288 CARPET MANUFACTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. ., 



RENTS AND FOOD PRICES. 



In this connection it may be of interest to learn that the lodgings of 

 the factory hands in this city consist mostly of two to three comfortless 

 rooms, for which according to locality a rent from 120 marks ($28.56) 

 to 150 marks ($35.70) has to be paid. Kents are somewhat lower in the 

 neighboring villages, and consequently not a few of the working peo- 

 ple are living outside the city in spite of one and even two hours' walk 

 to and from the factory, and of being exposed to the inclemency of 

 snow and cold during winter time. 



I give also a statement of the retail prices of some of the necessaries 

 of life at Gera, viz : 



Cents. Cents. 



Rye bread per pound.. 3 



Wheat flour do 4 



Pork..... do.... '20 



Beef do.... 16 



Veal do.... 15 



Mutton do 15 



Bacon do 24 



Hams do.... 34 



Potatoes per 5 liters.. 6 



Rice ................ per pound . . 5-10 



Eggs ---- ............ per dozen . . 18-21 



Butter .............. per pound.. 16 



Milk .................. per liter.. 5 



Sugar ............... per pound . . 8 



Coffee, ordinary .......... do ..... 34 



Beer ..... . ............ per liter.. 



Petroleum ............. ___ do ____ 



DYEINGr. 



The leading establishment in the city of Gera is the carpet factory of 

 Joh. Fr. Spaethe. It is one of the few mills in this country in which 

 dyeing and weaving are conducted unitedly, and its products are con- 

 sidered the best in this district. Dyeing, weaving, and spinning form 

 in all other cases separate divisions which are owned by independent 

 interests. Almost all of the jute yarns used are dyed in the nearly 

 situated towns of Wei da and Miiuchen and Cernsdorf, by district dye 

 houses. 



The following rates are paid for dyeing, viz : For aniline, green, and 

 red, 3J cents ; for black, one-half to three-fouith cents, and for all other 

 colors, 2 cents per pound. 



HOW THE PRODUCT IS MARKETED. 



The product is placed upon the market partly direct from the fac- 

 tories by the factors, and partly through commission agents. MaYiy of 

 the orders in the German market, and also in the neighboring Switzer- 

 land are procured by traveling salesmen, while in other countries the 

 article is almost exclusively sold through commission agents, having 

 their seat in the principal commercial centers. Prominent manufact- 

 urers have also a branch office in Berlin. 



WHERE THE PRODUCT FINDS CONSUMPTION. 



Almost all of the manufactures find consumption at home. Only 

 limited quantities are exported to Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. 



