The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-15
GERMAN INDUSTRIES.
Diminishing orders Cause Fears Of
S~hrinkage.

Consul Thomas II. Norton, Of Chemnitz,
furnishes the following information con-
corning the present condition of German
Industries:
''The commercial and industrial world OF
Germany is watching closely, and even
anXiously. every indication as to the proba-
BILE continuance or ebb in the remarkable
period of prosperity which has existed for
the past two years. In general 1t may be
assumed that manufacture has reached It's
maximum. The chief economic question OF
the day is, will the output remain station
airy. or will the demands of consumption SO
lessen that there will be a serious ana
widespread shrinkage in the opportunities
for labor, skilled and unskilled? Here and
there reports are issued of A distinct set
back In certain industries. diminishing
orders. less profits. and workmen laid off
In many quarters it Is stated tina sum-
Client orders are booked to insure full occu-
patton for plants and operatives Tor some
weeks or months vet. hut that there is no
such accumulation of, orders registered lar
ahead as to insure l prolong7tion OF the
present unusually prosperous conditions.
The imperial statistical office shows that
for the third quarter of 1907 only Ia per
| cent. OF the total number of German work
men were unemployed, but the number OF
| unemployed in October has considerably
increased. Fol every 100 vacancies the sp-
plicants In September numbered 1O1.1. while
in October the applicants numbered 1871.
''The condition of the iron and steel and
! H1lltd tA0 AAAt1t 80
ton, being regarded as the barometer for
economic changes in the empire. For a
long time these industries have experienced
great difficulties in handling their vast
orders for home and foreign delivery. IT
was manifestly impossible for this rapid
growth to continue indefinitely. and al
| though for the present every factory is
working full time, the amounts of new
orders booked show plainly that in a few
months there will be a distinct reaction.
A marked falling off in certain branches in
| Gt11t1,41oa Iaa p IN Crco sol TIM an-fofr and
distrust.
electrical industries continue to mani
fest an exceptional degree of activity. and
there are no indications Of a setback In
lin the textile branches there is great
diversity of reports. No very serious re-
action has yet become apparent. The chief
industries of Chemnitz-gloves and hosiery
report all plants as fully occupied. Ever
now contracts are being signed for the
winter of 1868. Orders for both articles
America. etc., are received in undiminisheC
proportions, but within the past three
weeks Nhe orders from the United State:
have shrunk to unusually small proper
lions. American merchants visiting Chem
nitz refusing TO order under the price
schedules which have been maintained fol
the past year. The prosperity of the tex
tile interests of Chemnit2 is so Target,
dependent upon its trade with the United
States that this firm attitude of American
buyers hes d~isorganized market conditions
Prices. especially in hosiery. have begun
to fall, and the movement has been &C
celebrated on receipt OF the reports regard
ing the financial crisis in New York ant
! elsewhere.
"Pessimists declare that present indus
trial conditions indicate the be ginning O
hard times. Similar fluctuations have
however, been noted at several epochs II
The past few years and have given ris'
TO prophecies Of the same nature. none 0
which Fortunately have been fulfilled i
The industrial organism Of the empire
taken as q whole."