The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-11
Germany's Industrial Progress.

Germany's Industrial Progress.
Mr.. NJ. G. MULHALL, the British statis-
tician, whose analysis Of the last United
States census attracted much attention,
contributes to the North american RerieU
an account of the industrial advance Of
Germany. He undertakes to show that the
manufacturing n commercial develop
ment of the German Empire during the last
twenty years has been relatively greater
than that of any other country in Europe.
The further assertion that the German
workingman is exceptionally prosperous
seems at first sight surprising, for the rea-
son that Germany's public debt is now
nominally five times as burdensome as IL
was before the Franco-G German war. In
1867 the total debt, not only of Prussia,
but also of all the other States now includ-
ed In the German Empire, was $62O,O0O,-
600; it is now SO, 9OO, 100000. No less
than SO per cent, however, of the
present debt is represented, by State
railways, purchased by means of scrip
bearing from Gig to a per cent. In.
terest. The State now owns 25,400 miles,
or 90 per cent. of all lines in the empire.
As the ordinary net earnings of these rail
ways average 5 per cent, 1t Is obvious that
the investment leaves a large annual profit
to the Treasury. II the sum paid for State
railways be deducted, the real aggregate
debt of the countries comprised in the
German Empire will be foun not to ex-
coed $3.50, OOO. 900, which is less than 81
per inhabitant, against $50 per head in the
United States, $1O5 in Great Britain, and
$175 in France, the national and local
debts being combined in the three last
named countries.
Before noting some of the data relating
to the progress of Germany in manufac-
lures, we should observe that agriculture
Is not at 80 high a level as might be
expected from 30 industrious a people.
The area of land under cultivation
ls only AZ per cent. Of the whole, and
tho output of food is insufficient for the
population, although the number of hands
employed in farming is nearly the same as
in the United States. Nevertheless the an
nual value of rural products has risen
from 81, 100, OOO, 900 in 1855 to $2,OO2,-
100000 in 1895. Large as the last-named
total is, It is $50, 900, 900 less than the
value of farm products in the twenty-three
Western States Of the Union. 1t is owing
partly to the incessant drain of the German
military system on the peasantry and partly
to the impossibility of using improved
Z machinery on small farms, that the inhab-
itants Of the German Empire are obliged
to subsist on imported food during two
months in the year.
II, now, we turn to textile manufactures,
we find that the weight of fibre consumed
In the German mills has more than doubled
in the last twenty years, the figures being
100000 tons of cotton, wool, flax, &c., in
1874-75, against 800, 900 tons in 1S94-95.
At present, Germany consumes 10000 tons
more fibre than France, whereas the latter
country was very much ahead before the
Franco German war. In cotton manufac-
lures, Germany has distanced all other
Continental nations, counting, at present,
100000 spindles. of which one.third be-
long to Alsace-Lorrain and were formerly
French. In silk manufactures she comes
next after France, and, as regards woollens,
the two countries are about equal. The ap.
proximate value oftextilem manufactures pro-
duced in 1859 was $54O, 600, 900, of which
more than a fifth was exported. Since 1875
the value Of textile goods exported has al
most trebled. Even more remarkable has
Deen the Increase IN the hardware lnuuS-
try, which, In two years, has amounted to
$50 per cent. Germany now holds the
third place among the nations of the world
as q producer of steel, It's output having
risen since 1878 from Sc, 900 to $500, 900
tons. The value of all hardware manufac-
lures is now about 1925 ,OOO, 900, of which
nearly n sixth Is exported. In respect of
this industry. Germany's output. compared
to that of France was, in 1878, as 4 to 3,
while 1t SNOW as 8 to g. Compared even
with that of Great Britain, Its present pc.
sition is as that Of 3 to 4.
Passing to the manufacture of sugar, VIC
observe that during the last twenty years
the quantity Of beet root consumed in the
German mills has trebled, the production
of sugar quadrupled, and the expectation
multiplied eighteen fold. Whether owing
to improved machinery or to n better de-
scription Of beet root, q ton of beet root
now produces 90 per cent. more sugar than
II did In 1875. The superior yield has
compensated for the fall of price. The
tignifcant fact is pointed out that,
although as late as 1SsS-9O the aver
age consumption Of sugar was but 10
pounds yearly per inhabitant, it Is now
thirty pounds, which is proof that the PEG,
pie are better fed than they were even seven
years ago. Meanwhile, the bounty ON ex,
portation has been reduced from $40 to so
per ton. In mining, Germany is surpassed