GERMANY. 287 



MILL MACHINERY. 



The machinery applied in the carpet mills was formerly mostly of 

 English, but is now almost exclusively of German origin. Prominently 

 among the machinery works furnishing same stand the Saxon Machin- 

 ery Works (formerly Richard Hartman) at Chemnitz. Their power 

 looms are of the latest patterns, and are obtainable in all appliable 

 sizes. Preferentially used by the carpet manufacturers are two looms 

 70 and 78 inches wide, with wooden Jacquard machines and double- 

 sided five-fold changes of the shuttle, costing 1,245 marks ($296.31) and 

 1,275 marks ($303.45), respectively. Most of the narrow-power looms 

 for stair-carpets are bought from the Saxon Power Loom Factory (for- 

 inerly Louis Schonherr) at Chemnitz, at about 500 marks ($119) to 800 

 marks ($190.40) apiece. Winding machines are extensively supplied 

 by the machinery works of Rudolph Voigt, also at Chemnitz, and vary 

 in prices from 220 marks ($52.36) to 1,070 marks ($254.66), according to 

 the number of spindles and the height of the spools, fland looms are 

 obtainable from joiners at an expense from 40 marks ($9.52) to 50 marks 

 ($11.90) each. 



The rate of wages stands in sad contrast with the earnings of our 

 factory hands. While the standard of wages remain stationary, pro- 

 visions are constantly rising in prices. Thus food can only be scantily 

 provided by the laboring classes, and the means of their subsistence 

 have to be restricted to the barest necessaries of life. Much of the 

 daily diet of an American workman would be considered a luxury in a 

 German workiugmau's family. 



WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR. 



The following is an exhibit of the weekly wages paid in Gera in the 

 carpet trade at the present time. It is an abstract from the pay-roll of 

 one of the principal establishments, and may be considered as correctly 

 representing the wages paid in all factories : 



Weavers of ordinary carpets, hearth-rags, and shoe findings $3.33-3.81 



Weavers of sofa and table covers 4.04-4.52 



Weavers of superior quality of carpets 4.28-4.76 



Packers 4.04 



Shearers 3.81-4.29 



Spoolers, women .... 1.90 



Dressers 3. 57 



Drawers, men 2.38-2.86 



Drawers, women 1. 67 



Pickers, women 2.38 



Carpet cleaners, women 1.67 



Overseers 8. 93 



With the exception of the cleaners all of the foregoing laborers are 

 employed in the factories. 



The hours of labor are from 6 o'clock in the morning until 7 o'clock 

 in the evening, excepting thirty minutes for breakfast, an hour and a 

 quarter for dinner, and thirty minutes for vespers. 



