March quarter... June quarter......... September quarter.......... 1888. $1,776,685.65 $66,683.70 $7,777.89 $189,967.97 $377,897.08 $9,103.24 923,694.13 31,147.41 19,072.96 58,488.18 58,621.25 141,838.82 885,124.40 39,664.74 51,720.40 40,177.00 21,075.73 224,599.82 1,516,857.99 32,917.83 5,665.17 143,401.33 246,841.59 13.300.54 No knit goods in the rough are sent from Saxony or this Empire to England. The average 33-gauge woman's stocking made from 2-38 cotton yarns, on twelve at once Cotton patent rotary frames, costs: Running on legs on footing machine (footer), 110 dozen in one week.. In addition to the foregoing, it may be interesting to know that one dozen pair hose (ladies' 33 gauge) is made from 2 pounds (English) of yarn; that the wages for winding on a dozen pairs are 41⁄2 pfennigs (1.07 cents). The legs cost, per dozen pair, to make, 9 cents; the feet, 5 cents; the running on costs 101⁄2 pfennigs (about 2.5 cents); the turning off, 9 pfennigs (a trifle more than 2 cents), or a total of 1.13 marks (27 cents)—i. e., in the rough. Finishing is extra. The dyeing costs 70 pfennigs (17 cents) per dozen pairs; the trimming, 6 pfennigs (less than 1.5 cents); the folding, stamping, pressing, etc., about 35 pfennigs (about 83 cents). An exact estimate is impossible. CHEMNITZ, June 26, 1899. No. 230 2. J. C. MONAGHAN, Consul. FRANCE. ROUBAIX. The export from this consular district of articles mentioned in Department circular is inconsiderable. Very recently, the press of Roubaix called the attention of French manufacturers to the fact that Americans without distinction of class make wide use of knit underwear, and that America is the finest market in the world for this class of goods. In the same article, it was stated that the French neglect to make themselves acquainted with tastes and requirements of American consumers, and that the trade has passed entirely into the hands of the English and Germans, the largest exports being from Chemnitz. It is impossible in this locality, either in Roubaix or Lille, the fifth town of France, to find knit woolen underwear with finished seams. In order to obtain this class of goods, orders must be sent to England or to Paris, where English goods are on sale. The French goods in this district are awkward in fit and roughly finished. Mr. Dubois Gregorie, United States consular agent at Lille, has sent the following information concerning the manufacture in this district: The machines employed in Lille, of Tourcoing manufacture, are the same that were in use twelve and fifteen years ago, with slight changes that increase their production. As a rule, women are employed for twisting and winding, and their pay is gauged by the amount of work they can turn off. They earn from 20 to 25 francs ($3.80 to $4.83) weekly. The prices of yarn vary widely, depending entirely on the use that is to be made of it, there being different prices for bobbins, balls, and skeins. The color and quality also affect the price. When the purchaser demands a very low priced article, the yarns are filled with inferior short qualities. Very little is manufactured either for the United States or South America, the charges for shipping, insurance, etc., being regarded as too onerous. Only skein thread is manufactured, in insignificant quantities; England buys good qualities in skeins and balls. Three-fourths of the English purchases, however, are of écru bobbin thread of superior quality, the price varying from 3.50 francs to 5.50 francs per kilogram (67 cents to $1.06 per 2.2 pounds). It is wound on spools. in England and sold with English marks, as of English manufacture. W. P. ATWELL, ROUBAIX, July 18, 1899. Consul. TROYES. Consul Prickitt, of Rheims, under date of August 15, 1899, transmits the following report from Mr. Gaston Baltet, the consular agent at Troyes: For making ribbed goods, the Bordiret & Parigot machines, manufactured at Troyes, and Cotton's patent perfected, made at Chemnitz, Germany, and also at Troyes, are used. The circular machines are constructed by the firm of Lebocey & Co., of Troyes. The Société Générale de Bonneterie is said to make the finest goods in the city. By the term "bonneterie" is meant all kinds of underwear and hosiery. Men, women, and children are employed. The hours of labor are about eleven a day. Men receive 5 francs (96 cents); women, 3 francs (57 cents); and children, 2 francs (38 cents) per day. The price of yarn varies from 1.50 to 8 francs (29 cents to $1.54) per kilogram (2.2 pounds). It is produced mainly at Lille, France. The goods exported to Central and South America are about the same as those sent to the United States, to wit, undershirts, drawers, stockings, and socks. The firms at Troyes sending bonneterie to the United States are: Etablissements Manchaufée, Société Générale de Bonneterie, P. Raquet & R. Vignes, and Wilson Brothers. The American correspondents are, respectively, H. Jaquin, Spichman & Co., A. Kitz, and Wilson Brothers, all of New York City. By calling upon these correspondents, anyone can see the kinds of goods made at Troyes. I see no reason why knit underwear and hosiery should not be made in the United States as well as in France or Germany. The machines and the material can be readily purchased. Those interested should send skilled representatives to the manufacturing cities. of Europe to investigate this industry. One not in the business can not describe the complicated machinery, or report very intelligently upon the subject. KID GLOVES AND KID SKINS. KID GLOVES. The kid-glove industry of Grenoble is of ancient and doubtful origin. The town itself is situated in the center of the finest kidskin region in France, and is surrounded by mountains where the cheap labor of the peasant women can be economically employed in hand sewing. Several centuries ago, Grenoble won a well-deserved |