Imperial Valley press., 1914-09-09
Vote California Dry
COT ION MANUFACTURERS
CHANCE AT EXPORT TRADE

New 0rk sun. WIN Cne pafaIy-
sis of cotton manufacturing Germany,
Austria and large part Of France,
and the restriction placed upon ex-
rorts to other countries by war con-
tingencies, students of the cotton sit
uation naturally are turning their at
tention to the possibilities of con-
sumption by American mills. 1t is
generally conceded that exports of
European farics will be seriously re-
stricted as long as war continues and
that the effects on trade will be felt
for considerable period in case hos
Titles are protracted.
Perhaps the best idea of the oppor-
tunities presented to the American
cotton manufacturer, so far as ex-
FORT trade is concerned, might be
gained by pointing out the disastrous
consequence of the war upon the tex
tile industry of Europe. In the Unit
ed Kingdom, for instance, the con-
sumption of cotton in 1913 was 4,44O.-
900 bales. Germany consumed 1,800,-
900 bales, France 1,O25,O0O bales, Aus
tria 100000, Italy 100000 Spain $780,
900, Belgium 100000 and Switzerland
10000 bales. In that same season
the mills of America consumed $780,
GOO bales. Of the cotton consumed
/ by Germany, Britain, France, Bel
gium and Austria, probably 100000
tales represented Egyptian and East
Indian cotton.
Cotton men generally take the view
that Germany may be practically
eliminated from consideration. The
total French consumption, instead of
reaching 100000 bales, may be cut
down to less than one-half of this
amount. Great Britain, which might
have taken 3,75O,OOO bales of Ameri-
can cotton, may not take over $780,
900 Lales. The industry in Belgium
will be curtailed probably 60 per cent.
If Italy is not engaged in the war
textiles in that country may not be
affected and Spain may be expected
to take normal amount.
Under any consideration, however,
the spindles of Europe may be count
ed upon to consume at least 100000
bales less than normal. Such goods as
may lie manufactured will be sold in
the home markets, with the excep-
ton of a large part of the reduced
output of Lancashire.
The interesting question, therefore
is how much of this deficit in the
worlds supply of cotton fabrics the
mills of the United States and Can.
ada may be forced to make up. China
has no large stock of goods, and the
South American demand must be
met.
Moreover, cotton in this country
must be used as a substitute fol
fabrics that hitherto have been i'm
ported. There never was a greatel
scarcity of bagging than at present
owing to the stoppage of imports o
jute from India. Cotton bagging, sucl
as osnaburgs, light weight ducks ant
heavy sheetings must be substituted
Osnaburgs can be made from low
grade cotton combined with cottol
waste and the quality could be great
ly raised if raw cotton should b.
cheap.
The greatest difficulty to be me
by American manufacturers will be il
the finishing of colored cotton good
owing to the scarcity of dyestuffs
Fully 80 per cent of our dyes ar.
imported from Germany and at pres
ent there is only one to three month.
supply in this country. When it come:
to high grade dyes, fully 100 per cen
come from Germany. These dyes arc
coal tar preparations, in which Ger.
man chemists have specialized. Ever
If the capital and skill were fortbcom