The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-01-30

that line Is much more severe than IN
fine better grades. Chinese imports OF
niece goods total about $75,OOO,OOo a
wear. and the American share OF TINS
has for the last five years been main
tanned at between five and six million
dollars, which is somewhat below our
share in previous years.
The war in Europe, according to Mr.
OdeIrs report, has curtailed the pur-
chasing power of the Chinese people
but it has also restricted the exports
of cotton goods from the principal
European source. Stocks throughout
the country are gradually diminishing,
and it is likely that there Will be an ac'
tual shortage in the near future. II
full advantage Is taken of the present
by American manufactur-
ers who are willing to find out just
what the market wants and then sup
ply it. it is probable that American
cotton goods will regain the position
they once held. "ln spite of the pes
simistic views of some of those who
have watched the rapid decline in our
trade in sheetings and drills in Man
churia, there are excellent grounds for
the belief that American ingenuity and
modern methods of manufacture Will
yet make it possible for the United
States, the second largest producer of
cotton goods in the world, to secure an
appreciable share of the trade in this
large and expanding market if we will
avail ourselves of the opportunities
which await us and which have been
partly created by the present world
vide conditions"
In normal times China is the largest
market in the world for cotton yarns
and the second largest for cotton piece
goods. The value of the yarn brought
into the country averages about $l5,-
100000 annually and of piece goods
about $4,000, 900, and it Is estimated
that the domestic production Of piece
goods equals the quantity imported,
so that the total consumption of cot
ton piece goods may be stated as $780,
100000. Ten years ago American cot
ton goods had a large sale in China; in
fact, China was the largest foreign
market for such goods. Some ground
has been lost, however, by reason of
from Japanese and, very
recently, from Chinese mills.
The necessity for a thorough under
standing of the situation led the bureau
Of foreign and domestic commerce to
send special agent to make an in
yestigation on the ground, along the
same lines that the bureau has follow
ed in studying the cotton goods mar
kets in practically every country in
the world The results of the inyesti-
cation are set forth in a 242-page
entitled Cotton Goods in
China" This report is an exhaustive
one, including chapters on yarn and
thread, grey and white piece goods,
grey sheetings, drills and heans, grey
and white shirtings, trade methods,
currency, tariffs, shipping, practical
suggestions, cotton manufacturing in
China, hand-loom weaving in China,
native supply Of raw cotton, and the
South China cotton goods trade. There
are also extensive lists Of importers,
Mr.. Odell made a collection of sam
pies Of the cotton goods in demand in
China, and this collection is being sent
around the country for examination by
cotton goods manufacturers. The re-
port which is officially designated
Special Agents Series No. 1O7 is sold
for the nominal price of % cents by
the superintendent OF documents, gov
ornmcnt printing office, Washington,
and by the district offices of the bureau
of foreign and domestic commerce.