The Virginia enterprise., 1909-10-01
WHERE C0770N THREAD CONES E2Or- ~z1E(
The GRE47 Colts Mil S c9r077 AND

II we turn aside for moment
from the paradox and irony or spnners in Lancashire
~. oa Ut Cnemntz, 5000 miles more from cotton
neld turning out finished cotton garments for MANY
peoples including of the Americans who grew the
nsans we can admire the value of cotton goods
masseo IN the great world movements of trade From
the factories of Europe and Japan countless sh;n
increasing cargoes of cotton to everv civil
zed port Goods Of this staple constitute v.st
proportion of the merchandise hauled bv train ~
continents and where modern methods of transnoro+;o
pause pmtVe and picturesque carriers take up the hur
den OF the worlds cotton output and tr,dpo with
goods to eager customers along the most remote fro,
Cotton cloth paves the way Christianity in tho i
c ne DARK to the savages of the Congo cotton
foth Is more precious than ivory gold Under tho
night sun arctic dogs drag sleds laden with cotton ed
Inc condor and the eagle look down w0ndorinou ..I
pack trains carrying the product European cotton
across the Andes The yak burdened with cotton
goods into Tibet, Godowns along Chinese streams ~
stored with cotton goods awaiting Shipment and to the
upper reaches of the Yangtse and Hoane.bo tho n.+
trader on his junk carries cotton cloths and gar
ments to interior tribes Burros laden with cotton
from england and Germany pick their way across the
mountains of Mexico The elephants of India and tho
camels of the Levant and Egypt carry cotton goods
And the unique and almost unbelievable fact is thar
this incredible volume of traffic in cotton goods is eng
neered Dy countries that do raise tho
supply. The energy and ambition of Europe and 1anan
pledged to transporting cotton the remotest
uoos out america which furnishes the manufactured
product and makes possible the commercial invasion of
the world has little share in the profit from that CONQUEST
The contest among the powers to-day trade and
cotton in form is the chief commodity carried AS
before in history the ships and recross
the sea "are weaving the warp and the woof of the
worlds civilization. The ships of western Europe go
forth laden with cotton goods England leads in the
mighty world traffic. That kingdom has had the far
seeing wisdom provide cheap TRANSFORMATION between
the factories of England the consuming countries
And Germanys wonderful rise to rivalry due to the
clear Vision that the future Of empire on the
The successes Of Japan founded upon the
multiplying exports from its cotton mills The Sunrise
Kingdom is actually selling abroad cotton goods
than silk, and hitherto silk has been commercially su
in the far east In fact goods constitute
the most important factor in the of every
great country except America.
There is portent of great revolutionary changes
In the worlds trade in cotton goods 1t is inconcevable
that other nations at the expense America
winning trade triumphs with commodity which they
do not naturally possess which they cannot obtain in
sufficient quantities outside of the United States and
which they could not manufacture at profit
fact that we sell the product and at times,
below the cost of raising it, There is logical
why the United States should sell Europe only
worth of finished cotton goods while that part
of the world exports to than $50000O00 worth
And there is logical why should continue
to be possible and profitable for little halffrozen
try the roof of Europe to reach to America pur-
chase hundreds of thousands of bales cotton and
carrying Atlantic, ship them back
to the United States in finished form and in quantities
amounting in value to 5000, 900 in year.
We have been unjustifably jubilant regarding
foreign trade We do sell abroad quantities
of goods and materials, but in respect cotton
largely the product which there is little profit
Alone of all the industrial nations the United States
not important factor in the sale of goods to
mankind For instance of the international demand
cotton yarns we supply less than onethrd of per
the record up date of writing disclos-
ing Americas unsuccess as an International trader in
cotton goods
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF COTTON GOODS FOR
THE TEN MONTHS ENDING OCTOBER, 1908
imports Of Cotton Cloths Dyed Unbeached Painted Etc.
From
England IS 705, ,453
France ......................... 517o47
Germany 329,819