Newspapers / Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, … / July 23, 1916, edition 1 / Page 8
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- ! . . i 1 , 1 1 ; : : ii i I li I mmmmmmmmm - - . II WORLD MARKETS FOR SOUTHERN COTTONS , . "' Address Delivered Before ST. C. Cotton Manufacturer' Association t ! wrigntavile Beadt Friday, July. SI, by W. A Grtham Clark, of Bm- " too, Commercial Agent, IT. S. Department Foreign Commerce. i : 0 As a result of the great conflict in Europe American cotton mills have succeeded to arich heritage of foreign trade. With some of our main com petitors entirely withdrawn from the field and-the competition from others greatly lessened we have today an unexcelled opportunity to secure an increase-our hold on foreign markets. This opportunity is of especial in terest to Southern "manufacturers as the larger portion of , our export trade ' in this line originates in the South. With an export of some $112,000,000 In the fiscal year ending June 30, 1916, the "United States now ranks second only to,, the "United Kingdom in the cotton goods markets of the world. This is a position that we have at tained only under abnormal conditions but is is a position to which we are normally entitled by reason of the extent and efficiency of our industry. .With the exception of the temporary Idemand from the armies of Europe we ehould be able to hold the larger por tion of the trade we have won, not only hold it but in many of the neu tral countries considerably increase lit. Our future depends on the use we -make of the present. - - High tide in the international cot ton goods trade of the world was reached in the year of 1913 and before -considering the future of our exports it might be well to note the extent and character of the competition that we had to face in that year, and how some of the old established currents of ' trade have since been changed. In 1913 the international trade in cotton goods amounted to some twelve hundred million dollars, of which the United Kingdom supplied over a half. Germany over a tenth, France over a sixteenth, and Japan, the United States and Switzerland each something under a twentieth. Smaller competitors were Italy, Austria-Hungary, Holland, Bel gium, Russia, and Spain. The largest -importer of cotton manufacturerswas India, with China second. The United Kingdom i3 the one great competitor that is found in every market. The cotton mills of that country regularly export over 90 per cent of their total production so that their industry depends on export trade for its existence. In the calendar year 1913 they exported $619,051,900 of manufactures of cotton, including cloth sales of over seven billion yards. Cloth constituted over three-fourths of the. total and yarn about an eight, the remainder consisting of thread, lace, cotton waste. knit goods, etc Of their vast export of cloth some two-thiras go to Asia, India alone usually taking about 45 per cent of the total. Next to India their best cloth market is found in China, fol lowed by Turkey, the Dutch East Indies, Egypt. "Australiasia, Argentina, etc. Of their record cloth sales in 1913 some 33 per cent were grey goods, 29 per cent bleached, 18 per cent printed, 16 per cent piece-dyed, and 4 per cent yarn-dyed. In the international trade . they come nearer to having a monopoly : in-bleached goods than in any other line,, while their competition is least on colored goods. It may be noted that Eome 85 per cent of the spindles of the -United Kingdom are mule, that they, have as yet few automatic looms, and that over two-thirds of their looms are engaged in manufacturing goods that carry over 40 per cent of size " on the warp. The British industry is concentrated in a small area and is highly , specialized, the operations of - spinning, weaving, bleaching, printing, Eyeing, making-up and packing being . ;&s a rule . carried on in separate es tablishments. A large proportion oi the mills work exclusively on special export cloths such as dhooties, sarries, T cloths, tan jibs, lungis, sarongs, 'comboys, khangars, kikoys, burrahs, slendangs, that are in great demand in certain sections of the world but whose names even are unknown to the manufacturers of this country. The war has resulted in a great de crease of the British exports of cotton -piece goods, from 7,075,558,400 yards in 1913 to 5,735,854.700 yards in 1914 .and 4,748,964,600 yards in 1915, calendar years. Their exports of piece goods in 1915 were therefore only about two thirds of those of 1913 and smaller than for any year since 1893. The1 loss of the important markets of Germany, Austria, and Turkey caused quite a drop in British exports of piecegoods. There has been a still greater drop due to the face that