THE COAL-TAR INDUSTRY IN ENGLAND AND GERMANY. 



257 



of this company, which was increased in 1889 from 900,000^. to 1,050,000Z., 

 will be further augmented this year by the issue of 750,000?. of 

 debentures. The number of workpeople employed by this company in 

 1900 was 6,485, as against 4,800 in 1896, an increase of over 33 per cent, 

 in four years. The firm of Leopold Cassella & Co., of Mainkur, near 

 Frankfurt, have increased the number of their workpeople from 545 in 

 1890 to 1,800 in 1900. 



Passing now to England we iind that the imports of coal-tar colours 

 into the country are steadily rising, as is shown by the following figures 

 taken from the Board of Trade returns : — 



Imports of Coal-tar Dye-stuffs into England during the last Fifteen Years 



(excluding Indigo). 



Contrasted with this the exports of coal-tar colours manufactured in 

 England have fallen from 530,000Z. in 1890 to 366,500/. in 1899. Comparing 

 these figures with the rapidly increasing export trade of Germany, it is 

 seen that whereas formerly the English export trade in artificial colours 

 was about one quarter that of Germany, it does not now amount to a 

 tenth part. It is therefore only too apparent that we have had but little 

 share in the great increase which this industry has experienced during 

 the past fifteen years, and that we have not even been able to supply the 

 expansion in our own requirements. In order to ascertain what propor- 

 tion of our own needs we at present furnish, I am able to lay before you 

 the following interesting figures, which have been kindly supplied me by 

 the Bradford Dyers' Association and the British Cotton and Wool Dyers' 

 Association, who together form a very large proportion of the entire 

 dyeing trade : — 



C'olouritig Matters used bi/ Bradford Dyers' Association. 



English, 10 per cent. ; German, 80 per cent. ; Swiss, 6 per cent. ; 

 French, 4 per cent. 



Colouring Matters used, by British Cotton and Wool Dyers'' Association. 



Aniline Colovrs,- — English, 22 per cent. ; foreign, 78 per cent. 

 Alizarine Colours. — English, 1*65 per cent, j foreign, 98'35 per cent. 



The English Sewing Cotton Cotrvpany have also very kindly supplied 

 me with a detailed analysis of their consumption, from which it appears 

 that out of a total of sixty tons of colouring matters and other dyeing 

 materials derived from coal tar only 9 per cent, were of English manufac- 

 ture. 



The table of statistics, on the next page, of the six largest German 

 firms gives a fair picture of the present dimensions of the industry in 

 that country. 



The joint capital of these six firms amounts to at least 2?t millions. 



1901. ' s 



