importatOns by that em-
pire amounting to more than a hundred million dol
lars annually.
Great Britain sold TO foreign countries last year
according to Oeial statistics 2 600 600 pounds OF
cotton yarns. valued at S66001O, while the value OF
the cotton yarns exported frC m the United States
was but 1929 This is an important branch Of the
export trade which has been wholly neglected In this
country. our share In II being insignificant Cotton
yarns are bought extensively by many countries
thing like s5090O.oeO annually, while American for
egn sales Of cotton yarns hover persistenty around
a beggarly quarter OF million mark Russia holde
first place IN the list of buyers from the United
Kingdom both in the quality OF the yarns and in
the price she pays for them, while Egypt Is the
smallest purchaser. Germany, the Netherlands and
ineia are an laEse yarn purchasers: the pest Eng
LAND has, so far as the volume Of trade is con-
cerne6- II American manufacturers OF cotton goods
expect to retain their share OF the trade of the
world they must awake TO a realization OF the situ-
alton and take energetic steps counteract the ef
fects which are sure 20 follow the enormous in
crease IN productive capacity I'm Great Britain
The British Consul at Arabistan Persia, in his
report the trade OF that country for 1905 SAYS
that a Russian firm from Ispahan is trying TO
push LOdz cotton goods in the Persian market
There Is Gel tain sale for this class OF goods. but
be of superior quality. though higher in price, and
price IS q great factor IN the development OF Per-
sian trade The Russian firm has obtained
ordeFs for cotton tweeds and cashmsres, but the
demand for them is not large The Russians give
s'sesF customers a credit Of three months which
British nFlus nlil not risk