Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-11-16
OUR FOREIGN LETTER
Dealing with Commercial and In
duStrial Affairs Abroad.

Testing American Coal for Gas Max
ing In London-The Glove Indus
try I'm Austria-Other In
tere.tfnE Items
Regarding the importation of Amer
lean coal to London for use in gas max
ing, the Daily Tele-
graph, of that city,
has the following
tosay: Basing these calculations on the
tests so far made in American gas coal,
the South Metropolitan Gas company
obtains results which justify the re-
cent purchase they made of some 1000
tons of this mineral for experimental
purposes. The cost of Durham coal,
which is the best English coal obtain
able for gas making purposes, is at
the present time about $3.50 per ton,
free on board, and the freight to Lon
don is 81 cents per ton, giving in round
figures a total cost of $4.S7 per ton.
The American article, including
freight, touches about $6.57 a ton.
There is, therefore, a considerable mar
gin in favor of British coal on the
score of prime cost, and any counter
balancing advantage gained from the
use O1 CCdl 1IuSt hc LII It's
better producing qualities and its supe-
rior yield of coke and other marketable
residuals. Roughly speaking, a ton of
Durham coal will produce from 10000
to 10000 cubic feet of gas. The
American contractors limited at be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 cubic feet
per ton as the yield of their sup
ply, but, although the results show
figures considerably exceeding those
attaching to British coal, they
fall much short of the American
estimate. 1t is necessary, however, to
note that experiment has so far been
made with only fraction of the 1000
tons brought over, and fuller tests may
materially affect the comparison one
way or the other. Nor can the tests
be regarded as thoroughly satisfac-
tory, in that the American article has
had a slight admiXture of the British.
In future experiments, this combina-
ton will be avoided and the imported
coal taken on its merits entirely. On
the whole, the test has proved more
| favorable than a similar one recently
made in Paris.
The glove industry in Austria has
shown remarkable growth within
the past few years.
In 1850, the total
"i"<e production of gloves
within the empire was about ZOO
dozens; in 1897 it had risen to 1,75O.O00
dozens; and at the present time it is
| not far from 1000 600 dozens. The
| city of Prague records the greatest
| gain. The number of esta blishments
| increased there from 100 in 1850 to
! 1875 in 1899; the number of cutters
| from 453 to 1000; and the number Of
| gloves manufactured from 100000 to
| 1000, 900 dozens. Vienna follows with
ITO establishments against 213 in
1ssO), 500 cutters (360 in 1880, and 275.-
900 dozen gloves Gs7 900 dozen in 1ssO)
The decrease in the number of estab
1ishments in the latter city is to be
accounted for by the prevailing tend
ency toward concentration.
| In the Erzgebirge, the third impor.
| tant center of the Austrian glove in
dustry, the production has increased
| dozens in 1899.
Austria at present not only supplies
almost her entire home demand fo1
! gloves, but also exports this article to
the value of over $4,000, GOO per annum
The only foreign makes imported
are Krimmer gloves (Which are pro-
duced at remarkably low rates in
Chemnitz) and buckskin and mocha
gloves from Germany, superfine kid
gloves from France. and sporting
| gloves from England.
The Austrian glove industry has not
| prospered without experiencing severe
| trials. 1t has had to meet increased
foreign competition and lower prices;
but with cheaper labor and an in
creased capacity of it's factories, it ha.
continued to compete successfully ever
in German markets. There are now il
the empire number of establishment:
capable of turning out 10000 doze1
gloves per annum.
The principal market of the Austrian
glove manufacturer is England, where
recently a large demand has sprung
up for silk-lined (Milanese) gloves, {
demand which is at present supplied
almost exclusively by Austria.
The export to the United States
which was considerable up to 1897, ha.
shrunk to about 20 per cent. of its for
mer amount. In the two years from
1897 to 1899 it's value decreased from
$492, 900 to 500, 1871.
/ In his interesting series of letter.
entitled Round Russia" now appear
ing in the Londo1
Daily Chronicle, Mr.
nry Norman
speaks of the wonderful development
of the cotton industry. In 1886 ther,