economic condi tions in India, Shina, and many of their other leading markets, have greatly decreased the demand- The great loss in such markets has been only party compensated for by France coming into the market for very amounts. In the home trade some mills have greatly benefitted by large orders from the British Government for khaki, duck. " sheeting, etc. but only a small propora tion of Lancashire machinery is adapt ed to being used for the manufacture of - such heavy goods and many orders have had to be sent to the United State?, Canada and India. The British cotton industry today is not running at much over 80 per cent of its capacity and, while this is partly due to the total loss of some markets and to reduced. purchased from others, it is undeniable that the short age of labor created by the war has . been felt acutely and that it has been found impossible to replace the skilled -men who have gone into the service of the Government. The mills have made efforts to get the trade unions to relax their customary rules and this has been done to some extent so ' that operations are in certain cases permitted to operate more machinery and women are allowed to be em ployed as creelers in mule spinning , rooms. A few of the mills have order ed automatic looms. Wages have been forced up but not in proportion to the increase in cost of living, so that wages . will probably be higher yet before the . war is over. A very significant fact is that as one means of meeting the , labor difficulties spinners are using a better grade of cotton. It Is well known that English spinners normal- . ly use cotton at least a half a grade lower than do American spinners in making the samev counts and that -this lower cost of their raw material has much aided them in export trade. The use of better grade cotton in itself will necessitate an Increase in the price of British goods and It is doubt ful if the operatives will ever con cent to go back to the use of lqwer grade cotton or to accept any reduction in wages. The cost of manufacturing In England after the war will be increased still further under the burden cf th heavy taxes that-Vill have to be imposed and the probability is that England costs will rise proportionate ly much more than American, which will give us a better chance in neu tral markets. Germany, next to the United King dom, has been the largest exporter of manufactures of cotton, attaining a i record export of $136,761,200 in the calendar year 1913. It should be noted however that cloth usually makes up only about a third of their total ex ports in this line, their export of knit goods being almost as large, and about a third consisting of other specialties like embroidery, braid, cotton waste eroods. artificial flowers, etc In cloth their competition is strongest in color ed and printed-goods and their best I markets have been found in the United j States and Europe, then in South Am erica and the Levant. In the cheap j colored goods that they ship to South j America and the Levant they have used large amounts of Indian cotton. In knit goods Germany has predom-1 inated and usually supplied some two- thirds of the international demand: it has also been the leader in the mamt-1 facture1 of the embroidery known as "etched lace," in the braid known as "Barmen lace," in artificial flowers, and in the manufacture of goods from cot ton waste. Taken altogether Germany has had little success in competing with England for the cotton cloth markets of the world and its exports of cotton manufactures have been mainly in the line of specialties. Today Germany controls several ad ditional millions of spindles located in Russia, France, and Belgium, but from" all accounts their total output la very much smaller than usual, ow ing to the increasing scarcity of cot ton, and the mills that are being op- erated are mostly on goods required by the army. France has ranked third In the ex port of manufactures of cotton in 1913 reaching a record of $75,275,600.' Cloth accounted for less than half of the total, there being a large export of lace and a smaller export of ribbons and tape, knit goods, yarn, etc Their leading' cloth exports have been in dyed and then bleached goods and their best markets found in the United States and Europe, Algeria and South America. French cloth shipped to this country has beeni mostly of high grade and tasteful designs but In addition French manufacturers, especially those of Normandy, have been accustomed to make large amounts of low grade goods "uY ",u"" V usiive popuiauras ul lueir uuiumca. i The larger part of the French cot- ton mills, especially those making fine I goods, were situated in the east and I these are now mostly in the hands of the Germans. The coarse yarn and