The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1909-10-23
Mk8 C0T7QY -7NRfA0 C0t1ES ER0T--

by.
10 We turn aside for n moment
from the paradox and irony or spinners In Lancashire
st. Gall or Chemnitz, 5000 miles and more from a cotton
field. turning out finished cotton garments for man,
peoples. Including some OF the Americans who grew the
raw material. we can admire the value OF cotton goods
massed In the great world movements OF trade. From
the factories OF Europe and japan countless ships
carry increasing cargoes OF cotton fabrics to every civil
liked port. Goods woven OF this staple constitute a vast
proportion OF the merchandise hauled by train across all
continents. and where modern methods OF transportation
paufc primitive and picturesque carriers take up the bur
den OF the worlds cotton output and trudge with these
goods to eager customers along the most remote frontiers.
Cotton cloth paves tho way for Christianity In the iungles
OF the Dark Continent; TO the savag" OF the Congo cotton
cloth 10 more precious than ivory or ge'1. Under the mid
night sun arctic dogs drag sleds laden with cotton goods
The condor and the eagle look down wonderingly up
pack trains carrying the product OF European cotton mi
across the Andes. The yak goes burdened with colt
goods into Tibet. Godowns along Chinese streams are
stored with cotton goods awaiting shipment. and to the
upper reaches OF the Yangtse and Hoang.ho the native
Chinese trader on his junk carries cotton cloths and gar
ments TO Interior tribes. Surros laden with cotton goods
from England and Germany pick their way across the
mountains Of Mexico. The elephants OF India and the
camols Of the Levant aud Egypt carry cotton goods.
And the unique and almost unbelievable fact is that
this Incredible volume Of traffic In cotton goods is engi.
neered by countries that do not and cannot raise the raw
supply. The energy and ambition OF Europe and Japan
are pledged 10 transporting cotton goods 20 the remotest
door. but 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 today Is for trade and
cotton in some form Is the chief commodity carried. As
never before IN history, the SHIPS that cross 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 TO provide cheap transportation between
the factories OF England and the consuming countries
And Germhny's wonderful rise to rivalry is due to the
clear vision that sees the future Of It's empire ON the
sea. The new successes OF japan are founded upon the
multiplying exports from Its cotton mills. The Sunrise
Kingdom In actually selling abroad more cotton goods
than silk. and hitherto silk has been commercially su;
preme In the far east. In fact. cotton goods constitute
the most important factor In the commerce OF every
great country except America.
There Is portent OF great and revolutionary change,
In the worlds trade in cotton goods. II Is uncomfortable
that other nations can go on at the expense OF America,
winning trade triumphs with n commodity which theJ
do not naturally possess. which they cannot obtain In
sufficient quantities outside of the United States, and
which they could not manufacture at a profit but for the
fact that we sell the product near and. at times. even
below the cost OF raising II, There In no logical reason
why the United States should sell Europe only $4OO0.0 900
worth OF finished cotton goods a year while that part
Of the world exports 10 us more than s5O,OOO,O00 worth.
And there is no logical reason why Il should continue
10 be possible and profitable for a little ~halffrozen coun'
try ON the roof Of Europe to reach out to America, pur.
chose hundreds Of thousands Of bales OF cotton. and,
after carrying them across the Atlantic, ship them back
to the United States In finished form and In quantities
amounting In value to Si5, 900 900 In n year.
We have been unjusihably jubnant regarding our
foreign trade. We do sell abroad enormous quantities
largely tho raw product. on which there Is little profit.
Alone of all the industrial nations the United States Ia
not an important factor In the sae of cotton goods 10
mankind. For instance. OF the International demand for
cotton yarns we supply less than onethird Of one per
cent
Here Is the record. up To the date OF writing. discios-
lng Americas unsuccess AZ an international trader In
cGtton goods:
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS or COTTON GOODS FOR
THE TEN MONTHS ENDING OCTOBER. 1908.