The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-14
GERMANY'S TEXTILE WORKERS.
= Special Report by IN American
Consular Agent.

report ON IN" textile Industries FI Ger
many. The report states that the sreat
industries Of manufacture and export of
silk cotton. and wooien goods are kept
alive hy the importation of nearly all the
necessary raw material Continuing. the
report says.
The sources from which the materials
are drawn. the exports of highly finished
products. and the vast economic inpor-
tauce of these industries TO the welfare of
the German people are subjects which
must interest not only American manu-
tactureTs Of these lines. but many of our
merchants and importers as well.
"Germanys textile industry. as q whole,
stands upon two pillars, both of which
are necessary 70 i;s-maintenauce. namely,
the unrestricted importation of raw ma
terials and the expectation of products
manufactured therefrom."
In 1900 Germany imported from the
United States for manufacturing pUr-
poses 256.2@5 tons Of cotton. which was
used in the production Of almost every
grade and variety of textiles The report
adds:
Germany is becoming each year more
dependent upon the United States for her
cotton supply. The increasing consump-
uon Of American cotton at home. to-
forts to compete in the markets Of the
world with cotton productions is viewed
with alarm by German manufacturers.
Attempts are being made to introduce the
American cotton plant into German West
Africa. with a view to become. if DOssi-
Die, less dependent upon the United
states Germany produces only 10 per
cent of the fax needed TO supply her
mil IS"
Commenting on wool. the report says.
sheep raising in Germany rs rapidly
on the decline. Pasture lands adfutod 60
grazing have been compelled to give way
10 the llOw, and cheap ocean fTei@hts.
hICh have enabled the WoolgrOWers Of
Argentina. Australia. and Cape Colony
10 unGerbld home producers. have sealed
the fate Of this industry in Germany. In
800, there We're y, UuJ.O head of sheep in
all the different States which today con-
pose the German Empire. In 1913. this
number had been reduced To 5000 90.
The statistics for 1888 show 70 19l 90 and
Tor leS2 only E5ye,eyu. in the fan % 1895,
there were 100000 sheep in Germany or
a decrease of almost 800 per cent in forty
years This Is the more significant, when
We consider that mutton forms staple
food product i'm the suSteuauce Of any
people, and especially SO Ill Germany,
where the Inhabitants increase ~ the
rate Of 100000 annually. Today. Germany
Is only abOle To supply p per cent of the
wool necessary for her textile industries
In 1879. nearly $50Oj9.OJJ worth Of Imported
wool was consumed by the textile indus
tries Of the Empire.
The total imports Of raw material nee
esSary 10 sustain the various textile in
duSIrlcS Of Germany amounted in 1900 TO
SIS. D64, coo, the import Of piece goods, fin
iShed and Otherwise, and all textiles
either manu- aCturcd or in an unfinished
condition, amounted 10 S9Jo93. SO
The total exports Of textiles from the
German Empire, in 1900 amounted To S242,-
LOO Ten years ago the exports were
about the same, for which there are two
reasons Many foreign markets. which
were heavy buyers of German textiles
ten years ago. are pan TALLY covering their
demands today from home production
The gradual development Of similar in
1uStricS in countries like the United States
has been felt in Germany Again. the
rapidly increasing demand for such goods
by the German people has done much TO
prevent an increase in the exports.
I'm 1895 there were S93,251 persons en-
plOyed in factories directly engaged in the
manufacture Of textiles. The tendency in
Germany. with a few exceptions is for
large factories tC rapidly absorb small
ones
IT is difficult 20 average the rate OF
wages in the textile industry, owing TO
the manifold varieties OF production, the
different values placed on skilled and Uu-
skilled labor, and the employment Of
women and children For example, IN Slle-
STA. the average rate OF wages per capita
amounts to s1iTSl per aunum- This in
Cludes an Increase in wages of % per
cent since 1881 II must be remembered
however. that in ease or sickness. labor
ers in Germany receive medicine and hos
pltal nursing without cost at the hands OF
the State This wage rate would not ap-
ply TO central and southern Germany.
where conditions are materially better. In
1897, the total production Of all the textile
factories in Germany amounted TO $50.
6I8 90. OF this sum, S2l2, 495. 500 worth was
consumed Al home
Nearly 100 200 persons are employed in
the manufacture Of hosiery in the Ger
man Empire The annual output amounts
% S5,1O3OJo, Of which 81 per cent Is ex-
ported The United States buys more
hosiery Of Germany than does any other
country. Next to Great Britain. we also
buy the greatest quantity Of cotton gloves
Owing to our tariff and the progress made
by American manufacturers in the pro-
dUCtiOn Of hosiery for men and children
only ladies' fast black and fancy hosiery
are still purchased in SaXony on the same
scale as IN former years Il would seem
that the increase in German hosiery eX-
ports had about reached its limit
I'm summing up his report, Alr- Harris
saws
The traders I'm cotton. flax. wool and
silk. with all their employees. the wives
and children Of the woTllmeu. the inter
ests connected with the outbound ships
from Hamburg and Bremen. with their
CaTEOeS Of wooden goods, hosiery, cs<teu
and wool gloves. silk goods. trimmings,
lIcrS. Ike curtains. etc, are all luQl-
recuv dependent upon the prosperity Of
these Industries for an existence So sen
sitive is the industry. on the whole. to
outside influence that its welfare is one
o.. the most difficult problems for the
Government TO consider. when IL comes 90
the question OF preparing commercial
treaties with other nations The German
Government VIII strive TO negotiate COM
meTCiIl treaties for 4 long period of time.
for the reason that manufacturers esDa-
ClalIy thoe" Of textiles. having once pur-
chased machinery aus sChODIed labor to
TIE production OF certain line Of goods
would De dcmoraliZed by being suddenly
/ confronted with a change Of policy OF
new tariff
when the time arrives for ass 90 con-
Clude q commercial treaty with German
we should. If the policy Of reciprocity is
to Doe carried out, aim TO retain our pres
ont tariff on all German textiles which
can Doe produced iu the United States by
machinery. while reducing the taum on
. articles made by hand. The time has ar
rived for us 20 put forth every effort TO
, foster and develop the production Of tex
tile, within the borders of our own CUUn-
try We can produce almost all the uects-
sarE raw materials. which represents in
itself a great saving of time and freight
Care should be- taken to assure markets
for textiles in advance. owing to the fact
that DNtTprOduvtipu is the worst enemy
To- the prosperity Of any industry This is
every where apparent today among ihe in
IuEtri.s OF Germany. Our manufacturers
should no longer be content with merely
selling their surplus 10 Other countries.
II Germany can build Up thriving indus
I. try by importing an the materials for the
production 1t t,NJilcs. what may We not
accomplish with these things immediately
al hand American cotton mauufactur-
srs. for example should study German
methods of production. with lew OF
competing i'm the markets of South and
Central America and China.
THE further development Of q great
textile Industry I'm America means the
further development Ia the production of
such STABLES as fax and wool not to
speak of cotton The climate in some
parts OF the United Sf4t's SIS suited to the