The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-01
COTTON IN AUSTRIA
REPORT ON MANUrAcruRE OF
 THE STAPLE.
Bulk of That Used is Imported from the United states-Hungary the Chief Consumer of
 Mills Output.

Washington. Aug. si-(speciai.) Limited States Consul Ethelbert Watts at Prague writes as follows to the Department of Commerce and Labor concerning the cot ton manufacturing industry of Austria: Owing to the prevailing uncertainty and apprehensions of tariff separation be- | tween Austria and Hungary (which lat ter country was a province of Austria only thirty years ago), the Hungarian market. upon which the Austrian cotton mills greatly depend. continues in state of jeopardy. Hungary had, up to within few years. no textile industry of its own and 1t has been supplied almost en- tirely by the Austrian manufacturers. The large agricultural population of Hun gary are poor, and therefore consume large quantities of cotton goods. Consid- ering these unfavorable circumstances, 1t is tn emore remarkable that the Austrian cotton industry yet retains a prominent position in the worlds market.
 Cotton Consumption.
 The bulk of cotton used is imported from the United States. while only small per centage of East Indian and Egyptian cotton finds a way to this mar ket. During 1902 the total consumption of cotton in Austria amounted to 14o,oOO,ooo kilograms (31s,644,oO0 pounds. of which fully 1Oo.0oo.- GOO kilograms (22O. .46O,000 pounds) were American. The cotton Is shipped from ths United States direct to Bremen or Ham, burg. and thence forwarded by rail or on the Riyer Elbe to its place of destination
 No cotton is grown in this monorachy, all attempts to raise it, including recent experiments in Hungary, having signally failed.
 Cotton Mills.
 > Spinning Nills-As regards the cotton mills. Bohemia counts the greatest num- Der of sSirdles. so that the largest portion of cotton imported remains in Bohemia The mills manufacture chiefly the coarser numbers of yarns-Nos 20 to 90 and below and Nos. 36 to 42. while numbers over 60 are produced to a very small extent; qual- ities over No. 30 are generally imported from England and Switzerland.
 The official returns for 1902 give the fol- lowing number of spindles in operation: Bohemia. 1,750.000; total for Austria-Hun- gary. 3.12S.OO0.
 The import and export of yarns is com paratively of little importance; excepting the finest numbers, which are regularly imported.
 Weaving Mills and Looms.-The weav- ing establishment turn out ordinary cal icoes, Jacquard ware. fancy weaves and other colored goods. which are fully up to the modern standard. The number of looms is about 110,000 of which about one-half are in Bohemia. The various automatic looms are little known in this country so far. The Drapers-Northup looms are not much used in weaving es- establishments; a few may be found, but so far only for experimental purposes. There are very limited imports or ex- ports of woven products; only the finest goods are imported from foreign coun- tries.
 Finishing. the finishing in- dustry, the bleaching and laundry estab- lishments, and in connection herewith the shirt and collar factories, are in d state of great efficiency, and the last named industry is extending it's trade with all parts of the world, Singers lat est improved sewing machines being in general use.
 Dyeing and Printing.-Dyeing and print ing works are also fitted up with modern appliances, and if the export of these goods is not of any moment 1t is due to the unfavorable tariffs. which increase the cost of dyeing material. etc. The number of printing machine in operation is estimated at about 150, of which about one-half are in Bohemia.
 Hours of Labor. The daily working hours in these indus tries vary between ten and one-hAlf hours and eleven and one-half hours. Some of the printing establishments in Eastern Bohemia run their works day and night. which is not generally approv- ed of, particularly by those works that keep regular hours, as the market in consequence is apt to be glutted, and that often with inferior goods. Wages.
 Wages paid to regular hands in the | cotton mills vary from 3 to crowns (61 cents to $1.02 per day, while the assist ants receive approximately smaller pay. The wages of the weavers are compara- lively less; even in districts where the | highest wages are paid they will hardly | earn more than 3 crowns (61 cents) per | day. while in the calico establishments | in Eastern Bohemia they get scarcely more than 2 crowns (41 cents) per day. | Of course, in cases where a weaver serves four looms, or where particularly skilled hands are requred-as, for in stance. for Jacquard looms. etc.-the pay is considerably higher Those employed in the printing establishments form two distinct classes. viz, professionals-such as engraverS, printers, etc.-who com | fO