cloth mills of Normandy have been J turned to the production of army goods I and aided by operatives from Belgium I they are running at full capacity. The export of cotton manufactures has l of course dropped greatly and in 1915 was only a little over thirty millions, and even this consisted mostly of I specialties like lace and haberdashery. The portion of - their former yarn and cloth industry remaining to them has not been sufficient to supply but a small proportion of the war demands I and imports of cotton manufactures have increased from something over I 16 million dollars in 1913 to over 116 million dollars in 1915. This hundred million dollar increase in demand has I oeen oi great assistance to muis in England, Italy and Spain in affording an outlet for their cloth and yarn dur- ing- this trying period. The amount I bought from the United States in 1915 I amounted to only $3,754,000, owing to j dustry of Europe in a disorganized con the handicap of a tariff discrimination I dition. Only a. small percentage of which forces American cottongoods to j pay from 25 to 50 per cent higher rates of duty than similar goods from the countries mentioned. Owing to the loss of its best coal districts the mills now operating in France are paying very high for their power. Some of the manufacturers from the invaded districts are erecting new cotton mills in other parts of "the country but as some mills have been destroyed and others dismantled it will probably be some years after the. war before the industry can get back to its former basis. In the export of cotton manufactures from Japan yarn usually accounts for about 60 per cent of the total and cloth for about 30 per cent, there be - ing a smaller export of knit goods and specialties. Their one big market is China and they have taken advant-' age of the war to strengthen their hold there on the yarn market in competi- tion with India and on the grey sheet- ing and drill market In competition with the United States. Their exports have increased in these lines and in ad- dition they have profited by the stop- page of German imports and the fall - ing off in imports of Manchester goods to strengthen their control of their home market by making more of the medium yarn goods that they have hitherto had to import. They have been able to ship knit goods to Eng- land itself, owing to the war demand, and they have been trying to secure a larger foothold in India, Australia, and the Philippines. Many of the mills in Japan have placed orders for mach- j American trade in exports of manu inery . in England and their output ' is j factures of cotton. In 1890 our exports steadily increasing. Embroidery usually accounts for some three-fourths of the total export of cotton goods from Switzerland, there being a smaller export of cloth, yarn, etc. During the war they have had difficulty in , getting the cloth and net used as foundations for the embroidery work and they have been hampered also by the mobilization of the Swiss forces so that the industry as a whole has been in a rather depressed condi tion. The Italian industry has suffered from the depression in their best mar- ket. Argentina, and from the total loss of their second best market. Tur - kev. but has been heloed bv war orders from the Italian and French governments and it is now getting in much better condition and seeking new markets. They are strong competitors in certain lines, especially in-- colored and napped goods. '.- .' , British India exnbrts - mainly yarn 1 to China, this accounting for some seven-eights of their total export of cotton manufactures, and the industry has suffered from the - depression andl the increasing competition from Japan in that market. ' Their small export of cloth' goes mainly to .East Africa and various sections of .southern Asia. The . mills were hard hit by the de creased purchasing ower at home but are now beginning to get on a better basis. Russia has lost about a fifth of its cotton mills, those located, in Poland, but the remaining mills have " mainly 3E switched to making heavy goods re quired by the army and the industry as a whole is using more cotton than ever before and is n a great boom with wages increasing enormously. In Austria the condition is much the same as in Germany and there is a great scarcity of cotton. It is under stood -that the Austrian mills are mak ing some effors to strengthen their hold on the markets of Turkey and the Balkans but otherwise their ex ort trade is at a standstill. , The mills in Belgium are under Ger man control and are not in a position to export. A few have been destroyed and most of the others are idle, a few still being operated on very short time In Holland the mills have been aided by orders from the Government but ! lusit cApui uauc .