98 COTTON TEXTILES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



pression in the cotton industry, and in both short-time working is being resorted tc 

 or proposed, with the object of checking production and restoring, if possible, the 

 margin of profit which has, of late, entirely disappeared or greatly dwindled. The 

 depression should, however, only be temporary in India, which possesses many ad- 

 vantages over Lancashire in supplying Eastern markets. Each year shows morti 

 clearly how well founded is the concern with which Manchester regards the develop- 

 ment of the manufacturing industries of Bombay, and the half-dozen new mills which 

 are about to start working in the Western Presidency will, even at this unpromising 

 time, prove more dangerous to English manufacturers than to their neighbors. 



PRESENT CONDITION OF INDIA'S COTTON TRADE. 



Some light is thrown on the present condition of the trade in cotton 

 goods in this part of India by the following extracts which I copy from 

 the annual statement of the sea borne trade and navigation of the 

 Bengal Presidency for the official year 1888-'89 : 



The importation of cotton goods was much larger in the past year as compared 

 with 1887-'88 and the figures are the highest yet reached. 



Gray cotton piece goods advanced by 74,500,000 yards with an increased value of 

 11 lakhs of rupees; (a lakh of rupees is 100,000 and for practical purposes 3 rupees 

 equal $1*). White piece goods, by 28,500,000 yards and 45 lakhs. Colored printed or 

 dyed piece goods by 19,000,000 yards and about 32 lakhs, against a decline of about 1 J 

 lakhs in other cotton goods. Yarns, gray and white, turkey red, and other colors, 

 show a small decline of about 400,000 pounds in quantity, and slightly over a lakh 

 of rupees in value. * 



It would seem doubtful, however, whether this large trade has been profitable to 

 either manufacturers or importers. In Lancashire spinners have done comparatively 

 well, while manufacturers have fared badly. 



The previous year was a fairly good one for the latter, and as a consequence there 

 was an increase in the number of looms, followed of course, by an advance in pro- 

 duction. In the past year spinners have obtained better prices for their production 

 while manufacturers have been unable to obtain a corresponding advance for the 

 manufactured article. The spinners too bad to cope with small supplies of cotton 

 during the latter half of the year, and the consequent rise in the prices, besides which 

 they had to concede an increase in wages to their operatives. 



The quality of the American cotton was not up to the average, and to keep the 

 quality of their yarn, higher grades had to be used than formerly. Speakiug gener- 

 ally, the trade for the year has not been satisfactory to either spinners or manufact- 

 urers. 



EUROPEAN VS. AMERICAN COTTONS IN INDIA. ^ 



In this connection I will take occasion to say that it is generally 

 understood that American cotton is of longer staple and materially 

 superior to that grown in India, and the American manufacturers of 

 cotton piece goods, so far as they have been introduced here, are gen- 

 erally conceded to be of superior quality to Manchester goods. 



The "Pepperell drills "found their way into India, and are held in 

 high repute for their superior durability. They are used principally for 

 men's and boys' every -day summer clothing. 



Mr. Foster, my vice and deputy consul-general, who is a merchant in 



* A rupee, Treasury valuation, 32.3 cents. 



