12 



looms, but the majority axe old and most of them are driven by 

 old wooden Pelton wheels of the eighteenth century. 



Cotton. 



The> number of labourers employed in the cotton factories of 

 the country is estimated at 60,000. This branch of the textile 

 industry owes its development to a high Protectionist tariff both 

 at home and in Portuguese West Africa. Unfortunately capital has 

 paid no* attention to cotton-growing in the African colonies, and 

 the industry is entirely dependent on foreign imports, amounting 

 to very nearly 20,000 tons per annum. The Portuguese colonies 

 contribute only some 3,000 tons. The United States supplies 

 Portugal with more than 12,000 bales of cotton per annum. Brazil 

 supplies about 4,000 tons. The number of looms is 400,000, but 

 only 100,000 are working. 



Cotton-growing in Angola, Mozambique, and Portuguese 

 Guinea is an imperative necessity of Portugal's economy. . 



Linen. 



.Flax is practically a domestic industry. In the 16th century 

 this industry occupied a very important rank. The imports of 

 foreign linen amount to 2,000 tons per annum. Considering the, 

 great possibilities of this industry, the high prices fetched by 

 linen, thanks to the Russian market's depression, and the vast 

 African highlands where linen might be grown, it is hardly 

 credible that this most useful industry is being entirely neglected. 

 The island of Madeira imports the finest linens from Ireland for 

 the embroideries, valued at approximately $2,500,000 U.S. per 

 annum. 



Glass and Earthenware. 



The glass industry experienced a great impetus in the 18th 

 century, when Pombal engaged specialists for the factories he 

 caused to be erected. According to the latest statistics there were 

 13 glass factories in the country, but few have the necessary 

 plant and the products are not perfect. Raw material is excellent, 

 and Portugal being a wine-producing country and so rich in mineral 

 waters, bottle-making ought to be a paying industry. 



The country offers a great variety of argils and a few factories 

 are producing porcelains. In this branch there is an undertaking 

 worthy of notice for its organisation and quality of its producte 

 "A Electro-Ceramica, " of Villa Nova de Gaya, near Porto, 

 specialising in electric fittings. 



Tiles are being manufactured by 1,107 factories. 



