COTTON TEXTILES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



89 



To intelligently answer your query No. 3, 1 send you herewith a list of the 

 cotton textures mostly used here, their average weight, width, and mar- 

 ket value here. I also send some samples which might prove of interest. 



By the statistics you will see that Spanish and English manufactures 

 have entirely crowded us out of the market. The Spanish manufactures 

 do so owing to the discrimination made in the tariff; the English and 

 French manufactures because, notwithstanding the high ocean freights, 

 they can be put on this market, even on an equal base of import duties, 

 cheaper than our manufactures. This is claimed by importers here. 

 Then again the importers here state that American manufacturers are 

 not willing to accommodate them by selling small lots of different 

 classes and patterns. English manufactures sell as few as ten pieces 

 of a class or pattern. The goods are generally purchased at net prices, 

 from three to four months credit, and interest at the rate of 5 to per 

 cent, per annum, from time of shipment. If the orders pass through a 

 commission house 2J per cent, is generally charged, if bought direct 2J 

 per cent, discount is given. It has been extremely difficult for me to 

 translate the technical Spanish terms into the technical English names 

 for them on account of my not being familiar with the details of the 

 trade in cotton textiles, and should further explanations, be necessary, 

 I will be happy to furnish them. 



OTTO E. REIMER, 



Consul. 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



Santiago de Cuba, July 15, 1889. 



Translation of section of cotton textiles in Spanish customs tariff now in force in the 



Island of Cuba. 



fNos. 379 to 419 included.] 



