186 COTTON TEXTILES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



about 800,000 spindles, using about 30,000 tons of raw cotton per year. 

 In these factories there are about 13.517 power and 14,300 hand looms, 

 besides about 42,000 hand-looms in rural residences scattered through- 

 out the country, making a total of about 70,000 looms. The cotton in- 

 dustry is said to employ 70,000 persons. 



The yarn or thread manufactured in Italy is generally of the highest 

 numbers. About 8,000,000 pounds were imported in 1889, chiefly 

 from Great Britain, Switzerland, and Germany. The production of 

 woven goods is valued at about $32,800,000 per year, being insufficient 

 for home consumption. The imports of the usual cotton tissues for 

 1889 were about 20,000,000 pounds. 



Linen goods are used in Italy very much more extensively than in 

 the United States, which accounts for the comparatively limited con- 

 sumption of cotton textiles. 



Various attempts have been made to introduce cotton goods from the 

 United States into Italy with greater or less success. So far as I have 

 been able to learn our fabrics have given great satisfaction. The busi- 

 ness of the last person who undertook in this city the importation from 

 the United States was broken up by his death, and no one seems to 

 have taken it up. Were serious attempts to be made to introduce our 

 cotton textiles into this country no doubt larger sales could be effected. 

 But it mast not be forgotten that the channels of trade have been for a 

 long time established, and that it will not be an easy task to establish 

 new ones. The English, German, and Swiss manufacturers would no 

 doubt be unwilling to surrender any portion of their trade Vithout an 

 effort to retain it. But the present unsettled condition of trade would 

 seem to offer an unusually favorable opportunity for our manufacturers 

 to make the attempt. 



Cotton goods are generally sold by agents or travelers sent out by 

 the manufacturers. For our manufacturers to successfully introduce 

 their goods they must employ the proper means, and have trustworthy 

 agents on the spot, or skillful travelers who understand the customs of the 

 trade and the Italian language. They must also ascertain the wants of 

 the people as to styles, widths, weights, and packages. Large quanti- 

 ties of calicoes are used here, but the designs that would suit the 

 American trade would not'be acceptable in every part of Italy. 



I will append to this tables showing : 



(1) The imports of cotton, threads, warps, and tissues, into the Province of 



Rome for 1886 and 1887. 



(2) The same for the Province of Cagliari, Sardinia, for 1888. 



(3) The same for the Province of Sassari, Sardinia, for 1888. 



(4) Cotton tissues imported into Italy in 1887, with duties and countries of ori- 



gin, in detail. 



(5) The same for 1888, with duties and countries of origin, in detail. 



(6) Threads and warps imported in 1887, with duties and countries of origiu, 



in detail. 



(7) The same for 1888, with duties and countries of origin, in detail. 



