28 THE IRISH AGRARIAN PROBLEIVI. 



1,787 to 2,098 millions.^ Transport rates in 

 Ireland are high, much higher than in England. 

 Whilst in i8go transport per ton was 22*75 

 per cent, dearer than in England, it had risen 

 in 1900 to 37*14 per cent. 



Land transport by road, &c., occupies 18,985 

 persons, and shipping in its different branches 

 I5»252. 



The greatest Irish industry is the textile 

 industry, in particular the linen industry of 

 Ulster which is, in point of fact, one of world- 

 renown. In 1901 there existed 51 spinning 

 factories or spinning companies with 835,100 

 spindles. The number of mechanical looms was 

 31,484. The export of all kinds of linen from 

 the United Kingdom was estimated at five 

 million pounds for the year 1901 (Sir R. Lloyd 

 Patterson, at the Cork Industrial Conference, 

 pp. 38, 47, 48). The number of employees was 

 77,465, of whom 809 were engaged in the cotton 

 industry. In addition to these, some 30,000 

 were employed in bleaching establishments. 

 The woollen industry, on the other hand, has 

 essentially the character of a local industry. A 

 great deal of spinning is done in the cabins ; but 

 there are about 114 rather small weaving con- 

 cerns employing 3,323 workers.^ Altogether 

 the woollen industry gives employment to 5,348 



' In the English figures no receipts whatever from luggage 

 or letter transport are included. 



^ " Ireland, Agric, and Ind.," p. 401. 



