New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-27
The
World
and Us
BY WILLIAM WHITTAM.
Formerly special London agent OF
the United States Depart
ment of Commerce.

months ago, and on which import duty
was charged on the price ruling wnen
the goods landed here, and not at the
price actually paid for them, leads one
70 remark that if the governments OF
Europe collected duty on raw cotton
and followed such plan it would very
nearly, if not quite, wipe out the Euro
pean cotton manufacturing industry.
Or, II our Southern friends, the Got
ton Democrats" had succeeded some
fifteen years ago in their attempt to
have an import duty put on Egyptian
cotton coming into this country very
important branch Of our own cotton
manufacturing industry would not have
been developed. The only baibriggan
cotton goods in use would all be I'M
ported.
There may be business government
somewhere some day.
American shoe manufacturers have
had healthy export trade for some
years. We have bought our favorite
American make in Europe many time
The American invasion forced the Brit
ish manufacturer to study style. DO
much so that the Britisher comes over
here regularly to get early information
about new American shapes.
Here is the true story of one Ameri-
can shoe manufacturer who does pig
business in England: He sent his flrst
consignment to the English market
from his regular stock years ago at
time when American sole leather was
made 10 be worn inside overshoes in
wet weather. Now "goloshes," as they
were termed in the wet North Country |
of England, were almost unknown. Con-
sequently the American made shoes
were condemned as Yankee fraud"
Their soles would not stand the per- /
petual moisture. This enterprislng and /
persevering Yankee shoemaker, how
ever, did not wait to educate the Ameri- !
can tanner. He imported English 4
tanned sole leather-on which he got
his re-export drawback-and as result
soon laid the foundation not only for
his own success in the British market,
but for the big sales Of many another
American shoemaker. And there is no
hope for the American cotton manufact-
urer until ne learns the lesson of his
brother the cobbler.
Legislation aside; for shipping TO
be profitable imports and exports must
be well balanced in tonnage and cargoes
near maximum size.
We are talking lot about trade J
with Latin America, but seldom refer TO
the very important fact that outgoing
and incoming freight between those
countries and our own is not well bal
anced. Hence high freight rates, poor
and irregular facilities, which are al
ways a serious drag on trade expan-
sion. A free customs zone annex TO
the Port of New York would go a long
way toward removing this handicap.
And, by the way, we have had more
associations, societies, schemes and
money spenders after South American
trade than have been directed to trade
development with all the rest of the
world. Shooting the biggest guns at
the smallest target.
"This was place where ships WAR
run in for oil, which is almost
the only fuel of these days" says a
cable to The Tribune from London.
dated August 20. Oil, then, is q vital
necessity in this as it will be in futur.
wars. i
Preparedness is vital American is
sue. How do we stand as to oil? The |
worlds production Of crude petroleum
in 1914 was 400, 4s3, 4s9 barrels. or
which the United States produced 1886
pc. cent, the Teutonic allies 1.51 per
cent and the Entente Allies $3.50 per
cent. On an oil basis We are a four
power nation when compared with Rus
STA, the next largest producer, with
1914 per cent Of the total output. The
British Empire produces 2.40 and con-
trolls much of the output of Rumania.
Galicia and Mexico. There is not much
left for the remainder of the nation,
to control.
Foreign military requirements have
turned trade balance against this coun-
try in dry goods amounting to $3.50, OOo,- !
900 annually to a balance Of $4,000. 900
in our favor. Most of our non-military
textile exports are due to European
machinery being busy on other govern
mental work and unable to supply their
regular customers.
Here in the native habitat OF cotton
and the birthplace of the typewriter
we turn to Europe for the cloth from
which our best grades Of typewriter
ribbons are made.
During May this year Japan sent u
Sl,060,350 worth Of cotton cloth and
yarn. An increase Of s52l,l10 over Ma,
1915.
American Steel production has in
creased from about 1s.40O,oO0 tons
year just before the war. when the