284 CARPET MANUFACTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



rugs. Korte & Go. produce cheap woolen carpets in full ^sizes, with 

 printed designs. 



EMPLOYES. 



The Barmen Carpet Factory employs between one hundred and 

 thirty and one hundred and fifty hands, who are paid according to the 

 nature of their employment or the amount of work done. With a few 

 exceptions the hands in the factory are paid by the piece, and conse- 

 quently it is very difficult to give information as to the amount they 

 earn. 



Carpet weavers earn between 20 and 40 marks per week ; the spoolers 

 from 6 to 12 marks, and the girls who examine and darn the goods per- 

 haps even as much. The amount earned depends even too much upon 

 the diligence and the efficiency of the individual hands. 



DYEING, SPINNING, ETC. 



Connected with the carpet factory are the dye-works ; as in this es- 

 tablishment (Barmen Carpet Factory), all such work is generally carried 

 on which is necessary for the manufacture of carpets, etc. The Barmen 

 Carpet Factory dyes the raw yarn, which it imports almost exclusively 

 direct from English spinners ; it shears and dresses the warp. The 

 factory likewise has its own steam-spoolers ; it steams, shears, and 

 mends the finished manufacture. 



HOW THE PRODUCT IS MARKETED. 



The finished article is delivered directly to the customer by the Bar- 

 men Carpet Factory. Commission agents, and other intermediary per- 

 sons are, if possible, always avoided. The factory employs its own trav- 

 eling agents, and, in addition, has agents in the chief commercial cen- 

 ters, who work on commission. 



WHERE THE PRODUCT FINDS CONSUMPTION. 



The chief market of the Barmen Carpet Factory is Germany, where, 

 in consequence of the protective tariff and the really rare unity among 

 German manufacturers, good prices are obtained. The Barmen factory 

 does an export trade also, though less in carpets than in furniture 

 stuffs. The export of carpets is small, possibly because the factory 

 possesses but few original designs, the majority being copied from those 

 of other manufacturers, particularly of English. 



In moquettes and saddlebags, however, this factory possesses many 

 original designs, and exports these furniture goods to England, Holland, 

 Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Austro-Hungary, Switzerland, and Kou- 

 mania. Franco delivery is generally not customary in Germany, while 

 to foreign countries it is. The factory allows several per cent, for cash, 

 but seldom gives more than three to four months credit. 



JOSEPH FALKENBACH, 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE, Consul. 



Barmen, July 24, 1889. 



