The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-13
Demand for Cotton Goods
Alone Is One to Attract
American Interests.
FUEL OIL A GREAT NEED
Modern Farm Machinery Grad
ually Making a Place Among
Primitive Natives.
BY RAJANI KANTA DAs.

Lecturer in Foreign Trade Net1 York
University.
India offers very promising market
to the manufacturing and commercial
interests Of the United States. The coun-
try Is very extensive. the population is
large and the demand for commodities
OF all kinds IS great The question is
what are the special requirements OF
such u vast population which the United
States can advantageously supply?
The most important requirements Of
the people are cotton goods. In fact.
India is the largest consumer of cotton
fabrics. The climatic conditions OF the
country and the economic conditions OF
the people make the use OF woollen goods
both unnecessary and impossible. The
annual output of cotton goods from do
mestio factories is far from adequate,
especially in finer fabrics. The rivalry
of Lancashire manufacturers and the
coarseness and shortness Of Indian cot
ton fibre have been impediments to the
manufacture of the cotton goods OF finer
quality in India.
Although india win supply more and
more OF her own needs, yet she will re-
main for some time to come a great mar
ket for cotton fabrics of finer quality.
The greatest rival Of the United States
in this commodity is Great Britain,
which has the virtual monopoly OF the
trade. Japan is another rival. But the
United States has some advantages, such
as long and fine cotton. highly efficient
machinery and skilful labor, 10 DO
successful competitor, She has already
invaded the Indian market with great
success While the export from Great
Britain has declined. the value of the
export OF cotton piece goods from the
United States has increased from f173,-
600 In 1894 to $3.50, 900 in 1e17-1S.
Fuel OH In Demand.
One of the crying needs Of India IS
the adequate supply OF fuel The grow
ing population has exhausted the forest
resources Of the country and the coal
supply Is anything but satisfactory al
! the present outlook. The mineral oils OF
| Assam and Burma are not adequate. II
will be some time before she can gen.
crate heat and power from her water
resources. India will. therefore, buy 9
large supply OF mineral oils from abroad
| The United States has undoubtedly
sure and increasing market in India
| Her chief competitors will be England
/
and Mesopotamia are developed. The
value of the mineral oils exported to In
dia was f1,540,000 In 1914 and rose
to 1921, 900 In 1918.
Much more important commodities ol
the expors Of the United States are iror
and steel products. The iron and stee
industry OF India is still In Its Infant
stage. The needs of the country have
grown much beyond It's productive ca
pacity, The United States stands pre-
emnently in an advantageous position tC
supply with iron and steel the growing
demand OF india.
The importation of iron and steel from
the United States rose from 22S2,OoO II
1914 to e2,241,00 in 19l7-lS. show.
ing an increase in value of about 9Ot
per cent. In the course OF five years. OF
all the iron and steel imported into In
dia in 1919, about one-fifth came from
tho United States alone 1t is by TAI
the most important commodity OF Amer
lean export to India.
Tho greatest need Of India to-day Is
machinery. India has already over 1000
mills and workshops working under the
Factory act of 1911. The greatest effort
Of the country to-day is not only to In.
crease the cotton, jute and other old In
eustries but also to- start new manu-.
featuring industries. such as oil press
ing To this purpose the national
energy has been devoted. Within the
last two years several big corporations
have been started, including one for the
pressing of vegetable oils. The most i'm
portant demand from India for the com
/ ing generation will be machinery from
abroad The United States has the op-
/ portunity Of being the leading exporter
Of machinery in India. The value OF
American machinery and mill work ok
ported to India was a16s0oo in 1884
and cess 900 in 1917-1s. showing an in
crease of 800 per cent. in the course OF
I five years