-.j i creasca. The Spanish Industry has profited by large orders from France and has been able to make larger sales to some or its other markets so that it is in fairly c-ood condition. To sum up we find that as a result of the war the exports of cotton goods from the United Kingdom have great- ly decreased. Germany and Austria and Belgium are doing no export trade, while France and Holland and Russia are tied up with war orders at home.' in all of these countries wages and costs of manufacture have risen and even where they can ship goods the mill prices, and especially the landed prices are on a much nigner level Though Japan and Italy and Spain are benefitting by the situation it is on the United States that foreign buyers have to rely for many lines and our cotton mills have the greatest opportunity jn their history to increase their ex- port trade. Now what of the future when the war will find our cotton industryrun- ning full time at the highest state of efficiencv, it will find the cotton in- their mills have been destroyed but many have been adapted to other uses than those for which they were design ed, many have been shut down and their machinery has rusted, others have pushed to the limit on war orders and their machinery worn out. Their work- ing force, taken as a whole, has been discorganized and many of their best workers killed or crippled, thousands of others have lost the habit of steady work and will doubtless go abroad or drift into other industries. It takes time to make trained workers and time to build up a smooth running organiza- tion so that even after the war ends it will take the mills a couple of years at least to get back to their former state 1 of efficiency. Taxes in Europe after this war will necessarily be enormous. I wages have already increased consid erblv and with the higher cost of liv ine the operatives will hardly be con- tent to go back to the former scale. I the prices of coal and many supplies will probably be higher than berore the war. Altogether it seems certain that European manufacturing costs will I be considerably higher after the war 1 than they were before and that in neutral markets goods from Europe I and the United States will be nearer in orice level than ever before. Even with the keen competition before tne war American mills were increasing I their export trade and ,1 believe will be in a better position still to witli- stand European competition after the war I Now let us consider the. status of I amounted to $9,999,277, in 1900 to $24,- 003.087, In 1910 to $33,398,672, in 19,13 to $53,743,977, in 1914 to $51,467,233, in 1915 to $71,685,259, and in lain, for which complete .figures are not yet available, it was about $112,000,000. These are for fiscal years ending June 30th. During the 25 normal years from 1890 to 1914 inclusive the exports of cotton manufactures from the United States totalled $708,442,011, of which 34.65 per cent were taken by Asia, I 31.84 jper cent by North America, 11.70 per cent by South America, 10.82 per cent by Europe, 8.63 per cent by Oc I eania. and 2.36 por cent by Africa. From 1 1896 to 1910 inclusive, a period of fifteen years, China was our leading customer for cotton manufactures but Canada then took first place and-held It for -four years until the war demand I of 1915 and 1916 made the united s.ing dom the leading buyer. Our record export in normal times was the $53,- I 743,977 exported In 1913, tor wnicn tne best markets were found in Canada, Philippine Islands, China, United King dom. Central America, Cuba, in the order named.. Over half.' of .the. total con sisted of cloth, the only other items of importance being, wearing apparel and cotton waste., ? Of the cloth exports about half consisted of grey goods, followed by colored, printed, bleach ed, and plecedyed in the order named. As a result of the war we have made large sales to the. .warring nations but that is only a 'temporary demand and it is of . more- Importance to note that QUALITY in construction, design, finish, appearance a really high class motor car that is your first and last impression of the Maxwell. In first cost it is several hundred dollars less than any other car offering the same quality and advantages. Touring Car $595; Roadster $580; Cabriolet $865; Town Car $915; Sedan $985 Fully equipped, including electric starter and lights. All prices . o. b. Detroit. LASSITER-McDUFFIE COMPANY 114-116 Nokh 2nd St. Phone 614 Wilmington, N. C we have sold greatly Increased amounts to many neutral countries and have secured a foothold on many lines that we have not hitherto seriously attempt ed to sell abroad. As yet we have however only scratched the surface and millionsjof dollars worth of orders