In addition to these, the variation of tariff charges, notably the reduction of Indian tariffs, the returns and reports to Parliament of statistical information, the Inquiry Commissions, and some few small enactments, all have their influence in a greater or lesser degree on the industry.
The cotton goods of a standard make at the commencement of this century comprised printer, muslins, corduroys, fustians, sheetings, shirtings, twills, ginghams. In 1830, records give madapollams, tanjibs, domestics, jacconets, gauze leno, figured muslin, splits, and velveteens. Later, in 1846, there are chronicled lawns, books, nainsooks, figured counterpanes; and, in 1864, brilliante, chambrey, blue mottle, satin checks, in addition to previously mentioned goods, from which list the absence of dhooties, Turkey reds, Turkish towels, and cloths of later origin will be noted.
A comparison of the position of the cotton trade to-day with what it was some thirty years ago shows a decided change in one respect—i.e., in the firms conducting the business. Many of the old private firms have disappeared and their places been taken by companies, while, for many years back, the tendency has appeared to be in favour of carrying on the trade by the co-operation of small capitalists. Some of these companies are not limited, being formed by a few speculative operatives who invest the savings of a frugal lifetime in the mill concern, to which they also devote their labour, being satisfied at the year’s end if they have drawn an ordinary wage, week by week, while the capital has been added to, and increased. Manufacturing, in consequence of the comparatively smaller amount of capital required, is generally selected for the above system.
To these establishments many of the wealthy manufacturers of North Lancashire can trace the beginning of their prosperity. By far the greater number of these companies, however, especially in spinning, are on the limited liability principle, and their increasing number shows how valued, as an investment, such companies are; so much so that it appears not unlikely, what with the narrowing margins and increased competition, that the trade will, at no very distant period, cease to be a means of making the wealthy cotton lord, and, as the trade falls into the hands of gigantic companies, become merely a bank, with a small rate of interest, in which the wealth of the smaller Lancashire capitalists will be locked up.
This carries our thoughts to another branch of the subject—the importance of the trade with regard to the capital invested in it, a sum which cannot fall short of seventy-five million pounds even in Great Britain alone, without taking the allied industries of machine-making, dyeing, calico printing, lace and hosiery manufacturing into account. By dipping into calculation, taking the spindles at the figure of 17s. 6d. each, and the looms at £16, the amount invested in plant will touch £45,000,000, and adding to this a floating capital of £30,000,000, fully which will be necessary to the trade in importing the raw material, converting it into fabric and distributing the same to the world, a total sum is obtained which indicates what is at stake in this mighty industry.
Statistics.
A perusal of the subjoined list will indicate in figures the extent of the trade, and from it will be observed the comparative importance of our trade with each country. Taking the value of the exports of piece goods only as the standard of comparison, the list of countries will be found as follows:—
Exports of Cotton Manufactures—Piece goods of all kinds.
| COUNTRY. | QUANTITIES. | VALUE. | ||
| Twelve Months ended December. | Twelve Months ended December. | |||
| 1886. | 1887. | 1886. | 1887. | |
| £ | £ | |||
| Germany Yds. | 45,358,400 | 40,765,000 | 676,321 | 626,104 |
| Holland | 34,132,200 | 43,203,200 | 519,491 | 590,154 |
| Belgium | 61,499,600 | 65,712,700 | 867,666 | 921,207 |
| France | 35,474,900 | 34,585,300 | 681,047 | 598,531 |
| Portugal, Azores, and Madeira | 54,312,300 | 66,761,400 | 563,006 | 683,429 |
| Italy | 85,053,900 | 119,961,500 | 965,010 | 1,364,075 |
| Austrian Territories | 6,391,200 | 5,946,800 | 76,291 | 72,245 |
| Greece | 36,020,900 | 35,860,000 | 429,066 | 454,862 |
| Turkey | 299,706,200 | 299,824,400 | 3,358,980 | 3,271,768 |
| Egypt | 139,384,500 | 156,150,900 | 1,280,335 | 1,391,736 |
| West Coast of Africa (Foreign) | 37,493,200 | 46,394,300 | 427,945 | 547,784 |
| United States | 45,251,600 | 44,028,500 | 1,148,955 | 1,054,221 |
| Foreign West Indies | 90,237,900 | 95,223,700 | 922,322 | 973,227 |
| Mexico | 32,312,200 | 35,412,200 | 359,932 | 380,378 |
| Central America | 37,503,800 | 53,490,800 | 379,280 | 522,006 |
| United States of Colombia | 42,905,800 | 61,637,100 | 425,716 | 572,082 |
| Venezuela | 23,718,200 | 44,697,300 | 239,287 | 446,528 |
| Brazil | 241,034,500 | 215,370,400 | 2,679,273 | 2,517,899 |
| Uruguay | 35,732,600 | 49,767,800 | 414,497 | 615,685 |
| Argentine Republic | 104,812,100 | 105,585,100 | 1,224,586 | 1,394,604 |
| Chili | 59,701,800 | 73,694,800 | 562,722 | 768,366 |
| Peru | 33,593,000 | 23,894,800 | 354,389 | 251,189 |
| China and Hong-Kong | 455,823,000 | 552,742,700 | 4,570,207 | 5,624,953 |
| Japan | 34,628,500 | 65,403,800 | 383,500 | 699,462 |
| Dutch Possessions in India | 86,511,500 | 105,572,700 | 928,813 | 1,082,348 |
| Philippine Islands | 43,214,700 | 39,247,900 | 481,513 | 387,062 |
| Gibraltar | 12,082,300 | 17,424,300 | 138,767 | 190,988 |
| Malta | 24,021,500 | 16,987,100 | 250,668 | 175,010 |
| West Coast of Africa (British) | 28,502,600 | 38,584,300 | 318,964 | 414,283 |
| British North America | 32,584,700 | 33,692,500 | 634,158 | 620,378 |
| British W.I. Islands and Guiana | 42,723,200 | 51,593,100 | 489,367 | 582,803 |
| British Possessions in S. Africa | 21,465,800 | 32,443,300 | 341,689 | 523,845 |
| British East Indies | ||||
| Bombay Yds. | 797,776,900 | 647,673,400 | 6,871,733 | 5,737,475 |
| Madras | 142,687,200 | 126,804,300 | 1,408,193 | 1,296,161 |
| Bengal | 1,178,374,300 | 1,037,464,800 | 10,207,523 | 9,422,554 |
| Straits Settlements | 103,929,600 | 144,570,800 | 949,983 | 1,325,562 |
| Ceylon | 14,868,200 | 16,914,200 | 160,201 | 184,024 |
| Australasia | 96,756,600 | 91,399,900 | 1,700,432 | 1,551,069 |
| Other Countries | 152,629,100 | 165,262,100 | 1,779,844 | 1,907,257 |
| Total | 4,850,210,500 | 4,904,109,200 | 50,171,672 | 51,743,314 |
| Total—Wholly of Cotton— | ||||
| Unbleached or Bleached | 3,497,866,100 | 3,473,477,400 | 32,237,682 | 32,812,846 |
| Printed Dyed, or Coloured | 1,351,976,700 | 1,430,537,600 | 17,922,454 | 18,925,985 |
| Total of Mixed Materials,Cotton predominating | 367,700 | 94,200 | 11,536 | 4,483 |
| Total | 4,850,210,500 | 4,904,109,200 | 50,171,672 | 51,743,314 |