have been turned down because the goods were of a kind not made by our mills, this refers especially to heavy sized goods and to goods made with colored head ends. It is hardly probable that we shall be able to make these, much less special export goods such as are required in large quantities by Asia and Africa, until we have mills especially built for export trade. There are however great opportuni ties now for the export of many lines o 0(is rejUirea abroad in exactly or very nearly the same styles, widths, weights, etc. as now maae oy souuicrn mills Without attempting to enumerate the different lines required by the various markets I will say that in particular there is a great market abroad, espe cially in South America, Central Ameri ca, the West Indies, and the Philippines, for cotton trousering materials. This line embraces varieties of checks, plaids, cassimeres, cheviots, imitation worsteds, and other similar colored goods that are largely made in this section. Even before the war we were gaining, a good foothold in this trade and as Germany has been the main competitor the opportunity now is a large one. It is true that the Ger mans, and Italians have largely used the cheaper Indian cotton in the manu facture of such, goods but even at that we have been able to secure a part or the trade and our chances will be bet ter after the war than before. In duck there is today an enormous demand, not only from the warring na tions but from neutral countries, and as we competed strongly in this article in normal times we will probably do an increased business in the future. In flannelettes, denims, ginghams, white and striped nobby shirting, and many other lines there will be an extension of the export trade of this section. One of the best opportunities lies in the sale of prints, I mention this be cause there is an increasing amount of print cloth made in the ,gouth and I think the mills in extending should consider the advisability of making more prints in the 31-32 inch width rather than in either 24 or 36 inch widths. The bulk of the international trade in cotton prints is in prints of 2S to 32 inches, especially in the 31-S2 inch width, and the demand for narrow prints is much smaller. We sell most ly narrow prints and have been ship- Dinsr over a million dollars worth a J year to tne Philippines, with consid erable amounts to other countries like Canada, Cuba, Colombia, Mexico. Pan ama, Dominican Republic, and Hondu ras, but in many -of the best markets, such as Argentina for instance, we have not been able to get a foothold because our widths were not right. We can make print cloths, with the assis tance of automatic looms, as cheaply as can the English and on ordinary designs our printing prices are fully as low. If we make the prints in the widths, lengths, ec as required and will put them up in assortments to suit the customer there is no doubt in my Printing of Highest Quality The' Quality of Printed Matter Depends Largely on the Style and Origin ality Displayed In the Composition. Mechanical finish and good work manship are - only obtainable through the use of proper equipment. Our plant la equipped with the latest style machinery and is modern In every respect.,. Our workmen are the best. If yon Desire Genuine Quality and Service at Reasonable Prices, send ns your orders. - . PITTMAN - McCOLL GO. PRINTERS, EJf GRAVERS, STAMP MAKERS. 18 PRINCESS ST. WILMINGTON, N. C. Buffalo Lithia Located in the most delightful section of Mecklenburg County, Virginia, this famous health resort will, this season, be ' Under Management MR. C. E; GRAHAM who has had many stars' experience in the management of leadinar hotels in t tn east and south, will have charge, with a competent staff of heads, cooks and ' servants. All conditions combine to make Buffalo Lithia Sprinsn the ideal sum-." ; mer resort. Those coming- for treatment find in the eurativ waters a proved remedy for kidney and bladder troubles, white thos seekwar amusement may -indulge in their favorite recreations. Oa Norfolk Division of Swthera Railway. Rate and fail information roaotst t ' ' Owned and operated by tftm BUFFALO LITHIA SPRINGS WATER mind but that we shall be -able to offer the English the strongest kind of com petition. For a long time our mills depended for their export trade mainly on the shipment of heavy grey sheetings and drills to China. Since the Japanese have invaded that market with goods of similar type, but made of cheaper In dian and Chinese cottons, and heavily sized, our salens' have been steadily growing less and we cannot hope for much revival of this trade. In our China trade I think that we have much better chances of competition in grey and white shortlngs, in Jeans, sateens, and poplins, in which the Japanese have as yet little to offer and where our competition will be mainly with the English. In the Philippines our export of cotton goods have steadily increased and we now have the bulk of the trade in most lines, including about seven eights of the trade in cloth. In wear ing apparel, however, we rank after Japan, the Japanese being especially strong in cheap knit goods; while of the yarn requirements of a half to a i million dollars a year we are supplying nothing, and have let Japan supply all the coarse yarns and England the fine. It is doubtful if we can comnete with Japan in the class of knit goods that j they ship to the Philippines but it is surprising to find that American yarn mills have made no attempts to gain a portion of the trade in the medium grades at least. In Canada our trade in cotton good3 has been steadily increasing, reaching 10 1-2 million dollars in 1913, but the United Kingdom, aided by a preferen- J tial tariff rate, has always led. Since i the war we have ousted the British from first place and the last fiscal year statement of the Canadian government shows some 17 millions from the United States as against only 11 millions from the United Kingdom. A good part of our export of cotton goods to Canada has consisted of wearing apparel ' but we have found a ready market for many other lines especially printed and dyed cloths. Besides the British com petition there has to be considered the output from the increasing home In dustry but as yet Canadian mills have not been able to keep pace with the in creasing amount and variety of goods required and the total import of manu factures of cotton have increased from year to year. Canada is becoming wealthier as a result ofthe war and in- spite of the tariff there should be an increasing market for many of our goods, especially as the Canadian tastes are more similar to the American than to the British and we are in a position to give very quick deliveries. Cuba is another especially atractive field for the export of American cot tons and our share of the market has been increasing several years. The British, however, have always led un til this last year when we took the first place. In studying the trend of our expor of cotton goods in the past, in the light of the present, it seems inevitable that this country is destined to occupy the first place in the markets of most of the countries of the Western Hemi sphere as well as offer strong competi tion in many other sections. Our best (Continued on Page Thirteen.) Springs Hotel I COMPANY, Buffalo Lithia Sprinn. VkrW In operation- the cost of gasoline and tires is so low it means the utmost economy. This combination should make you consider the Maxwell should mean that you will buy it if you really want value. Let us prove these statements. HOTELS -AND SUMMER RESORTS GO WHERE OCEAN THE OCEANIC WRIGHTSVILLE Fop Rates and Descriptive Booklet Address C. E. HOOPER, Manager UP-TO-DATE AND VP TO THE MINUTE HEALTH SUMMER RESORT Hotel Bel Air & Craig Mineral Spring New Castle, Va. C. & O. Ry. An ideal place to spend the summer, or vacation. The hotel stands on an eminence overlooking the town of New Castle, and commanding an extended view of the beautiful valley of Craigs Creek, with two gigan tic mountain peaks rising precipitously from the plateau below, form ing a picturesque background. The rooms are large and airy, with lofty ceiling, neat and comfortably furnished, with all modern conveniences, bath and hot and cold running water on every floor. The Dining Rooms and Parlors of the house are large, cheery, invit ing, and appropriately furnished, Delightful large ball room, golf, ten nis, bowling, fishing and general good time. t The healing faculty of the Mineral Water- for stomach, liver, kidney troubles, and catarrhal conditions is great; cutaneous aifections yield readily to applications of the sediment from this spring. Table and at tendance unsurpassed. Rates, $10.00 to $15.00 per week. For free booklet, write L. Samuel Stewart,' Manager, New Castle, Va. Dr. B. R. Caldwell, Medical Adviser. h-ENDER NORTH The Carolina Terrace Modern Hotel. 125 rooms, sixty private baths, running water in every room. All conveniences, comforts, amusements, good music. Beautiful grove and lawn, seven, acres, dverlooking principal street, 50 feet above streets, away from dust and noise. Blankets at night. No flies. No mosquitoes. No malaria. God's country. Write for Booklet THE MANAGER. LUMINA CHILDREN'S SOUVENIR DANGE MONDAY NIGHT BREEZES BLOW HOTEL BEACH. N. C. AND PLEASURE CAROLINA S0WV N v
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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July 23, 1916, edition 1
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